Thomas Lyons 
Anantara Vilamoura: The Resort That Offers Authenticity in the Algarve
The Algarve is a popular holiday destination in Europe, with over 277,000 Irish tourists visiting last year alone. Finding authenticity in the region can be a challenge for tourists, but the Anantara Vilamoura resort is making local experiences a selling point. The resort is being revamped with new adult and family zones, suites with butler service, and the Algarve’s first swim-up rooms. As a brand, Anantara is known for its cultural experiences, and the resort offers a mix of luxury, locality, and authenticity.
Upon checking in, guests are greeted with a subtle, citrusy scent and wicker and cane furniture among the marble interiors. The lobby features a ‘Journeys Expert’ who can organize everything from bike rides to cooking classes and Jeep safaris. The resort’s efforts to provide authentic experiences feel genuine. Ria, the restaurant where guests can watch Instagrammers take their photos, serves local fish and wines, while Portuguese art adorns the walls.
The resort also offers tours that take guests away from the crowds and into the hills, past vineyards and orange groves. The half-day tour includes off-road adventures, stops to examine the evergreen oak bark from which cork is made, and pit stops for pastéis de nata. In Loulé, guests can browse the market, taste “natural energy bars” made from figs and almonds, and buy hand-bound notebooks inspired by the fish of the region.
Anantara Vilamoura is located about 30 minutes from Faro Airport and a 15-minute shuttle bus ride from the beach. The resort has its own beach club, Purobeach Vilamoura, and is being revamped with new adult and family zones. The adult zone features an exclusive lounge and private cabanas, while the family area is in the opposite wing, where guests can find the new swim-up rooms. The resort also offers kids’ clubs, mini robes, and a ‘Family Concierge’ to assist with everything from supervised meals to baby formula and booster seats.
The revamp is still a work in progress, and there are some glitches that need to be addressed, such as decking that needs refreshing and a lukewarm carbonara dish at the new Italian restaurant, La Cucina. However, the seafood at Ria is delicious, and Asian fusion at Sensai is high-end, with some gorgeous omakase sushi and wine pairings. There is enough variety and quality to eat on the resort for a couple of nights.
Anantara Vilamoura is a place where guests can pile plates with pastries at the breakfast buffet, play tennis with racquets borrowed from reception, shoot pool in a teen hub painted with superheroes, and birdwatch from balconies. The resort offers a spa with a vitality pool, and guests can also book a surfing lesson or take part in cooking classes and market tours with a chef. Anantara Vilamoura is a resort that offers a mix of luxury, locality, and authenticity in the Algarve.
