The stylish and elegant boutique hotel BELA VISTA HOTEL & SPA, housed in a villa built in the early twentieth century on the Praia da Rocha cliff in Algarve, Portugal, still retains many of the features of the original mansion with its original interiors and stained glass windows.
Enjoying stunning ocean views or dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, you can relax by the palm-lined pool or on the hotel’s private beach.
BELA VISTA HOTEL & SPA, marked by Relais & Chateaux, is the first hotel in the Algarve, opened in 1934 by Henrique Bivar de Vasconcelos, a cousin of the original owner of the villa.
HISTORICAL PAST
The hotel was originally built to serve as the private home of António Júdice de Magalhães Barros, a local fishing and canning industry businessman and it was inaugurated in February of 1918 in a ceremony that included the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic at the time Sidónio Pais. It was then called “Our Lady of Sorrows Villa”.
Before officially becoming a hotel, BELA VISTA was a stage of many memorable events. It was frequented by remarkable personalities in the history of politics, culture and arts.
BELA VISTA’s many honourable guests include personalities such as Sidónio Pais, King Humberto of Italy, Fulgêncio Baptista, the Counts of Barcelona and the Brazilian President, Juscelino de Oliveira. A special mention to Finland’s war hero Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, whose picture and letter of appreciation to the hotel are placed on top of the piano, gifted by him to the hotel.
One of the most remarkable eras of the BELA VISTA was during World War II. Portugal was politically neutral during the period and served as an intelligence exchange location, the BELA VISTA was a privileged site for meetings of spies and messengers.
After its recent refurbishment, the BELA VISTA HOTEL welcomed the Presidents of the Portuguese Republic Mário Soares and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and other personalities, leaving their comments on the hotel’s Book of Honour.
INTERIOR & ROOMS
Most of the hotel’s richly decorated interiors of the main building have been preserved in their original form: a beautiful painted wooden ceiling in the Bar, an original staircase surrounded by old blue-and-white wall tiles.
It was renovated by Graça Viterbo, an acclaimed interior designer, who introduced bold yellows and reds, nautical stripes and a sea theme in the light-filled rooms.
The main hotel building has 11 spacious bedrooms and suites, decorated in bold blues, whites and yellow, many with original wall tiles and mostly with views over the Ocean. The jewel in the crown is room 116, where bathroom is housed in the extraordinary stained glass turret.
All rooms and suites are equipped with the necessary comfort for living and rest: free WI-FI, coffee machine, TV, mini-bar. Bathrooms in the main building have both tubs and showers and amenities from L’Occitane brand.
A separate building called The Blue House, offers seven further suites all clad in hues of blue with shower-only bathrooms.
Twenty further rooms overlook the pool in a new, two-storey extension.
FOOD & DRINK
The pride of BELA VISTA HOTEL & SPA is the 1* Michelin star restaurant VISTA, where Portuguese chef João Oliveira delivers one of the best gourmet cuisine in the Algarve.
In addition to the “star” restaurant, you can have a delicious meal outdoors on the terrace of the Bistro Restaurant & Bar.
Spacious Terrace overlooking Ocean and Praia Da Rocha beachfront is ideal place to spend a relaxed evening, watching sunsets & trying local specialities.
Large selection of various starters, fresh salads and main dishes is accompanied by local Portuguese wines, as well as timeless classics wines.
Alternatively, Bar cocktail menu offers various refreshing author mixes.
Highlights of the Starters are: Fresh Oysters, Veal Tartare (capers, mustard seeds and anchovies), “Bulhão Pato” Clams.
In addition you can order Homemade bread, butter from Azores and D.P.C. Olive oil.
Worth trying as a main dish — Catch of the Day, served with mashed potato, seasonal vegetables and champagne sauce
Desserts highlights — selection of Homemade Ice Creams: White Chocolate & Almonds, Red Fruits or 70% Dark Chocolate.
BREAKFAST
In the morning, guests are served a buffet breakfast, which includes a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, local ham, cheeses, fish, fresh pastries with jams.
In addition, the guests are offered to order their favorite dishes as À la carte option: healthy toasts with different toppings, Eggs, Pancakes with berries, French toast and many others.
Refreshing drinks — freshly squeezed juices and smoothies — are available along with coffee and selection of teas.
SPA BY L’OCCITANE
The Spa by L’Occitane (400 m2), designed by Graça Viterbo, is a picture of uplifting tones of turquoise, which offers 5 treatment rooms including 2 for couples, a plunge Pool, Sauna, Hammam, Relaxation Area and a comforting Fitness Lounge.
Fostering authenticity, respect for the environment and for the senses since 1976. All the products reflect the practices of demanding producers and the ancient flavours and the traditions of Provence
— Genuine Mediterranean scents provided by L’Occitane. Here you will be offered a range of face and body treatments.
The treatments are based on natural ingredients with several options, from a relaxing mint and rosemary massage to a detoxifying almond wrap.
EXOTIC POOL
Next to the modern outdoor pool, majestic palm trees line the hotel’s terrace with huge white cabanas in between you can indulge yourself with drinks and cocktails prepared by a caring bartender and enjoy the blue sky — the main feature of this region where Praia da Rocha is located.
BELA VISTA HOTEL & SPA also has a private access to the beach, just in case you prefer to take a sandy walk or bathe in the ocean.
The professional, friendly and knowledgeable staff will also help to organize the very best excursions along the coast, where you will be dazzled by the unrivaled caves and rock formations found only in the Algarve region and contemplate one of the most beautiful sunsets on the Algarve coast towards Sagres where the sun sets.
BELA VISTA HOTEL & SPA
Address: Tomás Cabreira, Praia Da Rocha
8500-802 Portimão Algarve
Portugal
Contacts: 282460280; info@hotel-belavista.com; reservas@hotel-belavista.com
Instagram: @belavistahotelspa
Editor-in-chief: Patricia Kolari
Text Writer: Marina Timoshevskaya
Technical Director: Evgeny Fedorov
Photos: EATWEEK GUIDE
