Conrad Algarve
"Why book? This luxury hotel in central Algarve offers a thoughtfully curated collection of fabulous amenities and experiences bundled into an intimate resort experience. Set the scene Located just 20 minutes west of Faro, Algarve’s capital where you’ll find the international airport, Conrad Algarve is quite central to every corner of the region: The historic town of Sagres is a 75-minute drive west and Vila Real de Santo António, right by Portugal’s border with Spain, is 45 minutes away. While the Algarve is known for its massive resorts that have been catering to northern Europe’s sun-starved travelers for years, Conrad Algarve is a tidier operation. There are only 154 luxury accommodations, but the property attracts all types, from friend groups in town for golf to multi-generational families on vacation to couples taking a spa-focused weekend getaway. So you’re just as likely to see guys in head-to-toe golf regalia as you are to clock someone in the latest Gucci. The hotel also aims to be a central hub for the region, often hosting art and social events (there’s a basement-level gallery that hosts a party for every new exhibit) attended primarily by Algarve residents, both Portuguese and foreigners. Its fine-dining restaurant Gusto by Heinz Beck attracts primarily external diners, and the spa offers membership programs to locals, meaning you’ll likely find neighbors joining you at the pool, during the daily fitness classes, and at the gym. The backstory When it first opened in September 2012, the Conrad Algarve became Europe’s first Conrad property. Built from the ground up, the property was meant to look like a historic Portuguese palace. And UK-based architects Sigma Seifert delivered with details that give it that sense of place, including the cobble-stone pavement around the property that mimics the Calçada Portuguesa you’d find all over Portugal. The soaring atrium over the lobby evokes the kind grand entryway you would find in a palace in Lisbon, and the endless marble surfaces throughout only reinforce that opulence. Even with all this glitz, it’s still a largely intimate hotel with rooms occupying two wings on their side of that atrium so it never feels too crowded. It’s become a hit among visiting athletes, international glitterati, and affluent families who come to take advantage of the Algarve’s warmth and natural attractions but don’t want to stay in one of the much larger luxury resorts in the area. The rooms For its 134 rooms and 20 suites, the Conrad Algarve, designed by Miguel Cancio Martins (whose portfolio includes the Buddha Bar in Paris), adopted a contemporary residential aesthetic to give guests that tried-and-true home-away-from-home experience. It's easy to see many of the luxury condos and villas in the area looking quite similar. There are over a dozen room categories (including rooms with double beds) that feature oversized tufted leather headboards, geometric-patterned upholstery, floral area rugs, and lots of warm wood accents. Every guest room is stocked with sweet-smelling Byredo toiletries, large full-length mirrors (strangely something that some hotels sometimes lack), espresso machines, and massive balconies. If you want to get a feel for the atmosphere of the resort (or you just want to know if there are still sun loungers left), you want the rooms that face the main pool. From your balcony, it’s a wonderful site: A hotel’s social space full of energy. Units with this view are slightly more expensive than comparable rooms that look over some trees in the back, but the vibes are worth it. If money is no object, you can always spring for the one-bedroom Infinity Penthouse, which comes with an infinity pool, plus an outdoor terrace larger than some of the property’s suites. This suite is apparently often booked by luxury brands looking to do launch events in the Algarve. Food and drink The Conrad Algarve is one of a handful of area resorts that can proudly say they have a Michelin-starred restaurant on-site. Gusto by Heinz Beck is helmed by the very same chef behind La Pergola, the three-Michelin-star fine-dining hotspot in Rome. The intimate setting demands a reservation (there are only a handful of tables), and ahead of dinner make sure you hit the restaurant’s bar for its creative cocktails that are beautifully crafted and easy to toss back. The Mediterranean-inspired kitchen allows for both a tasting and an a la carte menu, which is great if you want a shorter meal. Either way, you must have the Fagotelli Carbonara, Beck’s surprisingly delicate signature dish. And Gusto’s wine cellar is massive—among the largest in Portugal—and features a global collection of vintages. I recommend asking the affable head sommelier Hugo for his favorite Portuguese bottles; the education you’ll get about the national wine-making scene will be priceless. There are two other restaurants: Louro and Lago, both more casual in style. The former is an all-day affair that orbits around simply prepared meat and seafood in the Portuguese style of grilling. A lunch of grilled squid, french fries, and a bottle of local rosé screams summer on-the-Med to me—especially if you have it on the outdoor terrace overlooking the pool. Lago, on the other hand, acts like a lobby bar, except with a sushi counter. Both offer tasty easy-going options if you don’t want to venture out of the property or if you’ve got an early departure the next day. But the Algarve is full of many other fantastic dining options, ranging from mom-and-pop seafood joints to fine-dining Michelin darlings. The spa At nearly 20,000 square feet, the Conrad Spa in the Algarve is a true wellness destination. In addition to treatment rooms, there’s also a spacious 24-hour gym, a separate movement studio for yoga and pilates classes (offered complimentary to guests every morning), an indoor infinity pool, and various wet areas (sauna, steam room, experiential showers). The service menu is quite massive, too: Your standard massages are there (shiatsu, lymphatic drainage, Thai, etc.), as are are nearly 20 different facial treatments featuring results-driven brands like 111 Skin and UK-based AMRA Skincare. But if you’re looking to make wellness the focus of your stay, there are two-to-seven-night programs you can sign up for: There’s a five-night yoga immersion. Or go all-in with the weeklong Life Reset retreat, which includes fitness classes, nature walks, and myriad spa treatments. The area Almancil is definitely one of the toniest towns of the Algarve, where affluent foreigners have settled into the various resort-like developments close to where the Conrad is located. Given that this is an outdoorsy pocket of Portugal, the atmosphere everywhere you go— except in the handful of nearby Michelin-starred restaurants—is pretty casual. You’ll find lots of people taking walks, going on runs, cycling, kayaking, etc. The Conrad is also close (next-door, really) to one of the Algarve’s largest resorts; Quinta do Lago. Here, you’ll find countless restaurants, golf courses, tennis courts, beach clubs, and much more. In fact, athletes who train in Quinta do Lago often stay at the Conrad. One thing to note: Conrad Algarve is not on the beach, but it does have an exclusive concession setup for hotel guests at Vale de Lobo beach (one of the prettiest in the area). Conrad has a complimentary seasonal shuttle that will ferry guests and back forth. The service Portuguese hospitality is known for its warm, easygoing pace. Everyone is eager to help, and that’s delivered with a friendliness that’s familiar, not performative. This is the case in the front desk, the spa, and the restaurants, where staff presents an approachable energy. You are, however, in southern Europe so requests aren’t always fulfilled at the quickest of pace. For families Given the hotel’s glamorous, wellness-fueled Michelin-starred bonafides, you may think that the Conrad Algarve is better suited for an adults-only stay, but a robust set of children’s amenities make it a great choice for families. One of its two outdoor watering holes, the Dado Pool, is specifically designated for families. There’s a playground and kids’ club available to keep the little ones entertained during their vacation. The laundry list of kids’ club programs include more educational activities, too, such as planting and picking vegetables from the resort’s vegetable garden and science experiments where they learn to simulate volcanic eruptions with sodium bicarbonate, vinegar, and liquid soap. Eco effort Since opening over a decade ago, Conrad Algarve has earned a Green Key certification for adhering to sustainability standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education for tourism venues. The resort also operates as part of Hilton’s Lightstay program, a corporate initiative that allows the brand to measure the company’s global environmental and social impact. There’s also the Conrad Algarve Social Corporate Committee, which spearheads various good-doing efforts from helping get food to vulnerable families in the area to donating toys, food, furniture, and tech to local schools. Accessibility In addition to following Hilton’s general safety standards, Conrad Algarve also has two rooms with accessible features: accessible rain shower and bathtub plus a fire-alarm system adapted to hard-of-hearing guests (with a vibrating pillow). There’s also an accessible walking path for wheelchair users to all resort areas, and the main pool is outfitted with hand-rails. Anything left to mention? What is perhaps most surprising about Conrad Algarve’s service offerings is its impressive collection of regional activities and excursions, curated through the hotel’s relationships with local operators, business owners, guides, etc. The concierge team, for instance, can organize a day out with clam harvesters, who will teach you how to catch razor clams. For a slightly more relaxing adventure, a boat tour of the Ria Formosa National Park and its barrier islands can also be arranged, followed by a fortifying lunch of Algarve delicacies at Estaminé, an eco-friendly restaurant on a stunning desert island." - Chadner Navarro
