"We were only in the restaurant for dinner, but did not stay in the hotel. While the prices are slightly on the higher side, the food is absolutely worth it! The menu is rather small, but with some uncommon flavors, especially regarding the pizzas. This enables the kitchen to prepare these few dishes perfectly. The Focaccia as a starter was incredible, especially the goat cheese. The pizza was great as well. The service was nice and attentive. Highly recommend it!"

Elias Weber

"A truly delightful hotel, exceptionally clean. The staff professional, friendly and attentive. The location is perfect for wandering through the quaint town. Everywhere is flat no hills to climb here, great for those with limitations on mobility. I would highly recommend the Pousada Vila Real de San Antonio, we were so well looked after whilst we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Thank you"

Vanessa Pound

"The hotel has a fantastic location, and the rooms overlooking the square (we stayed in 202) are definitely the best choice if you don’t mind a little occasional noise when events or exhibitions are being set up. By contrast, the rooms with balconies don’t offer much of a view and are quite overlooked.

The staff are genuinely lovely—always ready with helpful recommendations if you take the time to engage with them, though never pushy. The room design seems to be going for a trendy, minimalist feel, but it can come across a bit budget-chain. Storage is limited: no wardrobe, just a hanging rail, and one of the bedside tables didn’t have drawers. The industrial-style lamps above the bed look stylish but aren’t the most practical—I managed to bump my head on them more than once.

The pool area is on the small side, and the pool itself isn’t heated. There’s also a rooftop “plunge pool” (more like a jacuzzi in size), but it lacks shade and the seating isn’t especially comfortable.

Breakfast is served in a compact dining area, though you can also spill out into the lounge or outside seating. The selection was a little repetitive: scrambled eggs, bacon (not the best), small sausages, and—unusually—baked sweet potatoes every day. On the plus side, the fresh orange juice was excellent, as were the natural yoghurt, fruit, and pastries. On our first morning we had delicious baked tomatoes, but sadly they never reappeared. There are also cereals and seeds, though served with the tiniest spoons imaginable.

Outside of breakfast, the food was a pleasant surprise. We shared a fantastic pizza one lunchtime, and on our final evening enjoyed a really good meal on the terrace.

As for location, while the town itself is fairly quiet, the hotel is perfectly placed for exploring. The ferry to Spain and the train station are both within walking distance. Alvero is a charming day trip, Praia Verde offers a beautiful beach, and Monte Gordo has a livelier atmosphere—both easily reached by Uber at reasonable prices."

Charles McLaughlin