Ezzaouia Nefta, Tunisia
Opened
2010
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
HiModernist desert lodge
Sharp modernist structures enclose a quiet desert village. Guests trade shoes for babouches at the threshold and wander freely into the open kitchen.
“indigenous Tunisian architecture with a witty twist of modernity—and designer Matali Crasset’s results are charmingly offbeat, if a little monastic.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Cooks from Nefta village prepare traditional Tunisian dishes using dates and oasis vegetables.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The result is an ecologically sensitive, brilliantly hued hotel, which just happens to be on the edge of the Sahara.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The palm oasis and the sunken Corbeille basin sit right below. Further out, the white salt flats of Chott El-Jerid meet the open dunes.
The rooms
Elevated pill houses sit on concrete stilts above the sand, with cushioned bow windows looking straight across the palm oasis.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Hot sulfur spring water fills the open basin, which looks past geometric ochre walls toward the desert dunes.
The spa
At the table
Home-style meals are served along green banquettes and communal tables, prepared with organic vegetables from the palm grove.
How it began
French hoteliers Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chapelet conceived the property as an eco-citadel, hand-built by local craftsmen using Nefta clay bricks and palm timber.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.