A fresh start: Café da Olaria, beside Porches Pottery, is under new management
With painted tiles all around to see, the café feels like stepping into a magical place – September 10, 2025 | Photos Charlotte Cockayne/Open Media Group Café da Olaria, now under new management, has reopened its doors beside the iconic Porches Pottery, welcoming guests Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Following a thoughtful renovation, the terrace, bathrooms, and bar have been refreshed, complemented...
The Algarve joins the speakeasy trend for lovers of meaningful mixology
Hidden alcoves transport visitors back in time, offering an unexpected experience from the very first step inside – September 9, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio Forbidden Door, Lagos The concept originated in the 1920s in the United States of America and has survived to this day. Speakeasies were born as a response to Prohibition, which was in effect for 13 years in the country, banning the production, transport and sale of alcoholic...
Inna Iefimenko tells stories through hand-painted tiles on building façades
Reimagining the Algarve: Bringing its stories to life through hand-painted façades – September 9, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio Casa do Gato – Inna and Fernando For as long as she can remember, Inna Iefimenko has loved drawing and has excelled in the artistic world. She began at the age of three and, by six, had her first exhibition in her hometown of Zhytomyr, in northern Ukraine. At that age, she enrolled in a Fine Arts school...
Wine Talk: Discover what’s new in the Algarve wine scene
Fresh, local and award-winning: Exploring the wines making waves in the Algarve – September 9, 2025 Fresh, maritime wines Taking their name from the fiddler crabs (Uca tangeri) found on Alvor Beach, the UCA Violinista wines are Arvad’s latest releases: a collection of fresh, maritime wines to be enjoyed “at any tide”. Light-heartedly, the brand asserts itself as “a serious wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously”. The red, a...
Calling all garden lovers to the Autumn Mediterranean Garden Fair
The yearly fair is dedicated to creating sustainable Mediterranean gardens with minimal water use – September 4, 2025 ©Eric Roth Organised by the Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal in partnership with Lagoa Council, this year’s Autumn Mediterranean Garden Fair will be held on October 18 and 19 at the FATACIL Showground in Lagoa. The annual fair is a unique event that aims to celebrate the start of the gardening year...
Spy X Vodka makes a debut in the Algarve
Portugal’s newest ultra-premium vodka launches with style and intrigue – August 8, 2025 | Text Charlotte Cockayne Hans Neuner, Axel Heinrich, Dieter Koschina and Marina Koschina, Photo Charlotte Cockayne A sleek new name has entered the world of ultra-luxury spirits. Spy X Vodka officially launched on Monday, July 21, in the Algarve, with an extremely stylish, invite-only event that brought together the region’s top hospitality...
Reviving a life-long passion: Quinta da Pedragosa is a boutique winery producing six different varieties of wine
Staying true to Portugal’s rich winemaking heritage – August 4, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio The roots of Quinta da Pedragosa were planted in 2019 with the acquisition of 10.4 hectares of land nestled in the Pedragosa Valley, near Barão de São João. But Piotr Cholewa’s journey to Quinta da Pedragosa began much earlier. A visit to Lisbon and the Algarve in 1993 sparked something within him, but it wasn’t until much later that he made...
A carefully curated space in Lagos offers a sensory approach to design, wellbeing, and everyday living
A sense of luxury: Alma Senses Concept Store brings to Lagos a new, distinctive and carefully curated vision of lifestyle – July 20, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio Opened in late 2023 and then relaunched earlier this year in a characterful, tiled townhouse in the city’s historic centre, this refined space is anything but ordinary. Inside, the store’s mauve tones and a décor reflecting “discreet luxury”, welcomes visitors with an elegant mix...
Baptista is evolving from a family-run shop into a bold competitor in the retail space
New vision – July 19, 2025 | Inside Promotion Since the start of the year, Baptista Supermarket has been full of surprises. First came the appointment of new manager Beatriz Batista, who spearheaded a thorough revitalisation of the store – from its interior design and logistics to new staff uniforms – followed by the launch of their own in-house butcher’s counter. Now, with a fresh, innovative vision, the Luz supermarket is...
Mercearia Bio: From humble beginnings to a leading organic shop in the Algarve
A unique shop and café in Lagos championing organic produce and sustainable living – July 16, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio In 2007, Pedro Gonçalves and Ana António set out to adopt a healthier diet prioritising high-quality products. They started by running an online shop out of a modest warehouse in Portimão, where they lived, selling organic products. At the time, options for organic goods in the Algarve were scarce, and the couple...
