Sobrado Boutique Hotel

The hotel boasts clean, spacious rooms and a central location near the city center, beach, and dining options. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds, lovely bathrooms, and friendly, helpful staff.

I booked this alleged 4 star hotel for my husband’s 40th and reserved a suite. On arrival the ‘suite’ was just a standard room with a sofa tucked into the corner. It became apparent quite quickly that the hotel wasn’t 4 stars. The food is okaaay, the service is variable. There’s only one iron for the whole hotel. The pool didn’t have any water in it and the lift kept breaking. I started taking my own wipes down to breakfast because the tables and high chair (we came with our 11 month old daughter) were never properly cleaned. We had dinner once at the hotel restaurant and it was pretty average. There were good things though. The staff were very friendly and they allowed us to have a late checkout until 10pm, which was so useful as our flight was at midnight. Overall we didn’t have a bad time but it definitely is not 4 stars.

I should have known we would have issues when my emails prior to arrival were ignored. On arrival the “suite” I had paid for had been double booked so we were given an alternative which turned out to be the most basic room in the hotel. After three days of complaining I managed to get the difference between the rooms refunded without explanation or apology. Sadly this was just the start of the horrendous stay. Staff are pleasant enough but I wouldn’t call them friendly. The barman definitely requires a personality transplant, or at least a lesson in smiling and acknowledgment of guests would be a start. The bar area is small and forms part of reception. Drinks are reasonably priced. Breakfast is basic and repetitive but adequate. We ate at the main restaurant for dinner twice. The salad selection was good but all the hot food was stone cold. They simply do not have the facilities to keep food hot so should not be serving it. When I complained the chef just shouted and went back to the bar, as he did frequently throughout service, to have more shots. There was a complete lack of management within the whole hotel but especially the restaurant. They had run out of basic condiments which is unacceptable when there is a supermarket three minutes walk away. It is also not a buffet as such. You are served by someone and the choices are minimal. The second restaurant called Piri Piri serves pizzas etc which was ok and the young chef there was very good. The waiter, however, was the barman so all a bit miserable really. Such a shame that most of our evenings enjoying a peaceful drink were spoilt by waitresses arguing with each other. The hotel is small with a garden. The “pool” is tiny so more of a plunge pool. The beach is a good 10 mins walk away over uneven surfaces and not one for pleasant views. Lots of half built buildings which makes the area more of a bomb site. Sobrado guests can use the facilities of their sister hotel including the private beach which was really useful with plenty of sun loungers. Back to the room. The beds were probably the most comfortable I have slept in at a hotel which was great, but you guessed it, that’s where it ended. The room was clean when we arrived but cleaning services throughout our stay were inadequate. Bins were not always emptied, dirty glasses not removed, shower gels not replenished and towels were not clean looking. The TV had one level which was 100 so we couldn’t watch it , which is fine but if facilitates are advertised they should be in working order.On the third night my son showered and half way through the water turned brown. The water from the toilet, sink, shower and bidet were all brown. We had to use another room’s facilities. The following day my son became unwell followed by me the next day. The a/c then failed so we had to use the fan which appeared to have aggravated a nest of some sort as the room became infested with flying bugs, hundreds of them. The night porter allowed us to use ano