Convento

Olhao, Algarve, Portugal
Book from USD 164

A historic townhouse with a Moroccan riad feel, near the eastern Algarve's stunning island beaches

A historic townhouse with a Moroccan riad feel, near the eastern Algarve's stunning island beaches

Hidden down a narrow street between a fishmonger and a buzzy restaurant lies a white door in a stone archway, which opens into one of Marrakech’s most stylish riads... Well, not really, but the internal courtyard - with its hand-painted blue tiles, graceful white columns and grand wooden doors - had us fooled. And as we climbed up spiral stairs to a split-level roof terrace, we were delighted by the views across the town's whitewashed roofs to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, where fishing boats bob on the waves and the bright sunshine is almost dazzling.

Once a weekday home for rural girls working in Olhão's fish-canning industry, the townhouse was saved from ruin by 2 architects, a historian and a teacher, who remodelled it into this airy, peaceful haven (no under 13s allowed). They carefully preserved and exposed original brickwork, turned former dormitories into 9 romantic bedrooms, and adorned communal spaces with local art and antiques from nearby Fuseta. We loved the sheer style of it all.

Highs

  • Fantastic value, and rates include a great breakfast
  • The rooftop terrace: a perfect spot for a lazy morning, an afternoon dip in the pool, or a sundowner
  • Olhão is only 20 mins from Faro airport, yet it's an authentic fishing town with cobbled streets and simple restaurants serving charcoal-grilled sardines and jarros of wine; ideal for a car-free holiday
  • You’re a taxi-boat ride from some of our favourite Portuguese beaches, in the Ria Formosa
  • Managers Guillaume and Antje are incredibly welcoming

Lows

  • Multi-level with steep spiral stairs - the rooftop cabins are only suitable if travelling with hand luggage only
  • No TVs, air con or music docks (though there is WiFi)
  • It can be difficult to park, but you don't really need a car here

Best time to go

This area of Portugal is great year-round, but we’d recommend April-October when warm weather is almost guaranteed. That said, we’ve visited in February and November and experienced sunny, dry days. Temperatures can soar in July and August, but the cool Atlantic acts as a welcome respite. Convento is closed in the winter months.

Our top tips

Take a day trip to Spain. Drive along the coastal road to Vila Real de Santo António and jump on the small ferry, which takes you across the Rio Guadiana. Just 5 minutes later, you’ll find yourself in Ayamonte, a pretty Spanish town filled with tapas restaurants. Just remember that Ayamonte is an hour ahead of Vila Real de Santo António, and most restaurants in Spain shut at 4pm; we’ve been caught out before!

Great for...

Beach
Cheap & Chic
Romantic
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 9 rooms
  • Breakfast only (restaurants nearby)
  • Ages 13+ only
  • Closed: Nov - Feb
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Walk to beach
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

The 9 rooms and suites fan out around the tranquil courtyard, with its tinkling fountain and colourful bougainvillea. All are chic white spaces with gilded mirrors and lamps, handwoven rugs, local antiques and mismatched chairs. Bathrooms have huge walk-in rain showers, with heated marble underfoot. Be aware that only shower gel and handwash are provided so bring toiletries.

We stayed in one of the first-floor Suites, accessed via huge sliding glass doors that allow light to flood in. These were our favourite rooms as they felt very private. The Rooftop Cabins are beautifully designed and romantic; one has a private patio, the other opens directly onto the communal rooftop and is the only room to have a sea view. The Double and Large Double rooms felt airy and spacious, and have their beds tucked under an elegant arch.

Features include:

  • Fan
  • Hairdryer
  • Safe box
  • WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a delight, prepared each morning by Antje and served at a long table in the art-filled breakfast room. Each guest is brought a daily-changing delicacy (we had local cheeses and meats one day; an omelette the next), as well as fresh fruit (papaya, raspberries, kiwi and grapefruit) and Portuguese bread and cakes (including the traditional pastel de nata). If you have any dietary requirements, just let Antje know.

For lunch and dinner, there are some excellent restaurants nearby. Our favourite is family-run O Galo, which serves delectable dishes such as fishcakes with fried sweet potato, as well as a range of tapas. Or there's Chá Chá Chá, a quirky local joint with fresh, locally sourced fare, gluten-free desserts and vegetarian options. For rustic and traditional Portuguese food (grilled fish and meat), try Pitéu along the seafront, deservedly popular with locals.

Before you head out, grab a drink from Convento's honesty bar and pop up to the roof terrace, to make the most of the last of the evening sun. The views of the islands (with swifts and storks flying past) is really special.

Features include:

  • Breakfast
  • Honesty bar
  • Restaurants nearby
Eating: kitchen
Activity:

Activities

  • Explore Olhão’s pretty cobbled streets, harbour and smart red-brick market. There's a daily spread of veg, fruit and fish, plus a farmers' market on Saturdays with budgies and bunnies, baked goods and pottery
  • Get a ferry or taxi boat to island beaches. Our favourites are Ilha da Culatra and Ilha Deserta, though all offer stunning stretches of golden sand; the journey takes you through the Ria Formosa’s lagoons. Further afield, and equally lovely, are the beaches of Fuseta, Barrill and Santa Luzia
  • Fuseta's antiques market is a must
  • Day-trip to Tavira and admire its hilltop castle, Roman bridge and wonderful collection of Gothic and Renaissance churches. There are pretty boutiques, too, which we never leave empty-handed!

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Boat trips
  • Fishing
  • Historical sites
  • Shopping / markets
  • Swimming

Kids

Children aged 13 and over are welcome at Convento, but there are no extra beds so they'll need their own room.

Kid Friendly:

Location

Convento is in the centre of Olhão, a small fishing town in the eastern Algarve, 20 minutes from Faro airport.

By Air:
Faro airport is the closest (15km) but you could fly into Seville (in Spain, 200km) or Lisbon (300km) if you don't mind a longer drive.

Take a taxi or hire a car from the airport; see our rental recommendations. You'll need to park on the street in Olhão.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Faro 15.0 km FAR
  • Seville 200.0 km SEV

Other:

  • Beach 1.0 km
  • Shops 0.1 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 61 independent reviews from i-escape guests

10/10
Room
10/10
Food
10/10
Service
10/10
Value
10/10
Overall

A beautiful and tranquil oasis, just a stone's throw from the hustle bustle of the fabulous markets and sea front of Ohlao.

10/10, , November 2024

This is such an exceptional place! We stayed five nights, enjoying the lingering warmth of late October. The building is sensitively restored with attention to detail and respect for its historic heritage and surroundings. It was so quiet and peaceful, no loud voices, noisy footsteps or slamming doors here! I loved having the beautiful, spacious, double-room, Otillia, all to myself (there were three in our group); I relished the calm pristine tranquillity of that room. The Convento team were so welcoming and knowledgeable. The breakfasts were amazing: we loved the enormous plates of delicious exotic fruits, the cake which changed daily, and the unlimited coffee! Although one could easily succumb to the temptation to spend the entire holiday relaxing on the lovely roof-top terrace, we did find plenty of interesting distractions to explore beyond the white walls of Convento. We enjoyed wandering the maze of Olhão’s narrow alleys and markets. We also ventured further afield by ferry to the incredible expanse of sandy beach on the island of Culatra, and on another day we took the train to the somewhat touristy town of Tavira. The nature reserve is worth a visit and accessible by foot from Olhão. I could go on endlessly, but earlier glowing reviews seem to have already captured it all!

10/10, , November 2024

Convento was heavenly. Our room was gorgeous. The breakfast was different each day and lovely. Lots of coffee. Service was spot on. Overall the value was fantastic.

10/10, , October 2024

We had a wonderful stay at Covento, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. It's similar to a riad, very tranquil and all decorated in white. The staff were so friendly and breakfast was yummy! I'd definitely recommend.

10/10, , September 2024

We had x3 rooms - 1 suite which was spacious and lovely, 2 x other double rooms which were more basic but still lovely - set up for our three teen girls. The breakfasts were just fantastic - gorgeous local produce, plentiful (for the big eating teens) and prepared with huge care. Just delicious and so much more than a bed and breakfast! The honesty bar by the pool was also perfect - simple but just what you wanted - a cold beer or glass of wine and chilled water. The rooms were beautifully clean and the service so personal and friendly. The space was calm and beautiful - a perfect escape. It is always tricky travelling as a family of 5 as hotels usually so expensive with three rooms, but this was a lovely way for me to get a break from catering and all of us to have a week of calm luxury. The place is really such a find. Olhao is so much more reasonable than other places we have gone to in the Algarve. The rooftop terraces are so beautiful - you can see across the whole town and out to sea.

10/10, , August 2024

An excellent location, tucked away from the easily accessible restaurants and boat trips. The accommodation was spotless and staff could not have been more hospitable. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by the friendly reception staff despite it being close to 1 am due to our rescheduled flights. We explored the islands and many of the recommended restaurants, all of which were superb. Our favourite, less than 2 minutes from the apartment, Galo, served a variety of delicious, fresh dishes (produce from the local markets). I would definitely recommend Convento - it was a true sample of excellent hospitality.

10/10, , August 2024
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