I have a strict personal policy against patronizing hotel restaurants. I find that they tend to be…read moremediocre and a poor value. I didn't try a meal here because I couldn't get past that prejudice, even though the menu is enticing: breakfasts including Portuguese, English and a few German dishes and dinners that feature local recipes along with a few tourist-friendly ones, including a few wonderful-sounding fish specials. My wife and I didn't stay up late enough to enjoy the bar, which offers karaoke and local acts (a Lady Gaga tribute when we were there - c'mon, even though she's pretty weird herself, you have to admit her music is fun). So no review, good bad or indifferent, on most of this restaurant/ bar's offerings. (Sorry.)
But we did have coffee there a few mornings. Now, remember that we're Americans, and our coffee tends to be, um, crappy (coffee manufactured by a company that makes paper towels and laundry detergent? Rilly?), so take this review with a grain of salt. That said, we did have the chance to try the coffee in a bunch of establishments all over the Algarve, so we have some basis for comparison. And I'll say that the cafe' Americano here, especially the stuff made by Anna Marie, was the best we had here and was just very, very good. I ordered mine black, and Jackie's came with milk, and both were outstanding every morning. (We didn't do coffee here every morning because the place didn't open until 8:30. We crazy Americans kept getting up TOO EARLY. WTF? We were supPOSED to be on vacation!)
The restaurant is attractive, open and clean. There are two very nice outdoor areas, one in front with views of the neighborhood and everyone walking by, and the other next to the beautifully-kept pool and a view of the pretty resort grounds. The neighborhood is quiet, mostly nice villas with a couple of larger hotels, within easy walking distance of several small and secluded beaches. No congestion, no walls of condos. We felt safe and, well, vacation-y.
The service was typical of what we got all over: attentive, friendly, and just good. We found the entire Algarve coast to be not just accommodating of tourists, but people just had a knack for making us feel at ease and welcome. Seasons was just like that. When we come back to the Algarve, we'll try the food here, too.
Go there.