Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Ok….so honest feedback here as this is a unique hotel but could do so much more and has so much potential:|So what s amazing:|The garden and the hot pool and the fact that you can explore them after hours makes it unique and intimate. And what a piece of paradise!! |The location is perfect to explore this side of the island with a rental car. |Olivia from the concierge desk who planned our whole 3 days for us is the reason for the extra star on this review: she was attentive, caring and friendly. ||We had a bad experience at the spa but the reception manager heard us and listened to us to resolve the issue. We appreciate this effort. ||What needs improvements:||Service is inconsistent overall. |The Restaurant service for dinner was not good so we did not come back the next day. ||The spa service is not great based on the 5 star hotel.||The staff overall needs to be trained on how to be in service as I feel this was missing. ||The rooms and the actual hotel have so much potential to be an eco resort with natural elements, bur instead it is just a Marriott feel when they can capitalize on the boutique aspect especially for the rate charged. ||In summary, stay here for 2 nights to experience the Furnas waters and the garden. Stay somewhere else for the rest of your trip. ||We would recommend garden tours after hours for guest to bring value to the hotel.

If you are going to Furnas and you love nature, pick this hotel. It is not the newest hotel or the most luxurious in terms of the rooms. However it more than makes up for it in the gardens, multitude of flora and trees, the birds chirping, the thermal pools and the wonderful restaurant. The garden is so unique and special you can get lost and recharge. During the day 10am-5pm, the gardens and thermal pools are open to public so can get crowded. If you stay at the hotel, you can go 24hours so I would go after dinner. The hotel even thought of putting a towel rack warmer in the bathroom so you can quickly dry your bathing suit. If I rinse and wash at night, it is dried by morning. ||The restaurant was another gem in the wonderful host Nelson who saw to my dietary needs. They are attentive and very responsive to my plant based diet.||The concierge Olivia was so helpful and sweet. Everyone really were kind and responsive. ||I would definitely return to this hotel just for the garden and the warm service. Thank you for a wonderful stay!

We stayed as a couple and were thoroughly impressed with our stay. The hotel is housed in a unique 1930s building that has preserved many beautiful original elements, giving it an elegant, timeless charm. The atmosphere throughout is stylish and serene. The location in Furnas is excellent – peaceful yet central – and the direct access to the stunning Terra Nostra Park is a huge bonus that sets this hotel apart. Everything was very clean and well maintained, and the staff were warm, professional, and attentive. The breakfast buffet was delicious and thoughtfully curated, with high-quality options and great presentation. We did miss having some fish or seafood options, given the island setting, but that's a small point. The bar area is also very inviting and a great place to relax after a day of exploring. The only downside we noticed was some water leaking from the ceiling in a few parts of the building, likely due to a roof issue. In those spots, the walls showed signs of longer-term water damage. It didn’t affect our room, but it was noticeable and hopefully something the hotel is already working to address. All in all, a truly memorable and high-quality stay. We would return without hesitation – and recommend it wholeheartedly to others.

I was totally surprised by this fine hotel. The Terra Nostra Garden Hotel is a gem. Beautiful and comfortable rooms with surprise treats appearing every day made for the perfect place to explore São Miguel island in the Azores. Wonderful breakfasts and an excellent restaurant for drinks and dinner. The staff was attentive, and my wife and I enjoyed the hotel. Oh, my wife wants me to mention that there is a superb spa.

The hotel is very nice, with a great breakfast every morning. The onsite parking is very convenient, and the staff are all pleasant. We got a couples massage and it was great. ||The botanical gardens are amazing and very cool to get lost in. ||Cons:||We chose this hotel specifically to be able to enjoy the thermal baths after hours. I read a review about the baths being under maintenance and specifically called to confirm this wasnt the case before booking our stay. I was assured everything was operating normally...||Every night the baths have been closed for cleaning, eliminating any possibility to really enjoy them after hours. If you are envisioning coming back to your hotel after a long day hiking to enjoy exclusive access to the thermal baths to soak your tired muscles, think again. Theyre closed for cleaning. || They drain the entire main bath every night at 8pm and spray it with some substance. On most days we observed the main bath being almost completely empty. It got us thinking, theyre not cleaning it every night because there were lots of people. We looked, and it seems like these baths had some type of bacterial infection in them and there was a forced closure a year ago. Now there is some strict rules in place as they were deemed a health hazard to the general public. || The thermal jacuzzis, which operate off the same water are not drained every night. That to us is a bit concerning.|| I wish the staff had been transparent about the closures when I inquired before booking and then let me make a decision from there.|| We most likely wouldn't have booked the first stop of our honeymoon in furnas had I known that, and stayed at a hotel along the coastline for half the price.

I cannot say enough good things about this hotel. The gardens are simply amazing and having full access to the as a hotel guest as well as private access after public closing times was so fun. The hot bath springs are such a nice way to relax. The hotel itself is beautiful with spotless and well equipped rooms. The staff is very attentive and kind. The breakfast is really good as well. I could go on an on. This is my favorite hotel I've ever stayed at and it's really special.

We had a very rocky trip to the Azores. It was one of those trips where things just kept going wrong for us. That was until we ended up at Terra Nostra. The hotel is beautiful, the gardens and thermal pool exceptional, the food amazing and the staff superb. In fact I cannot say enough about the staff and how kind and accommodating they are. This should be a five star hotel. If you want a good location and tranquil hotel, this is the place for you.

Absolutely loved our stay here, located centrally in the beautiful town of Furnas and on the grounds of the stunning Parque Terra Nostra. You get complete access to the park with your stay, which was incredible - experiencing the gardens and the thermal baths completely by yourself was amazing. The hotel was beautiful inside and out, our room was very comfortable and clean and we had a nice balcony overlooking the gardens and the mountains. The breakfast was tremendous, delicious and incredible variety. Really a value considering everything, would return here without question next time we visit the island.

This was such a cool experience. The dish that we were excited about was the food cooked by the hot springs of the volcano. It is buried at 4 am and cooks until noon. You get a hint of the small me in the food. The other dish, the steak was also delicious. The waitstaff is highly attentive and caters to your needs.

Stayed here for one night and had both dinner and drinks at the bar It is pricey for the island but worth it. Service is very very good. The food is fresh and more modern and their drinks are delicious.

We came to this restaurant specifically to eat cozido. It's an upscale restaurant with excellent service but it doesn't feel uptight. The cozido, which essentially consists of several meats and vegetables cooked underground volcanic soil, was hearty, definitely recommend having this for lunch not dinner. The price for the cozido as compared to other local places was steep but the taste was delicious, especially the beef and pork belly. We also ordered an assorted selection of local Açores cheeses, some were soft and creamy others were more firm, all were absolutely delicious. They have an excellent wine selection, including dessert wines. After you dine at the restaurant they offer a voucher to visit the gardens and thermal pools which are open to the public for a fee.

It's a very nice restaurant with good service, but the food was just not that interesting. I had the weirdest chicken dish I had ever had in my life... chicken stuffed chicken. And though I love chicken, it just didn't do it for me. The vegetable cozido was pretty good. It was our one chance to try something cooked in the ground since that dish is usually done with a variety of meats. Terra Nostra was the only place with a vegetable version so points for that. But, I'm not sure I get it otherwise.

This isn't expensive by many standards, it is however the most expensive place in town. It's very formal and I (being a San Francisco Bay area kid) am dressed in a short sleave t-shirt and jeans, perhaps a bit under dressed. Being from the tech centre of the world that's what I'm comfortable in that's how I roll. It's all good. A bit stodgy but good food. If your over 50 and have money this is absolutely the place for you to come if you need service to feel important, you fit right in. There are nothing but self indulgent rich white people chillin here. The one thing I am going to say about that group is that they do appreciate good food, and good service. It's top notch. The cozido here is about half the portion and double the price of other places in town. It's a little bit the same and a little bit different.

Very good quality food in a casual outside setting adjacent to the parque terra nostra. Some vegetarian options (rare in Furnas). Upscale setting but ambiance is worth it. This is the bar of the Terra Nostra hotel and great for drinks, snacks, coffee or food items. My spouse had a veggie burger with cheese which was above average and I had a Portuguese sausage sandwich with cheese, pickle, & special sauce on a bolo levado bun which was interesting & tasty. People watching the thermal bath parkgoers on the bar's outdoor patio added to the afternoon fun

I stayed at the TNG hotel for two nights on a recent trip. I pre-reserved dinner at the hotel restaurant for the first night and had such a great experience, I requested a reservation for my second night. I had no problem with getting a last minute reservation due to it being off-season but would still suggest reserving in advance. Everything was top notch from the service to the quality of the food and wine. Both evenings started with a unique amuse bouche and bread with flavored butter. Standouts included the heirloom tomato appetizer, beef tartar, pork collar entree, and fish of the day. The absolute favorite dish was the lamb cozida for two with couscous. If you enjoy lamb, I would highly recommend this dish. If you're in Furnas and looking for well-prepared food, great wine at a reasonable price point, and professional service in a classy yet casual setting I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Amazing food. Very upscale atmosphere. Try the cozido (beef stew). If you consume €30 per person entrance to the hot springs is free. The staff was great.

We came here specifically so my friends could have the cozido, it was awful. We tried the fish and vegetarian options. Both were absolutely tasteless and the fish was overcooked to the point of being inedible. The waitstaff had actually recommend I change my order from other food to this which I was very disappointed with. We basically left full plates of food on the table and paid more than we had for a full day of food at other locations. Very disappointing, would not recommend. Side note, the outside bar had amazing drinks and much better looking food.

Not impressed at all! My wife and I are big foodies and we were looking forward to lunch here. It was way too stuffy and overpriced for the area!! The Waite staff were unsociable and like robots. Not a fun lunch. The good news is my steak was excellent and prepared well. However the vegetables were way to salty (I'm guessing the Salt shaker broke on top of them) and the French fries limp and soggy. My wife did enjoy her fish, it was OK. The people working there need to lighten up and at least act like they enjoy there job!!! Especially our main server!! Very unpleasant. Don't waste your time, go elsewhere!!

Set on a beautiful place! The restaurant and the staff are upscale and also the food! Make reservations in advance to make sure that you will have a table. The food is great and also the deserts! It's a great place to come with family and friends. Make sure you come with time for a walk in the garden!

The restaurant looks very nice visually and the service is very good, but unfortunately the food is disappointing, especially considering the fairly high prices. The meal began positively - my starter of beetroot risotto was lovely and creamy and also presented well. For main course I had the traditional codizo stew and was expecting to have meat and vegetables together with a delicious sauce. However, the meat and vegetables were served separately and so were quite dry, despite the broth that the waiter then poured over the plate. I also found the vegetables overcooked and the meat very fatty so did not really enjoy the meal. The dessert was also a disappointment for me. I chose the "Pineapple soup" which I expected to be light and refreshing. Instead, a very think, very sweet, pineapple custard was poured over a spiced crumble. I found this very sweet and sickly, and slightly artificial tasting. It felt like they were trying too hard to do something different and fancy, but unfortunately failed in the execution.

For the restaurant: It's been a long time since I've been treated as well at a restaurant as I was at Terra Rostra. The service was fantastic - they were staffed with great waitstaff who walked the line between attentive and interfering with aplomb. The food was well prepared and arrived in a timely fashion. The wine list was broad but particularly had a lengthy list from Portugal. The atmosphere is art-deco and classy. I'd feel a bit underdressed in jeans, but none of the diners were wearing ties. For the gardens: Definitely go. It's 6 Euros well spent. If you haven't booked your trip yet, I'd pick a time in the Azores when their hydrangeas are in bloom, as they cover the island. Alternately, Terra Nostra has an extensive collection of camellias, which (in San Miguel, anyway) bloom Nov-Apr. The garden is stunning any other time, but I'm sure it's something else to behold during that time.

The playboy mansion grotto has nothing on the natural spring pool here - except perhaps bacterial infections. It's a rare, and so far only, opportunity to follow in the footsteps of TV host / traveler's past and enjoy an experience that even Tony Bourdain didn't get on his trip here - or at least didn't get on camera. Sure we saw him cooking food in the sulfur springs a couple miles away, drinking in the local bars, and giving props to the unique culture and history of a truly remarkable yet little known part of the planet. But it is almost criminal he refused (I assume) to do a water scene due to his body dismorphia. No offense to Anthony - I'm a big fan - but he's discussed his dis(bour)dain in other episodes for any exposure of his calfs. In the 4+ series he's hosted over the last decade, have you ever seen him in anything but jeans and/or a wet suit except that one time in Sardinia? You haven't. Perhaps he's just upping his price for his playgirl spread, which is smart and makes me wish I hadn't sent them so many polaroids since they sent each one back in its own envelope. Harsh. The 'rejected' stamp was really redundant. And why a separate envelope for each rejected photo...? Anyway, this review is based solely on my experience in the spa pool, which you technically need not stay at the hotel to enjoy. And they say socialism should be feared. Don't worry - you still have to pay to get in. (Capitalism - you know I'd never cheat on you with socialism baby - I won't even share my leftovers I'd rather throw them away cuz they are MINE!!! not yours!!). Long story short you won't find this place unless or until you have some type of guide or happen to be one of my 50 or so yelp friends. If you've suffered through this rant-view thus far, here's why it's worth the trip: The hotel boasts an Olympic-sized natural spring pool that's heated by underground volcanoes (technically the island is a volcano), that is more than 100 years old and is surrounded by trees imported from all over the world from the eccentric British millionaire who built the grounds in the 1800's. I can only imagine what his playboy-esque parties must have been like to have a grotto big enough to fit a yacht inside. #EducatedGuess #Epic (trying to trend younger to secure new yelp friends). Long story short, you'd have to be crazy to come to the Azores and NOT visit this place. Not crazy like designing a torture regime that was an abomination (since we're name dropping I'm thinking of you John Jessen and James Mitchell). More crazy like paying those 'psychologists' more than 80 million dollars to do so (I'm looking at you clandestine shadow government / illuminati). I mean have you ever babysat toddlers? Seems like you could have tortured those guys a lot cheaper. Maybe made them watch 'Facts of Life' reruns or the movie "Leonard part 6" - which Bill Cosby was so embarrassed about he tried to buy the movie from the studio so it would never be seen #pattern#money&power=abovethelaw. Maybe Cos is a CIA operative... and a red dot just appeared on my forehead so I BETTER END THIS.

Most of my restaurant reviews are positive and I normally don't make the time to post negative reviews. I make an exception here as the sorry excuse for a Sommelier at Terra Nostra has forced my hand. We came to the Azores looking for whales but I discovered a Great White Shark in the form of a young, slick ( in his own mind ) sommelier who starts out by trying to upsell me a bottle of wine that only costs $1,000 euros... It's a true story. Maybe he thought I was someone famous ( I wish ). My response was maybe tommorow night. It gets even worse from here as the bottle I did eventually order for $45 euros he comes back to tell me is sold out. He upsells me to an $85 bottle. Then a MGR returns to tell me that $85 bottle isn't available either. I seize this opportunity to ask him about the $45 bottle which he says IS AVAILABLE! The sommelier returns still filled with self confidence, bravado and the $45 bottle telling me I got lucky as they found the last bottle. After dinner I find an opportunity to completely roast this lying sack of shit by asking the MGR to save me another bottle of that wine for tomm night. He says ok we have 3 bottles left. You see how weird this is getting?? It's a shame as this place is rated as best restaurant in the Azores blah blah blah. But when your dining experience feels like a used car dealer trying to pull your pants down your appetite went out the window. I came with my beautiful date hoping for a classy romantic experience. This punk ruined it for us and the rest of the staff as they were all dressed to impress and seemed professional. $170 was the bill - most expensive meal we had in 3 weeks in Azores. We didn't punish the waiter and tipped him well as he wasn't an accessory to this despicable behavior. I'm not even gonna talk about the food.

This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. We had Christmas dinner at the restaurant and between the service and the food it was a great overall experience. I am still dreaming of the lemongrass panna cotta I had for desert. It's also veg friendly and very reasonably priced for the quality of food and service. I highly recommend making a reservation if you plan on going since they seem to book quickly and you could end up waiting a long time or not getting a table without one.

Delicious food. Lots of local delicacies. Pricey give its convenient location at the Terra Nostra Garden. Very good service. Make sure to try out their signature cocktails.

Delicious and elegant restaurant. One of the three best we've found. Traditional cuisine. The service was outstanding.

Best meal on the island! We had a very positive experience, even with our 24 month old. They didn't bat an eye when we asked for a highchair and were very kind to our daughter. The food was great and expertly prepared. The service was great. I was worried that it would be "too fancy" for us after a morning hike with a toddler, but it was just fine. Please make a point to try this restaurant while in Furnas.

Eh. (1) The food is overpriced for what it is. (2) The portions are easily shareable, so don't get your own. (3) You can't take away your oversized overpriced portions, so order accordingly.

it costs 6 euros to visit the springs and gardens. a lowly fee for the beauty of the gardens alone! we parked at the hotel and were guided to the gate of the gardens. they rent towels for 2 euros. there are changing rooms, toilets, sinks, and cold showers. not refreshing in the winter, moreso for the summer! the hot pool is a very large round shallow pool. it is murky and may stain your swimsuit, but it is very, very nice. there are benches to put your bags on. it wasn't busy during the off season, but from the pictures online, it gets super busy in the spring/summer. i didn't notice any food options, other than the hotel, but the town of Furnas has options, specifically food cooked in the nearby underground hot springs, that is served in a few of the restaurants. after soaking for a while, we walked the enormous expanse of absolutely charming and beautiful gardens. there is a Camellia specialty, and their gorgeous blooms were everywhere from thousands of plant species. you could spend hours walking the canals, the mossy trails, the grottos.... absolutely worth the visit!