Sipping freshly-brewed coffee while watching the sun rise over the Guadiana River.

Lounging around during the day and enjoying the fresh breeze coming through the windows. Slowly getting ready for dinner and embarking on a journey back in time to the Roaring Twenties. As the sound of piano music floats through the night air, the tastes, smells, sounds and sights of the Eastern Algarve will come alive on your plate. With a passion for the Portuguese gastronomic heritage, Chef Jan Stechemesser cleverly combines tradition with a modern twist. His food is simple yet sophisticated. And above all, it is a delicious ode to local cuisine.

At the mouth of the Guadiana river, where the river meets the sea, the Grand Beach Club is an invitation to idleness. Lie back on a sunbed by the infinity pool, which overlooks the sandbanks and the boats floating on the river; enjoy the restaurant’s authentic food, cool vibes and cocktails at sunset, living the Grand lifestyle with your family and friends!

The stylish waterfront restaurant serves modern comfort food with a Portuguese twist, working closely with the local community to bring you the very best of the land and the sea. From ceviche, freshly caught octopus and Iberian black pork ribs with barbecue sauce to grilled steaks with green chimichurri sauce, gourmet pizzas, burgers on homemade brioche buns, organic salads and barbecued fish, everything is served with an effortless five-star service in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.

Live Music & Parties
Join for live entertainment while drinking a superb cocktail, indulging in some delicious treats and enjoying life in Grand Style.

Pool & Lounge
It’s not easy to resist the charm of the Grand Beach Club, and Grand Moments sometimes need to be spend exclusively. The use of the pool, of the sun chairs and sun loungers is exclusively reserved for hotel guest, but can also be used by Beach Club guests at a surcharge. A reservation is recommended.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Cacela Velha
On top of a hill, overlooking the sea and the easternmost lagoon of the Ria Formosa, this charming, tranquil fishing village is certainly worth a visit, home to an 18th century fort, pretty church, beautifully calm beach and excellent seafood.

Castro Marim
Castro Marim has, historically, been an important town because of its position near the banks of the Guadiana and its proximity to the coast. The remains of a castle stand on one hill overlooking the town and the Fort of São Sebastião on the opposite hill, with the houses of the town in between. From the castle enjoy a great view of the river, the salt pans (an important part of the economy of this area) and the sea in the distance. Castro Marim is a laidback town, comprising typically Portuguese houses, cafés and wide streets. The area is quite flat, making it ideal for bike rides or walks.

Alcoutim
Reach Alcoutim, on the banks of the Guadiana, by boat or a short 30-minute drive from Vila Real de Santo António; this pretty hillside town comprises cobbled streets, small squares and a paved promenade along the riverfront which is overlooked by a handful of cafes and restaurants. As early as 2,500BC, the region around Alcoutim attracted people because of the deposits of copper, iron and manganese and in Roman times a number of mines were established.
 
Tavira
Tavira's foundation dates back to the late Bronze Age, thus there is a great deal of interesting history about this town; there are several churches from different centuries which have left their mark behind, an old castle and a charming town center which is divided in two parts by a river. Using the nearby footbridge Santa Luzia, you can easily reach the islands and beaches of Tavira.

Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is not only one of the most beautiful cities of Spain but also the city with the largest number of listed monuments in Europe. The Archivo de Indias, the Giralda, the Alcazar and one of the largest historical centres of Spain are certainly a great incentive for anyone who wants to know the culture of this Andalusian province.

Seville is a city recognized for its wealth of unmissable sites. While many of these places are recognized for their historic significance, there are some contemporary sites that deserve the attention of affluent travellers as well. Among these worthwhile monuments is the Metropol Parasol – locally recognized as Las Setas de la Encarnación (“Incarnación’s Mushrooms”)  due to their quirky shape. Boasting six parasols and four levels, the design of this structure was inspired by the vaults of the Seville Cathedral and the ficus trees in Plaza de Cristo de Burgos.


NATURAL HERITAGE

Guadiana River
The Guadiana River, forming a natural frontier where Portugal meets Spain, became the official border between those two countries after the Christian occupation. During the Roman period, the mining resources of the region were exploited and transported along the river, which covers a length of 829km. Although it became an important port of entry for sea fishing boats to supply the canneries by the end of the 20th century, nowadays you’re most likely to gaze upon the banks of the Guadiana River whilst on a river cruise. Whether you’re marveling at the natural world or bonding with the welcoming people who live here, you will create memories that will last forever.

The Beaches
From the Guadiana estuary to Caçela Velha, the most westerly municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, you will find a 12km-long sandy beach with a calm and, for Portugal, uniquely warm sea. The vast beach, very close to The Grand House Beach Club, is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing day in Grand style. If you’re full of energy, walk along the undulating curves of the dunes, sheltered by the shadows of the pine forests and Ria Formosa’s canals. At the end of the beach you’ll find the magical Caçela Velha Peninsula, just inside the Ria Formosa, which is accessible by boat; remarkably, on one side is the Ria channel and, on the other, the infinite ocean.

Ria Formosa
The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a complex lagoon system with a huge diversity of fauna and it is in a permanent state of flux, due to the influence of winds, currents and tides. It stretches along 60km of coast from Ancão (Municipality of Loulé) to Manta Rota, part of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António. Together with two peninsulas and five barrier islands (Ancão Peninsula, Island of Barreta or Deserta, Island of Culatra, Island of Armona, Island of Tavira, Island of Cabanas and Peninsula of Cacela) it was classified in 1987 as a Natural Park
 
Natural Reserves
Vila Real de Santo António is flanked by two Natural Reserves, ideally suited to hiking, biking and bird watching. A 3km-long pine forest that connects Vila Real de Santo António and Monte Gordo takes on a protective role for this region by fixing the dune system, controlling the sea winds and providing safe harbor for the wild fauna. The forest hosts an important population of chameleon, a reptile that has here one of the last strongholds of its natural habitat. The Natural Reserve of Sapal de Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António is near the mouth of the River Guadiana and covers an area of 2300 hectares, consisting of salt marshes, brackish water bodies and steers which harbor a high number of fauna and flora species. As one of the areas of major ornithological interest in Portugal, this wetland is also recognized as a place of passage, wintering and nesting of many species of waterfowl.


CULTURAL HERITAGE

Cuisine
Vila Real de Santo António certainly plays its part when it comes to the fact that Portugal is renowned worldwide for its fresh fish. This town is known in particular for its first-class tuna, as well as mussels, clams and oysters from the nearby Ria Formosa Natural Park, so expect a unique fresh seafood experience, straight from the ocean to your table.

There are many local specialities, which visitors to the region must try, such as Cataplana (which is the name of both the delicious fish casserole and the dish in which it is cooked), sautéed salicórnia from the coast and hearty meat specialities from the northern part of this rich region. These dishes are composed of the finest ingredients grown by farmers in the area and seasoned with fresh local herbs.

To round off any truly authentic Portuguese meal, sample the variety of delicious pastries at which this region excels, made using Algarvian citrus fruits, figs, carob and honey.

Drinks
Whether you know a little or a great deal about the country, you may well have come across the amazing wines that Portugal produces – there are, not only in the northern region but also in the Algarve and the lower Alentejo, exceptional vineyards where visitors can sample the delicious local wines.

Less famous but not to be missed is traditional fruit brandy made from the so-called ‘strawberry tree’ (Medronho), which grows wild throughout this region. Some locals mix it with honey, which they procure from farmers nearby.

Salt
A large area of land – some 2000 hectares – between Castro Marim, Monte Gordo and Vila Real de Santo António is the Reserva Natural do Sapal (the Salt Marsh Nature Reserve), which is home to some 153 species of birds, including storks, avocets, sandpipers and flocks of flamingos. The main activity of the wetland of the Natural Reserve established itself already since 1960 as a strong economical part. Thanks to its high quality, this salt is used liberally in local cuisine, often combined with lemon or herbs, and for skincare.

Arts & Crafts
Vila Real de Santo António and the surrounding area have long been well known for their art and handmade items, and you still can find these today in the small shops of Vila Real de Santo António or in the picturesque towns of Castro Marim and Caçela Velha nearby. Handmade baskets, pottery, high quality towels, traditional wooden chairs and inventive souvenirs made from cork are just some of the treasures you will discover.