Hotel Riu Cabo Verde, Restaurant Santa Maria — Restaurant in Sal

This review was meant for the whole resort...I stayed in room 2008 ground floor Building 2 from September 28 to 4 October 2025.

Excellent staff, environment, services, food, drinks... hygiene and cleanliness maintained throughout. Friendly and very helpful staff... always smiling. Rooms are of a good size... with separate shower room and separate toilet. Toiletries provided are of good standard. Walkways and paths are surrounded with Palm trees,shrubs and flowering plants. Always kept clean. Food... huge variety, both vegetarian and non vegetarian, to suit all needs. Various types of Ice cream during lunch and dinner time. There are two swimming pools. They are clean and hygienic with life guards present at all times. Good entertainment and games everyday at pool area. Beach area nice and clean with life guards at all times. Plenty of sunbeds at beach area... not enough at the pool area. There are five bars scattered throughout the resort. 24hr bar at the reception area. Swimming pool bar open during pool time. Beach bar open during beach time. Other bars open in the evening during entertainment time. Different entertainment and shows daily. Plenty of positives for this resort ... and great value...

Amazing place. Loved it. Hotel staff were excellent. Everyone worked very hard and, above all, did it with a smile! Something the UK (and especially London) could do with taking note of. Rooms were cleaned to a high standard by exceptionally charming and polite staff who took a real pride in their work. Beds were about the most comfortable I've experienced anywhere!

The only thing I'd mark down would be the lack of clearly designated smoking/non-smoking areas: it was hard to escape smoke at times. Also, the evening entertainment was very professional but overall seemed a bit samey and cried out for a little more variety and audience participation.

Poolside activities were varied and well organised by enthusiastic staff.

Would definitely...

The restaurant has a huge buffet with a myriad of food. Everything from pizza, to Mexican, soups, salads, vegetarian options, just to name a few. I read some reviews before coming here about food causing diarrhea, but I haven't experienced any problems. They bring drinks to the table, and the water from the pitchers is cold and I've not had any problems from it. They mostly gave white wine to go with the fish portion of the buffet, but all the other standard drinks such as Coke are also available. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and we haven't yet had a problem finding a...