A summertime adventure to a coastal destination in southern Europe is often all about sun, sea, and something sparkling to sip on. It’s rare that you might crave more. Okay, maybe some fresh, simply prepared seafood, too.
Historically, this has been the case in the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region. For decades, the Algarve has been beloved for its endless sunny days and dramatic coastlines with its picturesque beaches, craggy cliffs, and hidden caves. And whether your travel style was about exploring sleepy fishing villages or luxuriating in a grand resort with Michelin-starred dining and sprawling golf courses, the Algarve has served up one of southern Europe’s most desirable vacation hotspots.
But as the region enjoys a recent surge in popularity, it’s welcomed a spate of new projects that continue to add to its vast tourism landscape. And for traveling aesthetes, great-looking new hotels, restaurants, wineries, and galleries might make the Algarve even more desirable.
Where to Stay
Farm estates transformed into charming hotels are everywhere in Portugal. And Casas da Quinta de Cima, located just outside the village of Tavira—still a working farm with hundreds of orange, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, fig, and avocado trees—is among the newest and most sought-after. The workers’ cottages have been made into nine spacious suites with soaring ceilings lined with bamboo, terracotta floors, marble bathrooms, and outdoor patios with al fresco showers. Layered on top are vintage-inspired pieces (from mid-century lamps and antique drawers to clawfoot tubs and framed illustrations) to lend the space a lived-in feel.
The stables are now social spaces: a dining room, a bar, and a game area. Meanwhile, another building has the reception, a great gym, and potentially in the future, massage rooms. The surrounding sprawl includes two different pools, outdoor dining, and shaded lounging “islands” discreetly hidden away between the citrus trees. And if you’d prefer a more intimate stay, the property also has two villas, both of which come with their own pool and a private garden.
Because this is the Algarve, you may be looking for a larger resort with countless amenities. Options are plentiful, but new this summer is Kimpton Atlântico Algarve, featuring interiors by renowned Madeira-based designer Nini Andrade. Set against São Rafael Beach near Albufeira, this reimagined 149-room property impresses with Andrade’s signature style, one that marries whimsy with natural textures. Find mix-and-match patterns, sculptural light fixtures, and sleek furniture, whether that’s the look-at-me bar in green, or the slender modernist seats. You’ll find this playful medley of aesthetic references all over, from the bedrooms to the four restaurants and bars to the nearly 20,000-square-foot spa.
Where to Eat and Drink
Aesthetes in search of a great meal in the Algarve should head to Austa in Almancil. Designed by Lisbon’s Studio Gameira, the multi-purpose space, which has indoor and outdoor dining areas plus an adjacent produce garden, thoughtfully pays homage to the region through its decor. For instance, there is a stunning 12-foot bench made of 230 blocks of ancient rock salt mined in Loulé. This stands in stark contrast to the aluminum chairs, angular marble-topped tables, and wooden pergola outside, all of which were designed and made in partnership with Algarvean artisans. Of course, you’re here to eat, and what chef David Barata is doing in the kitchen is equally spellbinding. Seasonal menus honor farmers and fishermen with dishes like plump four-year-old oysters from the Ria Formosa served with fermented cucumber and buttermilk as well as juicy carabineiro from Vila Real Santo António. And, of course, the corresponding wine list has been built with care and primarily features low-intervention bottles from Portugal and Spain.
Further west in Burgau, Sul, a coffee-shop-wine-bar hybrid, gets a lot of action for its outdoor seats that look to the sea. But the beautifully minimalist interior takes on a buzzy atmosphere at dinnertime, when guests are tucking into monkfish and cilantro stews and the burrata salad with figs and tomatoes. The accompanying beverage list here is impressive and largely features Portuguese producers, including a few of the best winemakers in the Algarve.
Star chasers will be pleased to know that the Michelin Guide has been generous to the Algarve over the years. One of the latest to join that esteemed list of winners is Al Sud, chef Louis Anjos’s restaurant tucked inside the clubhouse of Palmares Golf Course. With fantastic views of the Bay of Lagos and a luxurious architectural setting, Al Sud serves a locavore tasting menu that’s delicate but not fussy, with fish and seafood from Sagres plus meat and produce from nearby farms.
In Loulé, Cafezique’s colorful, quirky interiors (peep the ceramic octopus tentacle on which the cutlery is placed) are matched by a bold culinary identity. Global influences yield dishes like a fried empanada stuffed with octopus with green curry and a mousse of monkfish liver in a deeply flavored onion sauce. And over in the center of Faro, eating inside Ato will make you feel like you ve been invited into American chef Sean Marsh’s own home. The traditionally Portuguese space (blue door, white walls, and azulejos) is the perfect juxtaposition to Marsh’s more contemporary cooking style. Think simple recipes like a salad of juicy tomatoes and pieces of sea lettuce tossed with a vinaigrette or tuna with red pepper and roasted olives.
Winemaking is on the rise in the Algarve, and one of the most recognizable names right now is Morgado do Quintão, which has a pretty farm in Lagoa that’s open to visitors. (Do make a reservation, especially if you want a traditional lunch to accompany your wine tasting.) Wines highlight a lot of lesser-known regional grapes (like negra mole) and a tasting here can include everything from palhete and rosé to red wine made in amphora. But pay close attention to the labels on the bottles: many are made in collaboration with artists and photographers.
What to Do
You’re in coastal Portugal, so naturally you’ll be exploring stunning beaches, picturesque caves, and jagged cliffs. But if you want to add design-hunting to that, start at Loulé Criativo, an exhibition space, design residency, and shop that’s committed to preserving the creative legacy of the Algarve. During your visit, you may have the opportunity to participate in workshops, meet creative artisans, and peruse some locally made crafts in the gift shop, from ceramics to woven accessories to decor made of cork. There’s also a tourism arm here where you can sign up for more experiential excursions in partnership with Algarvean artisans, like learning how to paint ceramic tiles or how to make macramé accessories.
Not far from Loulé Criativo, step into In the Pink, a new photo gallery luring international artists to show in the Algarve. Inside this pink three-story building, walk up and down the spiritual staircase to see works by the likes of Bastiaan Woudt and Rankin as well as local talent like Teresa Freitas and João Mariano. For an avant-garde take on a historic craft, make a detour for Palmas Douradas’ shoppable atelier in São Brás de Alportel. Artist and designer Maria João Gomes shapes palm leaves into striking hats, bags, and home decor; each item often taking her weeks to complete. Gomes, who learned of the craft decades ago from her grandmother, reimagines the limits of this ancient material through sculptural designs. The oversized bags, hats in unexpected silhouettes, and architectural light fixtures may not be the easiest things to bring back from your trip, but they will prove to be unforgettable mementos.