Ocean Suites stands out for its Praça Central location, spacious suites and a bold industrial look. Exceptionally friendly staff and excellent breakfasts at Ocean Café. Perfect for doing Santa Maria on foot, though some nights the bar’s music can carry into the early hours.
Sleeping on the central square: brilliant, beautiful… and not always quiet
Ocean Suites sits in the kind of spot where, if you’re not careful, you’ll end up ordering coffee in your pyjamas because you’re literally on Praça Central. It’s not trying to hide: hyper-central location, plenty of personality (industrial / retro / “garage chic done properly”), and a café-restaurant that seems determined to make sure you eat well whether you deserve it or not.
That said: the centre has its advantages… and its own volume control.
Big suites, real character, and a team that usually shines
The overall impression is strong: spacious rooms, very clean, with a look you don’t often see on the island. Multiple reviews mention an industrial “pop rock retro” vibe — furniture that doesn’t feel like it was bought in a hurry. And if you get a balcony, you might land sea views on one side and the square on the other.
Staff are consistently a highlight: friendly, attentive, good-humoured, with names that come up again and again (Sandra, Maria, Diandra, Eliano, Ismael…). They also help with taxis and logistics — which, on Sal, matters more than you’d think.
The other pillar is the Ocean Café / restaurant, with breakfasts that get genuine praise and dinners that, according to several guests, sit comfortably above average. This isn’t “breakfast as paperwork”: for many, it’s one of the main reasons to stay.
Right in the middle of it all
Ocean Suites is on Praça Central, Santa Maria. Translation: step outside and you’re already on the promenade, near the beach, close to the pier, or about to spend money on something you didn’t realise you needed.
You don’t need special transport to get around:
– Beach: a few steps away
– Restaurants and bars: all around you
– Main promenade and pier: very close
It’s the sort of location where “meet you in the centre” becomes an unnecessary sentence.
A perfect base if you want Santa Maria on foot… and a bit of nightlife
The rhythm is simple:
– Beach and strolls in the morning
– Terraces and wandering in the afternoon (plus the inevitable holiday purchases)
– Live music downstairs at night… if you fancy it
Because yes: Ocean Suites isn’t only a hotel. It’s also a restaurant and bar. Which gives you two perfectly valid realities:
– If you like atmosphere, it’s literally downstairs
– If you want total silence, some nights you may not be the one deciding when the day ends
So the location works for you, not against you
1) Light sleeper? Ask about the room.
Several reviews mention music from around 22:00 and running late (sometimes up to 2 a.m.). It won’t be every night in the same way — but it can happen.
2) Make the most of breakfast.
Here, breakfast isn’t “something to get it over with”. It’s part of the appeal.
3) Couples and friends tend to love it.
For comfort, location and vibe, it’s an easy win if you want to experience Santa Maria properly.
4) Leave a little room for the unexpected.
There is one very negative review about management and lack of empathy during a room problem. It’s an outlier compared to the overall tone, but it exists. As always: if something goes wrong, act quickly and keep everything clear.
5) If you want a quiet resort-style hotel, this isn’t that concept.
This is the centre: life, movement, the square, music.
When you want to be in the heart of everything
Ocean Suites makes the most sense if your plan is:
– Staying central without relying on taxis
– Going out for dinner and being “home” two minutes later
– Having a comfortable, stylish room with a very good café downstairs
If your top priority is guaranteed silence, consider staying just outside the square — or request the most insulated room possible.
Stylish, brilliantly located… with the “price” of being central
Ocean Suites feels like one of those places that nudges the standard up in Santa Maria: characterful design, big suites, very well-rated staff, and a restaurant that genuinely adds value. The weakness isn’t mysterious: it’s central, and the centre sometimes makes itself heard.
If you want Santa Maria on your doorstep and a bit of atmosphere downstairs, Ocean Suites is a yes.
If you want countryside-level silence… you’re on the wrong square.
