Vila Adentro — Restaurant in Faro

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Poor Service Overshadowed Everything

During a recent visit to Portugal, my friends and I stumbled upon this restaurant and were initially drawn in by the appealing menu and cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, what started as a promising dining experience quickly turned uncomfortable and disappointing, mainly due to the behavior of the staff.

We were a group of friends, one of whom was feeling a bit unwell and needed something on the plainer side. Before sitting down, we asked whether this could be accommodated and were told it wouldn’t be a problem. So far, so good.

The first red flag came almost immediately after we were seated. When asked if we wanted water, we said yes—and the waitress abruptly informed us that the bottle would cost €3.50. While the price wasn’t an issue, the delivery felt pointed and unnecessarily condescending, almost as if we were being warned because we might not afford it. We all noticed the tone and found it uncomfortable, but chose to brush it off.

When the food arrived, I personally enjoyed my meal, but the same could not be said for my friend who wasn’t feeling well. Her dish was extremely salty and dry—so much so that she couldn’t eat it. Marcos, who we assumed to be a manager or owner, approached the table and asked her directly, “So you didn’t like it?” She smiled politely and simply said, “It’s a little salty, but it’s okay.” His demeanor changed instantly—his face turned sour, he sighed loudly, and walked away without another word. We were stunned. If you’re going to ask for feedback, you should be prepared to accept it with some level of professionalism.

But it didn’t stop there. A few minutes later, the waitress returned and said the chef wanted to know why the food hadn’t been touched. Again, my friend politely repeated that it was too salty and her stomach wasn’t feeling great. The response? A curt nod, and she walked off.

From that point forward, the atmosphere changed drastically. Marcos began pacing around our table and staring at us in a way that felt passive-aggressive and frankly intimidating. It was incredibly uncomfortable.

As we were still finishing our drinks, the waitress returned and asked if we wanted the bill. I said not yet, as we weren’t quite ready. Her response? “You can still finish your drinks and pay the bill,” as though she believed we might leave without paying. Again, the implication was insulting.

By then, we just wanted to leave. We paid the bill without further comment and left with a unanimous decision: we would not return, and we would not recommend this place to anyone.

It’s a shame. The location is lovely and the restaurant itself has the potential to offer a warm, inviting experience—but the staff’s behavior completely ruined it. Hospitality matters just as much as the food, and in this case, the service was simply...

Reason for my low rating is in reference to an incident that happened at the restaurant. We placed an order for food and for a bottle of Portuguese sparkling (Cava like) wine. There was another couple sitting diagonal from our table. When the lady at the table got up to go to the restroom, she knocked over the wine stand containing the wine cooler bucket contain our wine. The lady apologized and indicated that she would go inside and ask the manager to bring us a new bottle. Meanwhile the gentleman sitting with the lady got the attention of the male server, who was also serving our table. They were obviously locals spoke Portuguese. The gentleman indicated to the waiter that he would take care of paying for a new bottle. The waiter told him not to worry that they would take care of it, meaning the restaurant. The couple paid their bill and left. But the gentleman did approach our table and apologized for the incident and indicated that the restaurant would take care of paying for a new bottle, and he departed. Time went by and no new bottle materialized. When they brought me the check, I indicated that I would not pay for the bottle of wine. The person was a female waitress. She went inside and got the manager. When the manager came out, I explained to her that what had happened. My intention was not to get the male waiter into trouble over 23.00 Euros. The manager indicated to us that there was nothing she could do about it and that we needed to pay for the bill. She gave us about 10 Euros off the total bill. I did not want to specifically point out the waiter, as I did not want to get him into trouble over 23 Euros. So, I told her that the couple had spoken to the staff inside and that they had agreed to bring us a new bottle. The manager went inside to verify with the staff about what had occurred. The manager came out and told us the staff did not remember the conversation. The manager went upstairs to see if the couple might be there. She came back down and indicated that the couple had already left. But the manager figured it out on her own. As we were leaving, I noticed her chatting with the male waiter. And he was suspiciously shaking his head no without making direct eye contact with her. So, she kind of suspected him. Not sure what happened after that, I was not going to waste any more time with this issue over 23 Euros, and I departed. The assumption is just because someone doesn't speak the local language, they can pull a fast one. Lessons learned is when something like happens even a small incident immediately bring to the attention of the manager first. I would never eat at this place again as they are not trustworthy. I was not impressed at all. Be forewarned when vacationing overseas and visiting such...

Avoid This Place – Unprofessional Staff and Terrible Service

I don’t usually write reviews, but my recent visit to this restaurant was such an unpleasant experience that I feel compelled to warn others.

I went with a group of friends, and right from the start, the service was off. When we asked for water, the waitress made a point of saying it costs €3.20 — in a tone that clearly implied we might not be able to afford it. It was condescending and unnecessary, but we chose to brush it off and move on.

Then came my food — the presentation was fine, but it was just far too salty, to the point where I couldn’t eat it. Still, we were prepared to let it go and not make a big deal out of it. But what happened next was completely unacceptable.

A man named Marcos, who I assume is either the manager or the owner, came to our table and asked if everything was okay. We told him — politely — that the food was a bit too salty. His response? He smirked, literally laughed in our faces, made an “I don’t care” expression, and walked away without saying a single word.

No apology. No effort to make things right. No basic courtesy.

After that, he began staring at our table, clearly trying to make us feel uncomfortable enough to leave. The whole atmosphere shifted into something hostile and awkward. Not a single member of our group felt welcome.

Needless to say, I didn’t even touch my food, and no compensation or amendment was ever offered. For a restaurant, both food and service matter — but basic respect is non-negotiable.

The food was below average, but it’s the toxic and arrogant attitude from management that truly ruined the experience. There are so many better places to eat where you’ll actually be treated with decency. I absolutely do not recommend this...