It all started by mistake: Yvan Cussigh, an NYC nightlife vet (Bar d’O and the rooftop bar at 60 Thompson) was vacationing in Costa Rica when he found himself at the airport, one-way ticket in hand, waiting for the next flight to Nicaragua in order to escape persistent rain. Without a clue where to go upon arrival, Cussigh landed in Managua and caught wind of a quaint town on the northern shore of Lake Nicaragua – the historic colonial city of Granada: a vibrant lakeside village an hour south of the capital. The bright colored homes, views of surrounding volcanoes, and steeples of seven different churches lured him in; he was instantly charmed.
Several return trips and four years later, the genesis behind Tribal Hotel came to fruition – Cussigh worked with longtime friend Jean-Marc Houmard (Indochine, Tijuana Picnic) to design the hotel’s blueprints. Located several blocks from La Calzada, a pedestrian street lined with cafes, bars, and local shops, Tribal Hotel was open for business. The location was strategically chosen: “off the beaten path, just enough to maintain local identity,” thus exemplified by the grandmother a few doors down, sitting outside her bright yellow home, crooking her neck to watch all those who passed her by.
So how does an NYC restaurateur make the jump to boutique hotel owner? Turns out the transition wasn’t a smooth one – Cussigh explains, “everyday was a huge challenge.” Despite knowing little Spanish, less about construction, and having many doubts, Tribal Hotel opened one year after breaking ground.
The decor speaks to the name: earthy, wooden columns throughout the property are an homage to those that supported hundreds of colonial homes within the city prior to nearly 200 years of piracy and a national revolution. Turkish kilims are ever-present, masks from tribes are ornately displayed, and various African fabrics inspired much of the tile work; according to Cussigh, he and Houmard wanted Tribal Hotel to encompass all indigenous tribes, to show adulation for those local as well as worldwide.
Nowadays, Cussigh leisurely wakes at dawn to the sounds of a bustling local community – the same time he used to fall asleep after a long industry night in New York. When asked if he’d ever return to NYC, Cussigh responds with a quick, “no, I’ve done my share there,” and goes on to wax poetic about a slower pace of life in this artisanal village, the freedom to travel and discover, and how he still hasn’t even seen a fraction of all that Nicaragua has to offer.
Explore the photo tour of Tribal Hotel:
Tribal Hotel
Calle Cuiscoma, De la Gaviotta media cuadra al lago
Granada, Nicaragua
Tel: 505 2552 0037
