Vista Restaurante is the fine dining restaurant of the beautiful boutique hotel Bela Vista Hotel & Spa. This property is conveniently located in Portimão in the Algarve region in Portugal. Gastronomy, a cosy boutique atmosphere, a stunning service and a beautiful spa are just a few reasons why this place should definitely be on your wish list in Portugal. You can discover more about this hotel in our hotel section.

The gourmet restaurant of Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Vista Restaurante, is located at the backside of the main hotel building. Gently nestled on the top of a cliff, it offers stunning views on the beach, the ocean, and the famous Praia da Rocha. The restaurant itself is accessible for hotel and non-hotel guests through the beautiful lobby of the hotel. Guests can also start or end their meal in the impressive, cosy hotel bar. Just like the rest of the hotel interior, the restaurant was designed by Graça Viterbo. She created a charming environment where she kept much of the original design but completed it with modern, colourful accents. In the dining room, blue and white colours prevail and several interior elements refer to the sea.

Executive Chef João Oliveira is in charge of the kitchen of Vista Restaurante. This young and driven chef is one of the most upcoming chefs in Portugal. João was born in 1986 in Oporto and gained experience in some of the finest restaurants in Portugal such as “Casa de Calçada”, “The Yeatman” (where he was sous-chef), and the famous “Vila Joya”. The chef started working at Vista Restaurante at the beginning of 2015. João is a humble, dynamic and dedicated chef. His experiences from the different regions of Portugal are reflected in his plates, which are a combination of Portuguese, Mediterranean and modern cuisines. Product quality always comes first and the main products are complemented with just the right ingredients and delicious sauces. A good example is the 45-days matured steer, which is finished with vegetable charcoal, chervil, parsley root, bone marrow and a brilliant sauce with summer truffle. Of course, fish and shellfish are very important. The roasted John Dory, with asparagus, soft roes bread panada and pak choi, is simply delicious. A rich and creamy dessert based on chocolate, noisette and toffee, combines the right amount of sweetness and bitterness and is a must for chocolate lovers.

At Vista Restaurante, guests can choose between the ‘Fish and Sustainability Menu’ (a great choice for the lovers of fish & shellfish) and the ‘Vanguard Menu’ (which offers a broader scope on the products of Portugal), or separate dishes à la carte. Sustainability is important for the team and they even dedicated a special ‘Ocean Sustainability’ event to this theme. Each year, the chef and guest chefs cook with ‘forgotten fish’ from the ocean. A beautiful and interesting initiative to learn more about the richness of the ingredients of the Portuguese ocean! The restaurant also has its own farm where they produce four kinds of premium olive oil. Guests can taste them all during a meal in the restaurant. Delicious and hard to choose a favourite.

Bar and Restaurant director Tiago Pereira is in charge of the dining room and does a tremendous job offering his guests an excellent gourmet experience and very interesting wine parings. The service is professional, laid-back, and very friendly.

Vista Restaurante is a beautiful and upcoming fine-dining restaurant in the Algarve in Portugal. Executive Chef João Oliveira clearly has the potential to reach the culinary top and offers his guests modern dishes that combine Portuguese and Mediterranean influences. All served with stunning views on the ocean!

Written by Sven