The premium location and the unusual historic building itself are the strong points. These features seemed to be the main selling points rather than what one might otherwise expect in a luxury hotel at this price point. The staff were great and couldn’t have been more helpful. We loved the buffet breakfast offering served in a dining room with spectacular ocean views. Ask for the scrumptious eggs Benedict option! The evening Bistro dining options are delicious if somewhat on the pricey side.

We didn’t like that the main dinner option was a 2 star Michelin offering with very expensive tasting only menus and no a la carte - no meat and no choice for the diner. Our upgraded room was quite small with very limited storage for a one week stay. We had to ask them to take away some of the bedding and decorative items to create a little extra space and comfort.

Excellent quality breakfast with service. Excellent beach views. The beach side rooms are a bit dated and could be upgraded. There is poor lighting and no reading light.

The bed mattresses are beginning to sag and can give you a backache. Need replacing. Need reading lights at the bedside.

so beautifully manicured. architecturally beautiful with original early mosaic tiles. Just a hidden gem.

I have no complaints

Nice staff, luxury main building, good spa

Huge deception arriving to Bela Vista &Spa, placed on a very noisy street, surrounded by high and ugly buildings. Most of the rooms are not in the luxury main building but in two others, far of 5* confort. The ocean view is affected by beach restaurats and their toilets. Nothing of this is suggested by well chosen words of description, artistic photos or smart association with trusted brands like Michelin, Occitane or Relais&Chateaux. The reality is different of what marketing strategy makes you believe for a price almost double comparing with the closest 5*hotel.

It’s history, heritage and view! decoration Vista restaurante. Staff

The surroundings could be better but the hotel and its team make it almost imperceptible. the access to the beach could be better, perhaps a guest only zone at the beach?

excellent top quality service and dining

one or two loose floor panels by the pool

We were shocked by the location … we’d only seen the Hotel photos not the area outside the perimeter gates.

The hotel is so beautiful with a lot of history. The design is unique and the beach view is amazing. The beach is so soft and clean! The breakfast was so good and very rich. One of the best that we had!

At the price rate of this hotel, I would expect the parking inside the hotel premises to be included as they have the space and not so many rooms.

the building and near to the beach. staff were amazing

did not like the town

The spa manager was very kind and welcoming

Service overall, compared to room pricing, was very mediocre. Way too expensive for what you get. Service at the restaurant very slow, breakfast box to the standard of a 3 star.

We stayed for six nights in the middle of March, and were lucky with good weather, it just rained for a few hours on our second last day. Breakfast was delicious. The spa was excellent. We had the couples massage and it was the best massage we both had for a long time. The Michelin star restaurant was a once in a lifetime experience. The food was exceptional and the service also exceptional. It was interesting to see the kitchen and wine cellar beforehand. Nice touch of head chef Joao to present one of the dishes to us at our table. The cocktails at the bar were fantastic, prepared by Paolo. The food in the more casual restaurant was excellent also. On the hottest day it was lovely to lay out beside the outdoor pool. There was a short walk to the beach. The beach is beautiful for walks and very refreshing to swim in also. The hotel is gated and accessed with keycard only so we felt safe at all times. We were on our honeymoon (postponed from 2019) and there were some nice touches like a bottle of champagne in our room along with strawberries and some treats. As kids under 12 are not allowed it helps to make the hotel quieter and more relaxing. Close by we really enjoyed Restaurant F which is a blue and white, quiet restaurant upstairs off the main street. Our sheets were changed every morning and there was a turn down service every evening. We would definitely stay in the hotel again, and we look forward to it.

Just a note for next time, not a complaint. We rented a car and drove to the hotel. In hindsight everything is in the town Praia da Rocha. There is a decent shop a few yards from the hotel along with lots of restaurants and bars, and a pharmacy a short walk away. So we could have gotten a shuttle organised by the hotel or an Uber or taxi from Faro airport, and avoided the €15 a day charge for parking in the hotel.

the property was stunning. It was right on the beach. the bar and dining was wonderful. the staff was extremely attentive.

N/A

Lovely room with an excellent view. Breakfast fabulous as was the tasting menu dinner we had booked in the restaurant. It lived up to it's Michelin star. Staff all so nice and helpful. A wonderful haven in the town of Portimao with access to a fabulous beach.

There was a charge for parking; however when we pointed out that as it was off season we could park in the public car park next door for free with no restriction they waived the charge. I think they should not aim to charge during the off season. only during high season when it would then be cheaper than parking off site. Occasionally there was some excessive noise from the resort town.

main building lobby is AMAZING as well as views from the restaurant terrace. excellent breakfast.

Rooms in the main building and in the blue building are tinny and not comfortable. These rooms are significantly overpriced. The blue building lobby is kind of shabby. The Blue Building is right above the parking lot.

The team is fantastic and the culinary experience was great!

Perfect

Everything

Incredibly friendly and customer oriented personal, iconic hotel, deserves clearly the 5 stars rating. We had a perfect time.

Very short: nothing to improve, stay as you are. Outstanding!

The pool is beautiful, the staff is really kind and supportive (Ines at the reception and Pedro at the Spa are fantastic)

The position: behind the hotel is a total mess: awful and huge buildings, crowded of people (there’s a karaoke 6 mt away). The room is nice and clean but small.

The place is a complete oasis, beautiful, inviting, comfortable and so so relaxing. The staff go above and beyond to make everyone feel at home, the food is amazing, having breakfast served on the terrace while looking out over the ocean was the highlight of my day and a way I wished everyday started. The Michelin star restaurant is a fantastic experience and the most incredible tasting food. All the staff are really professional and polite but I have to really say a big thank you to Carolina & Alona from the Restaurant and João and the lady with the Brown Bob from reception, all four of them made us feel like nothing was a problem and were great for a casual chat. This Hotel has all the mod Cons but also has those personal touches that I really like. The turn Down, the water beside your bed in the evening, the greeting at breakfast etc.. while this hotel is expensive you really get what you pay for with the staff and facilities. We cannot wait to return to this hotel next year.

There wasn’t anything I disliked, my only issue would be the price difference between rooms is too big to warrant the comfort difference, example room 201 and 208 are identical rooms but room 208 is €300 per day more expensive and it is for a small sea view that is broken by shrubbery. But going back i now know what room to book.

Everything

Best Boutique hotel, fill of history and character. Amazing colourful and interesting decor. Right on the beach, with local shops and restaurants opposite. Staff are excellent, super polite, helpful and attentive to detail.

Hardly anything not to like here. Possibly the fact that the spa was closed on Sun and Mon, affecting weekend guests.

The staff are amazing and their kindness and hospitality stand out. The food is worth the trip and the Chef is a star. The whole place is proud of him with good reason.