Bela Vista Hotel & Spa

Approach with caution for the road to this hotel is lined with tee-shirt shops and fast food cafés but once you are in through the wrought iron gates, a veil of luxurious tranquillity descends. Originally opened in 1934, the hotel retains many of its period details from the sweeping wooden staircase surrounded by ancient hand-painted tiles, the ornate, painted wooden ceiling beams in the bar and the stained glass windows in the turret which tops this little gem.

Renovated by Graça Viterbo in the last few years, the rooms are clad in bold nautical stripes and cheerful yellow, many still containing original hand painted tiles. The 11 rooms in the main house mostly have views overlooking the long, sandy beach and Ocean beyond. The best room in the house is 116 whose bathroom is housed in the stained glass turret. All bathrooms have tubs and showers and come with L’Occitane amenities. There are seven further suites in the Blue House, which stands in the grounds and another 20 rooms in a new extension which overlooks the gorgeous palm tree lined swimming pool.

Food is well worthy of the Michelin star it has been awarded. Try the fresh mackerel with green peas, a green pea puree, lavender vinaigrette and a sprinkling of borage flowers or the 45 day matured veal with Jerusalem artichokes. In the summer the restaurant spills out onto the terrace, creating a magical setting by the sea.

The Spa sits in the grounds and offers treatment using L’Occitane products.

 

Written by Clemmie Vandeleur

• Restrictions on children
• Adults only property
• Swimming Pool
• Lovely Outdoor Pool
• Towelling robes
• Bar
• Safe
• Rooms with balcony/terrace
• Wifi
• Airport transfer
• Outdoor dining
• Air conditioning

• Meeting Room
• Sit-out Terrace
• In room music system
• Satellite / Cable TV
• Spa
• Restaurant
• Garden
• Sitting Room
• Room service
• Suites

• Watersports
• The property sits directly on the beach.
• Surfing
• From Praia de Rocha there are boat trip, kayaking, surfing and dolphin watching which can be booked and organised from there.
• Kayaking
• There are boat trip, kayaking, surfing and dolphin watching which can be booked and organised from there.

• Designer Shopping
• Windsurfing
• Local markets

Why do people love staying in your hotel? The personalised high standard service to the costumer, location and stunning views to the beach. What is there to do in the area or on site? Beach, golf, sea boat trips, cultural places, historic places, natural landscapes.

What kind of breakfast do you offer? Continental Buffet. Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? We have a fine dining restaurant considered one of the best in the region. We recommend our Vista Restaurant for a gastronomic experience.

Which are your most popular room types, and why? All the rooms are quite popular as they are basically all different especially in the main Palace where most of the rooms have kept the original features including historical tiles and stained glasses. The rooms in the new wing (called the Garden House) are also popular, as most of them face the sea and have a private terrace.

What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? We are an adults only hotel. What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? Bela Vista Hotel & Spa - Relais & Chateaux is not only the perfect get away for couples, but also the perfect retreat for small high end groups. If you desire a special treat and to pamper yourself, we recommend a visit to us as we have a stunning cliff top location, a fine dining restaurant facing the ocean, an exclusive spa by L’Occitane, not to mention our fantastic staff and their superb attention to detail.