Vila Monte Farmhouse
ALGARVE / HOTEL / WATCHLIST
Tucked away in the Eastern Algarve amongst 22 acres of olive & orange groves, herb & vegetable gardens, Vila Monte Farmhouse presents itself as a breezy fifty-five room hotel adorned with simple white-washed rooms & lavender-filled gardens. Although larger than a usual Design Escape, a stay at Vila Monte still feels like burrowing into a small, slow hotel. The newly added Villa Indigo is a private house with three suites & its own swimming pool for those wishing to retreat. Hotel guests, unless visiting at the height of summer, will barely notice other straw hat clad travellers wandering through the garden to the farm-to-table restaurant or back to their simple yet stylish rooms for a siesta after a day lounging by one of two pools (one reserved for adults, the other for families).
Head here to fly & flop, to recharge & unwind, especially after a port & tonic in the hotel bar. When it comes to exploring, a stone’s throw away are the fishing towns of Fuseta & Olhão (don’t miss the farmers market each Saturday), & some of the regions most stunning island beaches are just a boat ride away.
Images by Scarlett James
Room Service
Location: Moncarapacho, Algarve.
Price: Suites start at 150€ per night.
Highlights: The gardens at Vila Monte Farmhouse ode to almost provencal or Finca-style reconnaissance surrounded by citrus trees & pink bougainvillaea. A cocktail from the bar at sunset will lul you swiftly into holiday mode.
Services: Everything you would expect from hotel service. Two swimming pools along with bicycles to take you to the nearby beach satisfy the active. There’s also a tennis court for a game or two. In the rooms, Nespresso coffee machine & tea-making facilities mean mornings are slow while beach bags & sun hats to borrow make packing easy.
Photography by Scarlett James of Petit Passport
The Neighbourhood: The Eastern Algarve is all about sleepy fishing towns & deserted islands. A five-minute drive away is Fuesta, where local restaurants have mastered the art of freshly grilled fish straight from the fishermen’s boats. Hop on Vila Monte’s private wooden boat to the beach to sleep off lunch under an umbrella.
Things to know: The hotel is great for kids, however doesn’t feel like your typical family hotel. Two pools mean that one is for adults only.
The Map
Vila Monte Farmhouse is located in Moncarapacho around a twenty-minute drive from Faro. Fly in and rent a little car to take a road trip while finding some freedom while you’re there.
Download the Design Escapes Directory for local recommendations & to ensure you don’t miss out on any spots on your journey.