AlUla, Saudi ArabiaAlUla Old Town
Dar Tantora The House Hotel
Candlelit mudbrick quarters
AlUla Old Town AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Opened
2024
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
Kerten HospitalityCandlelit mudbrick quarters
At dusk, over eighteen hundred candles flicker across labyrinthine mudbrick passageways, replacing modern glare with the warmth of ancient desert life.
“Dar Tantora’s 30 rooms follow the layouts of the original houses, with minor concessions made to accommodate modern bathrooms.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Shahira Fahmy restored thirty mud-brick dwellings with reed ceilings, earthen staircases, and nightly illumination by 1,800 candles.
Remarkable
Centuries-old mud and stone houses in AlUla Old Town preserve historic wedding murals and ancient irrigation channels.
Remarkable
Daily artisan breadmaking, Saudi coffee rituals, and handcrafted furnishings by artisans from neighboring Madrasat Addeera craft school.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, Wallpaper* and AFAR.
The resulting mood has a homeyness to it while bearing the weight of AlUla’s antiquity; whenever my feet touched the carpet or my hands grazed the bricks, I almost physically felt the past.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set in AlUla Old Town, the hotel is steps from the pedestrian-friendly AlJadidah arts district and vast date palm groves.
The rooms
Duplex dars feature palm-frond ceilings, hand-carved wooden doors, and private rooftop terraces angled for stargazing across the quiet oasis.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The rooftop infinity pool looks out across the palm oasis toward AlUla's sandstone cliffs.
The spa
Massages in the candlelit stone rooms use healing oils and regional botanicals from the AlUla oasis.
The gym and studio
Custom wooden stall bars and leather exercise balls fill an earthen studio set beneath timber beams.
Restaurant
Joontos
Lanterns and a fire pit warm the open courtyard, where dinner draws on seasonal produce from nearby oasis farms.
Dar Tantora, a luxury boutique hotel that unfurls amid meticulously renovated mudbrick houses and offers guests an immersive and authentic experience where candlelight is favoured over electricity.
At the table
Wooden tables at Maqha sit beside the mudbrick tower, serving traditional Saudi coffee and light fare.
How it began
The property takes its name from the tantora, an ancient stone sundial that once guided local farmers through planting seasons and water distribution.
Good to know
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Dar Tantora The House Hotel
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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.