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A Refined Five-Star Hotel With Lake Views And Excellent Restaurants
Powered By TripAdvisorFrom its prime spot overlooking Lake Anosy, Hotel Carlton — downtown Antananarivo’s only five-star hotel — has been delivering impeccable service for nearly half a century. Settle into your cozy guestroom and savor the complimentary pastries that await you, then relax by one of the largest outdoor pools in town and ask the friendly concierge to arrange an unforgettable day trip to see Madagascar’s famous ring-tailed lemurs. After sunset, sip cocktails on the stone terrace and dine on French-influenced fare in Île Rouge Restaurant, which buzzes with atmosphere.
- Choose from 171 comfortable guestrooms and spacious suites
- Soak up stunning views of Lake Anosy and the Queen’s Palace
- Play tennis on the clay court and book a session with a professional coach
- Treat yourself to just-baked baguettes and croissants at L’Éclair
- Stay in shape in the gym, fully equipped with Technogym machines
- Try your luck at blackjack or roulette at the hotel's Grand Cercle de Tana Casino
Beyond its numerous accolades — including being the only ISO 9001-certified hotel in the country, guaranteeing the highest standards — Hotel Carlton is unrivaled when it comes to facilities and authentic Malagasy hospitality. Shop for Madagascar’s fabled vanilla in the hotel’s boutiques and enjoy the convenience of an on-site hair and beauty salon, bank, and travel agency.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
Hotel Carlton’s 171 guestrooms and suites are both classic and comfortable, with warm tan and beige tones, dark wood furniture, and large beds with crisp white linen. Marble bathrooms come with deep tubs, while suites have a kitchenette, espresso machine, and dining vouchers to use at the hotel’s restaurants during your stay. Catch up on emails at the writing desk, unwind in front of the TV with 25 international channels to choose from, or — in select rooms — sit by the window and soak up the views of Lake Anosy.
Help yourself to homemade pastries on arrival and enjoy snacks and drinks from the well-stocked mini-bar. If hunger strikes at midnight, you can order from the 24-hour room service menu. Laundry and dry cleaning services are also available.
Book with PointsDining
From Gallic-inspired haute cuisine to burgers by the pool, Hotel Carlton’s lively restaurants are known for delivering memorable experiences. The signature Île Rouge puts a local twist on classic French dishes, while Le Bistrot serves accomplished global favorites. For casual eats, stop by L’Éclair Patisserie or the poolside Oasis de Tana.
Île Rouge Restaurant – With an outdoor patio and an open kitchen, the restaurant exudes a casual liveliness. Dine on classic French fare made with local ingredients — try bouillabaisse filled with the day’s catch and medallions of zebu beef with pan-seared foie gras.
Le Bistrot – This casual bistro is light-filled during the daytime and softly luminous at night, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool. By day, dine on sushi, charcuterie, salads, and tapas. After dark, order steak frites followed by crème brûlée made with Madagascar vanilla.
L’Éclair – Start the day on a sweet note, enjoy a light lunch, or savor a late-afternoon treat at this popular patisserie with an outdoor terrace. Linger over a mouth-watering selection of pastries, cakes, sandwiches, baguettes, and ice cream.
Oasis de Tana – On the stone terrace by the pool, bamboo blinds separate wooden tables into cozy nooks for an alfresco lunch or dinner. Order fresh smoothies, fruity cocktails, and ice-cold beers from the thatched-roof bar and savor fresh salads, sandwiches, grilled meats, and wood-fired pizzas.
Activities at Hotel Carlton
Daytime activities revolve around the large outdoor pool, so recline on a sun lounger and work on your tan, swim some laps, or splash around with the kids in the wading pool. Work out in the gym or perfect your backhand during a session with the resident tennis coach. Stop by the salon for a blow-dry or manicure, then head to the casino for a game of blackjack or poker and hit the dancefloor in the hotel’s own nightclub.
Out in Antananarivo, head to the Rova (hill fort) atop the Haute-Ville for fabulous views of the city’s jagged hills and pastel-hued houses. Visit the Musée Andafiavaratra to learn about the kings and queens who ruled over Madagascar in the 19th century and stop by the historic Queen’s Palace. If spotting lemurs ranks high on your must-do list, head to Lemurs' Park, a tranquil private reserve that is around a 45-minute drive from the hotel. It is home to nine species of Madagascar’s famous primate.
Location
In the south of Antananarivo, or simply “Tana” to the locals, Hotel Carlton has stunning views of Lake Anosy and its iconic statue of a golden angel commemorating the First World War. In the heart of the government district, the hotel is around 10 minutes by taxi to both the modern city center and the historic Haute-Ville, with its steep streets, beautiful colonial buildings, and historic Rova area.
Address
Rue Pierre Stibbe Anosy, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Transportation
- Airport
- Ivato International Airport is 11 mi / 18 km from the hotel
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Reviews
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A Good, Reliable Hotel
Sat May 10 2025 15:14:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by BostonNix
This probably the best hotel in the city or at least one of the best in what is a very poor city. The staff are very welcoming and the rooms are comfortable. We stayed there several times and the service was consistently good. Laundry is well worth the price and handy if you are traveling a lot. The pool is large and excellent for doing laps (not heated so beware off season!) There is a pleasant cafe next to the pool for drinks and light meals. There is also a little ice cream and pastry place in the lobby. Be sure to go early in the day - this is not the place to get afternoon tea since they are cleaned out by then. Things to know if you go: 1) Bring your own shampoo and conditioner - not sure what is in the little bottles in the bathroom, but not useful on my hair! 2) The large dining room never seemed to be open for dinner when we were there, so we had to eat in the bar which is a bit cramped. The food was good, though. The mixed drinks are a bit random - something quite common in Madagascar. Beer and wine are reliable. You could go out to eat, but be sure to arrange transport - apparently crime is an issue. 3) Breakfast is served in the big dining room overlooking the pool. It is sometimes buffet and sometimes a la carte. Good quality in both cases - especially the rolls and French butter. 4) There is a good ATM in the lobby.
A Unique Experience
Sat Mar 30 2024 17:07:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Global552521
I’m writing this review about my stay at this hotel when it was still known as the Hilton. In 1979 my Dad was posted to Madagascar to work on a Hydro power project. He travelled to the worksite during the week while my Mum, sisters and I stayed at the Hilton for a while before finding an apartment in Tana. I can’t remember how long we stayed but in my memory it seems liked months. I remember fondly exploring the grounds, eating in the restaurant everyday (frog legs were a favourite) and looking for treasures like silk flowers that were left behind after a big weddings in the reception hall. We never had complaints about insects and the food was good..except once, on my birthday the manager of the hotel asked what I would like the chef to make for me and I grinned and said Yorkshire pudding. They produced very good French cuisine but the Chef was baffled when it came to the Yorkshire pud and although he tried hard the texture left a lot to be desired. We eventually moved to the Andekaleka in the jungle and in 1982 we left to head back to the west after the job was completed. I’d love to see some photos of the hotel dating back to the 1970 if there are any.
5 star service and property
Wed Nov 15 2023 11:06:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Melissa K
This is a 5 star property with excellent service, nice and very clean room, a wonderful pool and the best massage I have ever received, the restaurants were great....I loved my stay here and highly recommend it.
Not a 5-star worthy hotel
Mon Apr 17 2023 06:38:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Erik R
Booked a room at 9'th floor and realized the sounds from the street was very loud, not only from cars passing by, but also by barking dogs. It seems the hotel has not upgraded their windows to prevent noise from the street since it was build which made it very difficult to sleep. Our feedback to our tour operator: Not to be recommended!
Awful
Mon Jun 06 2022 17:17:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Inspire02451441308
Awful, it’s just a run down almost Soviet style business hotel. Arrived at midnight no water in the room or minibar. Called reception and was politely told to F**k off. As everything is closed. I was asking for WATER. Dreadful place needs new management
