About this hotel
General information
Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve sits on the cliffs above Praia das Gaivotas, near Porches. Its story begins in 1966, when an Englishman sailing along the Algarve coast spotted an 11-hectare plot here and pictured a private enclave of villas in the spirit of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda. A year later the estate was named Vilalara, after his newborn granddaughter, Lara.
Today it is a resort set in lush seaside gardens, its organic, softly curving architecture following the lie of the land, with its own access to the beach. It offers suites and two- and three-bedroom residences, seven restaurants and bars, a racket club, a kids’ club and a beach club. Its pride is Vilalara Spa & Thalassa, which grew out of the first thalassotherapy centre in Portugal.
Location
The hotel lies on the Algarve coast, on Praia das Gaivotas near the village of Porches. Faro Airport is the closest, and Lisbon Airport is the alternative gateway. By car from Lisbon it is about 260 km on the A2 motorway, roughly 2 hours 30 minutes; the train from Lisboa Oriente station also takes about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Spa
Vilalara Spa & Thalassa brings together thalassotherapy, spa care, wellness and anti-ageing programmes. At its heart are treatments in heated seawater: jet pools, a marine detox bath with algae and essential oils, jet and affusion showers, an ocean sound session with Tibetan bowls in the water and group seawater pool classes led by a physiotherapist, alongside wraps of three seaweeds, therapeutic mud, calcium or magnesium. The one-day Thalasso Flows programmes combine these into sequences for remineralising, detox or active recovery with a personal training session. Guests also have a sauna, a Turkish bath, a gym and nutrition guidance; the wellness club is open to guests aged 18 and over.
Sports & leisure
The Racket Club has three tennis courts, a padel court and two pickleball courts; coaches from partner LUX Tennis run private lessons, clinics and seasonal camps, including tennis camps for children, and the courts host social matches and friendly tournaments. There is a modern gym, as well as classes in the seawater pool. The hotel arranges private boat trips along the coast and its coves and beaches, hiking, diving, a winery visit with tasting, a create-your-own-wine blending session, a market walk and a market-to-table cooking session with the chef, traditional Portuguese ceramic painting and a candle-making workshop. Mornings can start with a sunrise meditation on the beach.
For children
The Kids Club is a safe, supervised space where children take part in arts and crafts, treasure hunts, fancy-dress adventures and nature activities. In season it runs daily from 9am to 6pm, and on request in the shoulder months. Babysitting is available, and the Racket Club holds tennis camps for children.
Restaurants & bars
There are seven restaurants and bars, with a resort-chic dress code in the evening, plus in-room dining.
- Coral — refined Atlantic cooking from local produce; romantic dinners with ocean views on selected evenings
- A Costa — Portuguese classics right on the seafront, open for lunch and dinner, with a bar through the day
- Trattoria Pantaleone — traditional Italian cooking with Algarve ingredients, in a relaxed, family-friendly room
- Raízes – Horta da Terra — fire-led cooking with organic produce from its own garden, served at a shared table; lamb is slow-roasted for 24 hours in a wood-fired oven
- Gaivotas — essential Portuguese cooking in the spirit of a refined tasca: market fish, shellfish, rice dishes and slow-cooked broths
- Vento — health-minded Mediterranean lunches and a bar by the Cascades Pool
- Beach Club — beach bar serving light meals and cocktails
Swimming
Below the cliffs lies the sandy Praia das Gaivotas, reached directly from the grounds. In season the Beach Club, open from 9am to 7pm, provides sunloungers, parasols and a bar. The resort has five outdoor seawater pools, among them the Cascades Pool, and a heated indoor pool.
Pets
Pets are not permitted in the suites and residences.
Rooms
The hotel offers five suite categories, suited to solo travellers, couples and small families, and five types of residence with two or three bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen for families and groups. All are sunlit, with balconies or terraces looking over the gardens, pools or ocean.
Every suite and residence has free Wi-Fi, a Nespresso machine, a kettle with a selection of teas, bathrobes and slippers, a hairdryer, a minibar and room service; all are non-smoking.
Elegant Suite
A suite with a double or twin beds, a sitting area and a large balcony overlooking the resort. Sleeps up to three.
Deluxe Suite
A spacious suite with a living room and a freestanding bathtub; the large balcony, with a daybed, faces the gardens. Double or twin beds, for up to three guests.
Ocean Suite
A suite with a double or twin beds, a sitting area and an oversized balcony looking out to the ocean and the sunset. Sleeps up to three.
Master Suite
A bedroom with a double or twin beds, a separate living room and a large terrace with a daybed and seating, overlooking the gardens. Sleeps up to three.
Grand Suite
The largest suite: a spacious bedroom with a master bathroom, a living room with a dining area, a kitchenette, a guest bathroom and a large private balcony with a daybed facing the pool or gardens. Sleeps up to three.
Residence 2 Bedrooms
An apartment with two bedrooms (one en suite), a guest bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, a separate living room with a dining area and a broad balcony with resort views. Sleeps up to five.
Residence 3 Bedrooms
Three en-suite bedrooms, a guest bathroom, an open-plan kitchen and dining room and a generous living room; the large terrace has lounging areas, outdoor dining and a private jacuzzi. Sleeps up to seven.
Vilalara Residence Garden View (83 m²)
An apartment with two en-suite bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a living and dining area and a 54 m² balcony over the hotel gardens. Sleeps up to five.
Vilalara Residence Garden View (184 m²)
A generous two-bedroom residence with en-suite bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a cosy living room with a dining area and a 43 m² balcony overlooking the gardens. Sleeps up to five.
Vilalara Residence Ocean View
A two-bedroom residence with en-suite bathrooms, a guest bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen and a living room with a dining area; the 126 m² terrace opens to sweeping ocean views. Sleeps up to five.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.