During our drive to Algarve, we decided to stop at a nearby winery. So glad we stopped here at…read moreQuinta da Tor. We didn't have a reservation, though we only wanted a tasting with some food, no tour. We asked the receptionist and she was happy to seat us outside. And out tasting began. We sat outside near the pool area with a good selection of tastings and tapas. Our wine staff was so sweet and knowledgeable of the wine details. Definitely a must when in the area.

We loved this place. It was easy to get to. Beautiful land although it's winter. Our lovely server…read morewas knowledgeable and very helpful with our wine selection and food We had a spectacular option of wines. Then our guide Miguel topped off the day with a wonderful tour of the property. Took us through the nuts and bolts of the winery operation. He answered all our crazy questions with ease and a straight face. Lol. Really this is a super cool winery and we had a great afternoon excursion. Worth a visit!!

Winery tour is available and their appointments are somewhat flexible…read more Tastings are €12 for premium and €5 for standard. It is still possible to do a tasting without an appointment, but it is always a good idea to call ahead because the location is in middle of nowhere. You can always opt out on the tour and go straight to the tasting at the bar. This winery also sells the famous olive oil that you perhaps may have seen in the various restaurants in Portugal. Prices are decent, so stock up if you can or if your luggage allows it. Obviously, they also sell all the wines on the tasting menu lists. They do not ship to the United States, but they have referrals of their distributors (mostly in the East Coast and one from Seattle). Wines varies here, so have a good idea of what you might want to try. The profile from each of the menu is quite different and you can only choose four of each tasting menu. The tasting menu has at least 8 to 12 choices. If you have the car and the time, it is worth making a stop at this winery. Saluté!

Came here on a whim for a wine tour and we were not disappointed…read more On a Wednesday in May we were the only visitors, and Monica gave us a private tour through every aspect of the wine making process, followed by a 6-wine tasting, with meats cheeses and their homemade olive oil. The landscape was beautiful and everyone we encountered were super friendly along the way. The tour was free and the tasting was only €15 per person! If anyone is looking for an authentic, non-touristy, excellent wine tour in the Alentejo region, this is the place to go.

My husband and I were enjoying all of the fantastic local Portuguese food in the beautiful mountain…read morevillage of Monchique. We felt like something more familiar after two weeks of fabulous local food. By chance, we decided to pull off the road to give Ceiceira a chance. We looked the restaurant up online before we entered, and to our surprise, the restaurant specialized in Southe US cooking and locally produced wines. Intrigued, we entered the main part of the restaurant, It was large, clean, and tastefully decorated. On one side were tables, and on the other was a wine-tasting counter. A friendly server approached and immediately seated us in the patio area. The patio was equally nice, with some high-top tables and informal lounge-style seating. The restaurant is beautiful inside, but the view is spectacular. You can see the entire village of Monchique(it is a postcard-perfect picture). In the background was American Country Music played at a reasonable volume. The extensive menu contained some tasty Southern US choices, such as battered/fried chicken and waffles. If this is not your thing, there are plenty of traditional Portuguese items as well as items that may appeal to the many Brits who frequent the area. The owners, a husband(British) and wife(Alabama) team came out to introduce themselves. They explained that their menu is evolving to appeal to a wider range of customers. They told us that they produce much of their wines on-site and are in the process of planting their own vineyards. The fried chicken, marinated Brussels sprouts, and devilled eggs were delicious. Ceiceira was a truly unexpected delight and one of our most memorable dining experiences.

This place is newly opened, an English chef and American partner. This was early October so I…read moreguess they missed the real holiday season? not sure We did not have time to eat here...we looked at the on-line menu (difficult to read and now being updated) and decided it was not exactly what we wanted - sort of tapas-y-ish But we dropped in for a coffee and cake just to see and, as it turned out having quite a chat First, I have been to this restaurant when it was a coach party place...not good, went just the once. It is now unrecognisable; it is completely redone and is simple but very pleasant and strangely calming...very well done Secondly, they clearly have big plans; they want to use fresh and local produce and keep things authentic but with a twist. Our friends who live there hadn't tried it yet so no real foodie reports - so the stars above are really only for the welcome and the decor...encouragement to please try it out and report back As we drove up and down the hill (its on the left as you go up the hill at the Monchique end) we looked to see how busy they were...mediumly I would say...the trouble is the menu at the moment seems quite fixed (and samey?) and so I would have to ask just how often would you go there? Its basically tapas. And is there a real market for this? Locals, tourists or expats? I hope so for their sake but I feel there should be 2 menus...either a standard one or dishes of the day on a slate and the tapas one Apart from 2 French people having lunch, while we were there, the only other paying customers...others seem to be friends, family or staff or a mix They had put up a screen and made themselves breakfast that morning and watched a World Cup rugby match - why didn't they advertise it to all the local Brits...bacon sandwiches all round??? They are talking about New Year on the roof (ticketed) and a special meal...sounds good but again the website needs to be up and running fully and they need to advertise They seem very nice, very friendly and enthusiastic and we wish them well with their bold enterprise...we will definitely try it out if we go back next year and will stay in contact with our friends to see what they say

This review is for the hotel, which is on the upper floors - the restaurant is on the street level…read more The rooms are clean, good-sized, and if one is lucky and gets a room in the front, there'll be a balcony included. Prices are good, it's right in the center of town. Parking is free from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.; parking spots are right across the street from the hotel. The mercado is only a couple blocks away, as is a vegetarian restaurant. The regional museum is a couple blocks in the opposite direction. Beja is a small town with most everything in walking distance, but there's still lots to see and do here.