An Aesthete’s Guide to the Algarve
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.
