Bela Vista Hotel & Spa

A 19th-century mansion perched on a clifftop above Praia da Rocha, the Bela Vista holds its own against the Algarve's wall-to-wall resort sprawl by being stubbornly, specifically itself. The original bar survived the renovation, and a genuinely odd grand piano anchors the lobby. Rooms mix ornate wallpaper and high ceilings with bold contemporary furniture. The pool, spa, and terrace dining round things out. It closes for the winter, which is either a flaw or a feature depending on your January.