Bela Vista Hotel & Spa

Bela Vista Hotel & Spa occupies one of the Algarve's great historic buildings, a clifftop manor built in 1918 as the private summer residence of canning industrialist António Júdice de Magalhães Barros and inaugurated in the presence of President Sidónio Pais. In 1936 the house became Hotel Bela Vista, one of the first charming hotels in the Algarve, and over the decades it hosted wartime refugees, Baron Mannerheim of Finland, the Count of Barcelona, a young Juan Carlos of Spain and Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek. The building's original features survive, including the tiled foyer depicting scenes from The Lusiadas, and the property is classified as a site of public interest. Today the hotel is a Relais & Chateaux member spread across three buildings, the original Palacete, the Casa Azul and the Casa Jardim, perched directly above Praia da Rocha with the beach below. Its fine-dining flagship, Vista Restaurante, has held a Michelin star since 2017 under chef João Oliveira, serving two tasting menus, Vista (fish and seafood) and Terra (vegetarian). More casual dining runs through BELA, the food, drinks and view space, and the Vista Bar. Wellness is handled by a Spa by L'Occitane alongside a pool and gym. The hotel's recent recognitions include the Golden Fork for Vista and the Silver Key for accommodation in Boa Cama Boa Mesa 2026. Note that the hotel positions itself as an adult-oriented retreat and states it is not recommended for children. Rooms are booked through the hotel's own online reservation system, and gift vouchers are sold directly on the site.