Cult n’ Art Café is a cosy, creative space serving homemade dishes, smoothie bowls, fresh juices, speciality teas and great coffee
Léna Pérez and Ricardo Marques have shared their lives for 10 years, and for the past four, they’ve also shared a business.
Both coming from backgrounds in hospitality and catering, they decided to combine their professional experiences and creativity to bring to life a place full of personality and positive energy.
From the moment you step inside and are greeted with a warm smile, to the comforting, healthy food and the attentive service, visiting Cult n’ Art Café in the heart of Alvor is an experience that will have you already thinking about returning even before it ends.
The space, the house where Ricardo’s grandmother was born and which once housed a traditional pastry shop, has now been transformed.
After a careful renovation and decoration project reflecting the couple’s personal tastes, it has become a meeting place where friends gather, people come to work, share small plates, or simply enjoy the juice of the day or a good coffee.
It was actually Ricardo’s grandmother who first suggested that he and his French partner Léna give the old family home a new purpose. Today, she often spends peaceful afternoons at Cult n’ Art Café – and even exhibits her paintings there.
The couple works here by themselves and create everything based on their own ideas. Over the years, the concept has evolved both gastronomically and operationally.
The menu changes daily, always guided by the rhythm of the seasons, with a touch of surprise for regular guests. One of the most popular dishes is the Taça do Momento (the Fruit Smoothie Bowl) prepared each day with different ingredients, topped with homemade granola, coconut flakes, chia seeds and goji berries.
Another favourite are the honey and lemon pancakes with almonds, a delightful twist on the classic version everyone loves, which here also appears with a special touch: chocolate and hazelnut chips. The homemade cake, baked by Léna herself, is another excellent choice, with flavours that vary every day.
The house speciality is the Shakshuka – poached eggs in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, served with homemade garlic bread from a local artisan bakery in Alvor. There are also gluten-free and vegan options, such as the Veganshuka, a clever ‘egg paste’ made from white beans, turmeric and kala namak (black salt).
Natural energy drinks are available as smoothies or shots, alongside a range of teas from the Companhia Portuguesa do Chá in 10 different flavours, as well as CBD teas from Kapahemps Portimão. For those who prefer something stronger, there’s local craft beer from Dos Santos, Dom Campos wine, and the refreshing Per Se Aperitivo.
Since the café’s opening, feedback from customers has been consistently positive – something that continues to motivate the couple.
“We feel enormous satisfaction when people leave smiling and compliment not only the food but also the space and the atmosphere,” they reveal, adding: “They tell us they’ve had a wonderful time, and that’s what matters most to us, it makes us truly happy.”
Ricardo holds a qualification in Service Techniques and Food & Beverage Management from the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School in Portimão, whilst Léna has a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Hospitality, Sales and Marketing from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. They first crossed paths at the five-star Vila Joya Hotel in Albufeira, home to a two-Michelin-star restaurant. Ricardo was working there as a waiter and barman, whilst Léna was completing a six-month internship.
Her second internship took her to Lisbon, at the InterContinental Hotel, whilst Ricardo was then working at Bairro do Avillez, a renowned gastronomic complex by Portuguese chef José Avillez. When Léna returned to Switzerland to complete her degree, Ricardo moved to Germany, where he worked as a waiter at Schote, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Essen.
In 2018, they both came back to the Algarve, to be closer to Ricardo’s family and to hospitality, but this time with a new and very different idea.
For a year, they devoted themselves to a catering business, offering services across the Algarve. The profits from that venture allowed them to travel to India and Sri Lanka, where they spent around three months exploring and gathering inspiration, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to return to Portugal.
When, in 2021, the opportunity arose to open their own business, they didn’t hesitate to embrace the challenge. They both recall that, at the beginning, they didn’t yet know what kind of business they would open, or even what to call it.
The name and concept, they say, “came naturally, during moments of fun and conversation” with those closest to them. Although Ricardo had never worked in a kitchen before, he decided to take full responsibility for it. Together, they transformed the space into an extension of their home, creating an intimate and relaxed environment with soft tones and natural materials, where they offer personalised service and welcome everyone – pets included – with open arms.
In a place that encourages sharing, you’ll find an ever-changing collection of art, crafts, and exclusive products, all made by local or resident artists and close friends. Art is everywhere, from the food, to the walls, and in the spirit of the place itself. From decorative pieces, paintings and accessories to pâtés, CBD oil and tea, candles, wines and liqueurs, Cult n’ Art Café showcases items you won’t find anywhere else. It also serves as a platform for artists of various nationalities, such as Irish painter Josephine Boland, a long-time Alvor resident, and German artist Lea Silversides, who recently moved to Lagos.
“We did everything with the help of friends. We opened after the pandemic, and at that time we were able to renovate the space thanks to the support of everyone around us,” they share. It was through this spirit of cooperation that the café’s strong identity of community and collaboration emerged, reflected in partnerships with friends and acquaintances who create unique handmade products.
Today, Cult n’ Art Café is flourishing. Talent blooms in every corner, and Ricardo and Léna’s attention to detail is evident both in the kitchen and in the service. Here, you can enjoy homemade food prepared with love and care, made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and original recipes.
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