Where to stay in Olhão, Algarve, Portugal

Check out these stunning locations as recommended by thehotelguru.com

The Algarve in Portugal is one of the must visit holiday destinations in 2025! We’ve teamed up with The Hotel Guru to highlight two incredible locations, bookable now through thehotelguru.com

Casa Rosa

Casa Rosa is charming, unassuming terracotta ‘casa’ just a short walk from the shops and cafés of Olhão. The x ochre-coloured rooms and suites are spread across the ground and first floor, and room 10, the Junior Suite, is huge with high ceilings and has a prime position overlooking the pool. There’s plenty of space at Casa Rosa both by the pool and on the rooftop terraces; feel free to borrow the yoga mats and blocks during your stay.

The rooms are air-conditioned, and the spacious en-suite bathrooms feature walk-in showers, chic waffle towels, and eco-friendly aloe vera body products. The owners are well-travelled, and their thoughtful little touches include complimentary chargers, tea and biscuits brought to your room early evening, welcome drinks and welcome notes – usually only found at larger luxury hotels.

The sitting room is by the pool and features a wood burner, which is lit during the winter months. There’s also an honesty bar for alcohol and cocktails and a fridge with complimentary soft drinks and milk for coffee.

Breakfast is a feast of fresh fruit, pastries, cakes, cheese, and ham. A cooked special, such as pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, is always available. What makes Casa Rosa special is the team of staff, led by Marcos. They are charming, efficient, and make you feel very much at home. Casa Rosa is the perfect retreat in the heart of Olhão.

Casa Amor

The house of love – aptly named as the charming French owners Jacques and Walter have poured their love into the restoration of this manor house just a few minutes’ walk from the marina. The building is unrecognisable from the shell it was back in 2021 and it has been transformed into one of the best places to stay in Olhão with 10 air-conditioned white en-suite rooms, some with their own balcony.

Bathrooms are modern and chic with tiled walk-in showers, bathrobes, fluffy towels and flannels and Porcellana heated towel rails. The crisp bedlinen smells divine and the freshly baked heart-shaped cookies waiting for you in your room is a lovely touch. There are two roof terraces with views across the rooftops, one with a shaded area and home to the salt-water pool.

Original features have been restored; the original stone steps retained, and archways rediscovered. There’s a lovely feeling of space at Casa Amor and plenty of corners on the ground floor where you can enjoy a game of chess, cup of tea in the sitting room or a spot of sun in the courtyard.

Breakfast surpasses many luxury hotels, showcasing Walter’s talent; each morning, he prepares homemade cakes (the gluten-free apple cake is exceptional), vegan banana bread, pastries, and biscuits, all with very low sugar content.

You can expect fresh fruit and figs, burrata and fresh tomato, cheeses, ham, and seeded sourdough.

Jacques can whip up creamy scrambled eggs or prepare eggs your preferred way. There’s no restaurant; however, the café on the ground floor is open for light lunches and drinks.

Spend lazy days on the rooftop or head to one of the islands for sea as blue as the Caribbean. It’s a chic little gem for adults only.

For booking and information, see www.thehotelguru.com