Hotel Norat Palmeira Playa

Nice option near a beautiful small beach. We stayed here for one night in July 2025 but wish we had stayed a couple more nights. The hotel is well located next to Playa Azor, a nice beach that otherwise does not have much convenient parking. The rooms were Ok, clean and acceptable. The breakfast buffet was very good and frequently replenished (unlike some comments here from years ago). It was nice being able to take the breakfast outside on the tables overlooking the water. The snorkeling at the beach is nice, well worth visiting this hotel and beach. There is a beach restaurant nearby for some diverse food. There is also a path that goes all the way to Ribeira along the coast that starts around here.

The room could be improved. We stayed as two people in room 214 and although the bed was extremely large and very comfortable, there were several details that could be fixed. The door to the downstairs bathroom was in bad shape, as if it had been chewed by a dog (the hotel is pet-friendly; we brought our long-haired cat). It could have been repaired or replaced. The walls were not painted, so they had scuff marks, yellow damp stains, peeling paint, a small hole in the ceiling in the entrance and a deteriorated skirting board just past the bathroom. Also, the heating/cooling system was not working properly; even though we lowered the thermostat to 15C, it was still too hot, so we had to open the window. These details should be checked by the head of housekeeping or the hotel management. As for the food, it was absolutely exceptional. The breakfast was very varied and complete, with options for all tastes. The Christmas Eve dinner was amazing, from the starter canapés, which were delicious, to each of the main courses, which got better with each step. We were almost full before we got to the main course, but we couldn't resist because each dish was a masterpiece. Lunch on the 25th was on par with the previous dinner, just as exceptional and cared for in every detail. In short, the food has absolutely nothing to envy of a Michelin starred restaurant. Last but not least, ALL the hotel staff were wonderful: friendly, helpful, efficient and very professional. We definitely hope to return next year, but it would be perfect if the rooms were upgraded to match the dining experience.

Stayed July 2024, Our room was very small. Point to note is that there are quite a few rooms at this hotel that have no view of the beach at all. The window in the room opens into a fully enclosed internal courtyard where all you see is other rooms. This makes these rooms hot and stuffy with no real ventilation and there is no AC for hot weather so would not recommend for hot months. The hotel feels like it was built in the 70's and has had some upgrades but by todays standards is getting outdated. The bath was tiny being about half the size of a normal bath and only really good for standing in whilst you shower. The road to the hotel is narrow and bending with defects. The local town of Ribiera is not a tourist town and feels a little dirty and unattractive with commerical fishing being its main purpose. there are nicer places not too far away. Would recommend for this hotel for a short business stay but not as a vacation/holiday destination. On a positive note the room was very clean and breakfast is good but costs extra. The location on a small beach is great and you are close to a larger nice beach as well. Parking is good.