The best hotels in the Algarve
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Ah, the Algarve… that particular, feel-good, light, the long expanses of burnt butter sands, blue waters washing against golden limestone cliffs; the smell of sizzling fresh fish, drizzled with local olive oil and the clack-clacking of storks sitting atop the squat olive trees that border the winding roads. There is a wealth of magic in this region, of hidden beaches where fishermen still mend their nets, small white-washed Portuguese villages where the only sound is that of the sonorous church bell, and vineyards where you can stay to taste the wine from the vines around you, immersing yourself in the terroir. And then there is the lively Algarve, where warm nights are filled with music and cocktails and beach parties, days with surfing or riding. There is something for everyone in this region and below are the best hotels from which to do it.
How we choose the best hotels in Algarve
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
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Pine Cliffs
With its pretty whitewashed villas and handpainted tiling, this wonderful resort set amid luscious gardens of rosemary, Birds of Paradise and parasol pine forests could not be more convenient for a sun-drenched sojourn. Only 40 minutes from Faro, contented children and lithe looking sportspeople hold the fort in equal measure. The lanscaped estate boasts its own nine-hole golf course including the infamous Devil’s Parlour – a shot taken over a ravine – with a spectacular setting overlooking a sweeping beach. This provides the picturesque location for its Mare restaurant – don’t miss the seabass ceviche topped with crunchy corn.
At the resort you can indulge or rein in equally – the lemon-scented courtyard offers up raw food salads and ginger shots in its Zest restaurant and syrupy espressos in MIMO while the Pescador restaurant serves woodfired catch of the day and blush red prawns. This summer will see MIMO by Little Portofino, an Italian pop-up as well as the arrival of the resort’s first Indian restaurant, Rohini by Little Miss India. Children play captain in the Pirata kids club – a 4000 sq foot wonderland, while adults hone their racquet skills at the Annabel Croft Tennis academy. The Serenity spa delivers expert deep tissue massage (their resident physio Paulo is a whizz for serious pains) and thermal baths. The two-bedroom Ocean Suites have the edge for families, but with numerous offerings, from single rooms to sprawling villas, there is something to suit every traveller. Jemima Sissons
Alex ReytoCasa Brava
Hidden in the undulating landscape of the Barrocal, removed from the madding crowds of some of Portugal’s most popular beach towns, a community of hoteliers are pursuing a quiet shift in the traditional perspective of the Algarve, swapping sand and sea for slowness and simplicity. Leaders of the movement are Marco and Julie Pinto, who were both born to Portuguese parents, and moved here from Paris five years ago to renovate a crumbling old farm. Now also consultants in sustainability and olive-oil-soap producers, they rebuilt it as Casa Brava, an eco B&B with an organic vegetable garden flanked by unbroken thyme fields.
Three former animal stone barns were reimagined as restful rustic retreats filled with repurposed objects sourced from the region’s vintage markets. Sun-speckled terraces – perfect for vegan breakfasts in the morning or a glass of organic wine in the evening – face the biological pool filtered by plants and river stones and trimmed with humming lavender. Nearby is the lively town of Loulé where locals congregate on Saturday for the weekly ritual of gossip, almond tarts and shots of medronho brandy at dive bar O Postigo. The slow life here is alive and well, passed into the hands of new custodians who repurpose ancient rituals in a conscious effort to create an alternative and altogether more sustainable future for the Algarve. Sarah Allard
Francisco NogueiraCasas da Quinta de Cima
Opened this summer, the nine little cottages (with bedroom, sitting room with kitchenette, bathroom and large terrace) on this farm estate offer space and tranquillity in the deeply rural eastern Algarve. The beach is a walk away, through orange and lemon trees, past the swimming pool and the prettiest honesty bar ever. Interiors mix luxury touches with retro design and pleasing overall simplicity. From here you can ride to nearby Cacela Velha in time for their fresh haul of oysters, which you can eat in the shade of the old church bell tower, while your horse waits. Doubles from £145 including breakfast.
Francisco NogueiraBela Vista
Set in a turn-of-the-century villa overlooking the magnificent Praia de Rocha beach, this jewel of a hotel has preserved its original stained glass, hand-painted tiles and carved wooden staircase, but contemporary décor by Portugal’s acclaimed designer Graça Viterbo weaves bold blues and pop yellows into the whole, creating a jaunty, seaside feel. There is a swimming pool framed by slender palm trees, a L’Occitance Spa and a one-star Michelin restaurant by Chef João Oliveira which deserves to be two stars. Try his dish of tomatoes, basil and camomile with a sorbet of roasted yellow peppers to see what I mean. Doubles from £235 including breakfast.
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Samuel ElkinsCasa Mãe
More for urban lovers than beach bums, although the beach is only a hop, skip and jump away, Casa Mãe has a young and vibrant buzz to it. There is an all-day restaurant serving local, artisan-sourced cheeses and hams alongside typical regional fare like octopus and squid with fresh herbs and vegetables brought in from the hotel’s own, extensive, garden. The 34 rooms come in three different categories, from cabanas near the swimming pool, complete with hammocks and outside showers to elegant heritage rooms with vintage furniture in the main 19th-century house and contemporary rooms in the Joga da Bolo with futon beds on terracotta floors. Doubles from £145 including breakfast.
Martinhal
Nowhere quite does family fun as well as this flagship of the child-centric Martinhal brand. Situated on the very west of the Algarve, the hotel overlooks the little beach of Martinhal where teens can paddleboard whilst toddlers play in the sand. Comprising 38 hotel rooms, townhouses and villas with private pools, there are swimming pools scattered throughout the resort, as well as tennis courts, bikes to ride and three dedicated kids' clubs. For screen addicts there is a blue room with play stations galore, and family films feature nightly. Best of all perhaps is the Baby Concierge who prepares everything you need before you arrive, allowing you that elusive rest. Doubles from £140 including breakfast.
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Oliveira MilenarMorgado do Quintão
This much-loved family winery, now run by the fourth generation of the same family, has recently opened three small cottages and four bedrooms in the renovated main house to tourists who wish to make it their Algarvean base. Clean and cool with muted colours and a simple, period, charm these houses, dotted around the estate are blissfully free of televisions but come with enticing swimming pools. At their centre is a magnificent 2,000-year-old olive tree under which farmer’s lunches and wine tastings are a regular occurrence. A three-bedroom cottage costs from £255 per night inclusive of breakfast, with a three-night minimum stay.
Vila Monte
There is plenty of charm here with courtyards filled with fountains and orange trees and gardens overflowing with bounty for the kitchen. Just 55 rooms are dotted around the lush gardens, their design paying homage to the region’s Moorish heritage with high ceilings lined with straw reeds and the characteristic latticed chimney pots. White-washed bedrooms have driftwood branches where colourful kaftans for the beach hang alongside straw hats. Two swimming pools, a tennis court and a gym are there for the active and a shuttle bus takes you to the nearest beach. Evenings are given over to al fresco cinema and delicious dishes at the rustic Terra Restaurant. Doubles from £255 including breakfast. Doubles from £255 including breakfast.
Ricardo NascimentoVila Vita Parc
This is the grand dame of the Algarve’s resorts, with something for everyone. Private yacht with which to set sail on the seas? Tick. Two Michelin-star restaurant? Tick. Extraordinary wine cellar? Tick. The country’s only Sisley Spa? Tick. Brilliant kid’s club? Tick. And so, it goes on. The choice of restaurants is huge, ranging from Michelin star dining at Ocean where you really must try Chef Hans Neuner’s sublime dishes to traditional Portuguese favourites at Adega, Japanese teppanyaki and sushi at Mizu and tuna tartare and salmon poke bowls, next to the infinity pool at Whale. They have their own private beach, great shops and tip-top service throughout the 202 rooms and villas dotted around the 54 acres of sub-tropical garden. Doubles from £187.
Vila Joya
This gem of a private villa with just 13 rooms is one of the Algarve’s best-kept secrets but has long been a favourite of the cognoscenti. Perched on a clifftop, it is ridiculously romantic, and its breezy, beautiful setting will pull you back time and time again. Food is memorable, from the two Michelin-star restaurant with elegant dishes such as John Dory with seaweed and beurre blanc to the fun, buzzy and very cool Vila Joya Sea on the beach, where sushi jostles with tiradito behind raw coir rope blinds and cocktails from amber mojito to smoked & tasty are shaken up as sundowners. Doubles from £510 including breakfast.
Yves GarneauThe W Algarve
Just opened and already making the waves it promised it would, The W plays to its own beat. DJ booths – clad in iridescent mermaid scales obviously – can be found on the wet deck by the (heated) pool, in the W Lounge where the décor of turquoise and mirrors mimics the glinting Algarvian coast and up at the roof-top Sea Sky Bar. Try the homemade cheese ravioli with Piedmont truffle cream in chic restaurant Paper Moon or indulge in a lobster and crab roll at the W Lounge Bar. In between times stroll to the beach, dip your toes in your private plunge pool or head to the spa for a serious make-over before dancing the night away. Doubles from £255.