Tag Archives: Interior Design

Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel: Amazing Restaurant

Posted on October 26, 2014 | Leave a comment

After six hours driving from Lisbon to Sagres… Yes, six hours! No joke, I will explain you why later (coming up post). We arrived around six o’clock at the beautiful Martinhal Resort and Hotel. Less tired than dazed, curious and happy to check out our room and the resort. And a bit hungry too.

Fantastic dinner at the O Terraçao

One of the best fish I’ve ever eaten

Initially the restaurant reservation was for 8 o’clock: no way! I need my time, so I changed the reservation and we arrive at the O terraçao at 9 p.m. Thankfully there are not many people and the atmosphere is relaxed. We sit near the large window to enjoy the view of the city lights of Sagres.

I choose as a first meal a salad with shrimps and fried pineapple (picture 2 in the photo montage above). While my friend has an excellent shrimp soup (1). Then we both choose a delicious fresh fish with a mashed sweet potato and Mediterranean vegetables.

Great desserts nicely presented

Above : my chocolate ice cream (picture 1) and the chocolate cake of my friend (picture 2). Super light! Lol! On the wall, beautiful pictures of traditional Portugese : an old woman and nun.

After these desserts we are so full, we decide to have a walk in the big property and stop at the M Bar (really cool surf bar). But at midnight something, it’s already closed! The Martinhal is a family hotel first. No problem, we even laughed a lot on the way back to the hotel room.

A Scandinavian vibe with a Brit twist

Great interior design in the restaurant (first picture of the post) and lobby, with a cosy atmosphere. Picture above: a view from the restaurant to the lobby. Picture below: one of my favorite part of the resort, the lobby is both modern and retro with a “Mad Men” touch.

Sunny breakfast at the terrace

First morning, I missed the breakfast

because I was sleeping (lol!). So the next day, I decided to wake up earlier to be ready fifteen minutes before the breakfast at the restaurant (still O Terraçao) closes! I’m defenitely not a morning person.

Pictures (above and the last one): do you see the view? Stunning, isn’t it? And the buffet is awesome with jams of local producers, many different breads and sun-kissed fruits (picture below). As for the dinner, the service is excellent.

Informations

Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel

L’And Vineyards: Minimalist Design Skysuite

Algarve, Portugal: Anti-stress Massage @ Vila Vita Vital

HOTEL REVIEWS, DESTINATIONS & How To Prepare Your Travel

We were invited by the Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel and as always these are my opinions. Many thanks to the O Terraçao team.

L’And Vineyards: The Design Hotel Amidst Vineyards

Posted on October 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Rolling the windows wide open and seeing the road,

and playing the Black Keys (my favourite band of the moment)! The Alentejo landscape has something unreal, olive trees lost in desert lands … white quintas lined with blue or yellow… white clouds looming on an amazing blue sky, in one of the least polluted areas in Europe (let’s pray very hard as it lasts)!

The trip from Lisbon to the L’And Vineyards is fast,

barely fourty five minutes. Stunning architecture of the hotel, maybe inspired by Alvaro Siza Vieira, one of my favorite architects. Straight clean lines, no useless frills (pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12). Time to explore and take some pictures of our suite, we reach the surrounding vineyards, the call of nature!

Soon the harvest!

The weather fluctuates between cloudy and light rain and vegetation starts to glow (pictures 6, 9 and 10). You can participate in wine tastings organized by the hotel. When we return, I swim in the outdoor pool (17 degrees) and the heated indoor pool (both on the picture 4). As for my long swims in the icy Atlantic, I spend hours swimming, floating, bubbled (lol). Especially when I have both pools all to myself!

Some of the guests attend the wine tasting,

while the others are preparing for dinner. I should do the same … Because tonight: gourmet dinner at the L’And, the one star Michelin restaurant of the hotel, to discover the cuisine of the talented Chef Miguel Laffan (coming up post). Mademoiselle Le K, it’s time to get dressed!

Informations

L’And Vineyards

L’And Vineyards: Minimalist Design Skysuite

Vila Vita Parc, Portugal: Stunning Gardens & Beaches

HOTEL REVIEWS, DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks to The L’And Vineyards for this lovely invitation and as always these are my opinions.

L’And Vineyards: Minimalist Design Skysuite

Posted on September 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

We drive south to Montemor-o-Novo in Alentejo.

Torrential rain in the morning in Lisbon and a sawtooth moral: torrential downpours for more than a week now! The sky is cleared early afternoon, when we arrive at The L’And Vinyards for a gastronomic stay. The hotel has a Michelin-starred restaurant.

We are in a beautiful countryside surrounded by vineyards: no noise, a bit worrying (lol)! I Can’t wait to discover our 120m² skysuite, leave luggages … and walk in the vineyards under a biblical light sky! The uncluttered design is signed Brazilian Márcio Kogan.

Tonight with any luck, if the weather permitting, I would be able to watch the stars from my bed! Very nice outdoor fireplace on the suite terrace, overlooking the infinity pool, the “garden of vines” and an artificial lake. I really enjoyed the bathroom in wood and black shale too (pictures below).