Hospedaria

What a discovery! The Hospedaria is one of those little hotels that make you want to plan your next trip to the Algarve straight away. Between Tavira and Cacela Velha, Rui Liberato de Sousa and Nuno Ramos have transformed an old village tavern dating from 1917 – complete with a former grocery shop and post office – into a beautiful guesthouse. People used to shop, have a drink and even dance here. Together with the Lisbon-based architectural practice Atelier RUA, the pair have turned it into a little gem of a design hotel with just five rooms. Whitewashed walls, old tiles, reed ceilings, vintage furniture and carefully selected art create a wonderfully eclectic mix. Particularly lovely are the spacious rooms with their private courtyards; some even feature outdoor showers beneath banana trees. The garden is home to fig trees, almond trees and lavender, with a small pool nestled amongst them. A wonderful breakfast is served in the mornings, whilst in the evenings you can dine by prior arrangement, often featuring traditional family recipes. And then there’s the charming old bar, which serves as a reminder of the building’s past. The whole place has a distinctly personal, relaxed atmosphere and is furnished with a great eye for materials and colours. Anyone looking to leave the touristy Algarve behind and who loves good design will be quite happy here. The beautiful beaches of the Ria Formosa are also not far away.