Epic Sana Algarve

What a perfect stay! We went for our anniversary and we had the best experience. Anastasia made sure we had a quiet room as I requested and we had complimentary Fizz and chocolates which was just the nicest touch and made our day. She was so charming and helpful. We had lunch at the Deck bar and Tomas mafe us so welcome it was like we had known him for years. The way he attended to our requests and picked the best wine for us. He was a star employee he really went the extra mile as did Anastasia. 2 amazing employees. The spa and gym were amazing I had a great massage with Marta

We spent a week at EPIC SANA Algarve with friends, with the main intention of the holiday being to relax and unwind. The hotel certainly delivered on that, offering a peaceful and comfortable environment throughout our stay.

The hotel can be expensive in places, particularly when it comes to some meals, and there are more cost-effective options available elsewhere. That said, I would definitely recommend including breakfast as part of your stay. The choice and quality make it well worth it.

Our room was spacious, comfortable and, importantly, very quiet. The amenities were as expected, and the little touches were a lovely addition – including a chocolate left on our pillows each evening. The cleaners were kind and friendly, although on occasion we could hear the odd argument between members of the cleaning team, which was slightly distracting.

The pool areas were clean, tidy and spacious, with plenty of room for everyone. Despite the hotel being well occupied, the pool areas never felt overly busy, which made it easy to relax. The waiting staff around the pools were friendly, attentive and quick to respond to various orders, making the whole experience feel effortless.

The beach is just a short walk from the hotel's pools and gardens. The route down to the beach involves some uneven and sloping sections, so it is challenging for guests with limited mobility or accessibility needs. For those able to manage a steady walk, it is perfectly manageable, with opportunities to stop along the way and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Once at the beach, the beds were glorious and perfect for a little extra comfort, although it was equally enjoyable to simply take a towel down and settle on the sand. The setting itself is beautiful and ideal for spending a relaxing afternoon by the sea.

The spa is, quite honestly, worth a visit in its own right. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the whole experience left me feeling completely relaxed. I had a body scrub and could genuinely feel all my stresses melting away as I washed the scrub off, followed by having moisturiser beautifully massaged into my skin. It was exactly the kind of treatment I needed during a relaxing holiday.

The food and restaurants were excellent. The Japanese restaurant was Michelin-star quality, both in the quality of the food and the flair of its presentation. The Italian restaurant was equally enjoyable, serving authentic and comforting food that felt both delicious and familiar. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, adding to the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The quality of the food at the dinner buffet was incredible, while breakfast offered an impressive array of options to suit most dietary requirements. There was plenty of choice, and the standard of the food throughout our stay was consistently high.

Above all, the staff were kind, knowledgeable and friendly. One member of staff in particular deserves a special mention: Filipe at breakfast. His manner, attentiveness and hospitality were second to none. He went above and beyond to make guests feel welcome and looked after, and in my opinion, he absolutely deserves to be promoted!

Overall, EPIC SANA Algarve was exactly what we wanted from our holiday – peaceful, comfortable, luxurious and genuinely relaxing. We left feeling refreshed and would happily return.

We had a fantastic stay at EPIC SANA Algarve and would absolutely give it 5 stars for almost everything except one major flaw though. To be clear, the food, the staff, the facilities, and the overall quality of the hotel are genuinely excellent.

Food & Restaurants The food throughout the hotel was great. It is expensive, but the quality really does justify the price. The buffet is around £50 (excluding drinks) and offers very good variety. The Japanese restaurant is outstanding — highly recommended.

Rooms Our room was spacious, spotless, and very modern. The bed was extremely comfortable, although a couple more pillows would have been ideal. Overall, the room felt high‑class and well maintained.

Gym The gym is well equipped and clean. It’s very busy before 9am, but after that it becomes quiet with plenty of machines available.

Beach The beach is a short walk (max 10mins if that) away and does involve stairs to get down the cliff. People saying it’s a long walk are either lazy or not fond of walking. — soft sand, clean water, and comfortable loungers. They do charge €50 for the front-row beds, which is quite steep, but the beach itself is beautiful. We just took extra towels from the pool (it’s not manned that often so just grab) and sat on the sand which was just fine for free!

Breakfast & Value I’d still recommend choosing the breakfast package. It’s the best value overall, and you can decide whether you want lunch or not depending on your plans. Again, food is expensive, but the quality is consistently high. I would say like others that the sausages for breakfast are more like chorizo so not that great. They do have Gluten free items which was good and a good omelette bar.

Nearby Restaurants If you want cheaper options, just step outside the hotel — there’s a Chinese restaurant, an Italian place, and a small shop all within walking distance. We had a meal for four at Bella Ciao for €114, and the food was very good.

🚬 Smoking Policy The only real downside is the hotel’s smoking policy. Smoking is allowed everywhere on the property except inside the rooms, which means guests can smoke on their balconies, around the pool areas, and throughout most outdoor spaces. Because of this, we often had smoke drifting into our room when we opened the windows for fresh air. Neighbours smoking on their balconies meant the smell would come inside, and clothes left outside picked up the scent too. Around the pool, the occasional smoke also took away from the otherwise relaxing atmosphere. For a hotel that promotes itself as a health and wellbeing spa resort, it would make a huge difference if they introduced designated smoking areas and kept balconies and poolside spaces smoke‑free. If they sorted this out, the hotel would be absolutely perfect.

Overall Despite the smoking issue, EPIC SANA Algarve is a stunning, modern, high‑quality hotel with excellent food, friendly staff, great facilities, and a beautiful beach. If they address the smoking situation, it would easily be one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in.