Hotel Alvalade

Chef Antonio was considerate about Islamic requirements around pork and how dishes for Muslims are prepared. He made me a lovely Bolognese pasta that tasted amazing, and I’d definitely recommend trying his pasta. I left happy in the end, though not satisfied. The hotel is missing a prayer room and halal food options, services, or assurances. When we asked about halal food and prayer space, the staff didn’t seem to understand or show much willingness to help. Maybe reception had a busy day, but nobody smiled at us, and the place felt gloomy. Angola is a Christian country, and Muslims can eat meat slaughtered by the People of the Book, so that wasn’t the issue. Still, guests asking about these things deserve a respectful response, especially at a hotel of this quality. The other services are about what you’d expect from a four-star hotel. Those standard features aren’t really what stands out here. What matters is respect, tolerance, and a willingness to help people from different cultures and religions.

The restaurant food was fantastic, and the rooms were nice and clean. Staff were really friendly. There’s also a rooftop swimming pool and good gym facilities.

A neat room, tasty food, and courteous staff made for a pleasant stay.

The location is very good and the hotel facilities are good. Service could be better, though, and some staff had a terrible smell.