Rooms

Nearly all the rooms are spread between the original old farmhouse and the modern extension (the conversion is so good we couldn't tell the difference). Decor throughout is fabulous, every detail hand-picked by Marta and her mother to celebrate Portuguese artisan style. Expect macrame lampshades, quirky mirrors and woven-reed wall hangings; whitewashed walls and the polished concrete floor allow every detail to shine. Beds have superb mattresses and are dressed in the finest linens; bathrooms are gorgeous with powerful 3-way jet showers and Castelbel toiletries.

On our first visit, we stayed in a ground-floor Superior Suite and loved how spacious it was, and how private it felt, despite leading onto the pool terrace. A pair of gorgeous Moroccan-style floor cushions won our hearts; our daughter was enchanted by a nightly turn-down service (bringing little treats and the next day's dinner menu), and by her enormous sofabed. Thick stone walls and a concrete ceiling kept the room cool and quiet; we all slept deeply, til 8am – quite the treat with a small child!

If you're here for a special occasion, book the show-stopping Tree House, perched high in a carob tree and almost completely concealed by leaves on one side. Panoramic windows wrap around the exposed sections, giving views over orange groves out to sea. Truly special.

On our latest visit, we got to peek at the recent additions: the Warehouse and the Cabin. The former is a cool loft-style room that works well for families (up to 5 people), with its suspended kingsize bed, a mezzanine floor with twin beds, and a tiny little baby room (with a door) for a toddler/baby. The Cabin is ideal for honeymooners or for a special romantic trip - we loved the secluded outdoor shower hanging in the carob tree. Both of these rooms have their own private plunge pools.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a relaxed feast, served on the stunning outdoor terrace, where wispy wicker lights dangle over bamboo chairs and there's a hanging basket-chair, which kids adore. In keeping with the homely ethos, you can eat whenever you want. Orange juice is freshly squeezed, the pumpkin jam is homemade (superb) and eggs cooked to order are from a local farm, with incredibly orange yolks. You also get a little bag full of homemade breads and croissants, a plate of local cheeses and hams, and a vibrant, fresh-fruit platter - we had pomegranate and juicy mango one day; plump strawberries and kiwi another.

A snack menu is available for lunch (until 5pm), or beach picnics can be arranged - you get sandwiches, fresh fruit and juice, all neatly packaged up in a cool bag.

A chef comes in to do evening meals on request, 5 days a week (Tue-Sat). We dined in twice, and the food was excellent, inspired by regional specialities. The menu is set, though they are flexible on this if there's something you don't like, and the 3 courses include a couple of imaginative amuse-bouches: perhaps foie gras with pickled cabbage, and a squid cornet filled with fish mousse and caviar (divine), along with homemade bread and homegrown olives. The main dish of traditional octopus stew was tasty; a duck magret with raspberries the next night even better. Desserts included a divine creme caramel cake. Other guests raved to us about steak cooked in front of them on a hot stone, and a superb fish fillet marinated in fennel seeds.

For a change of scene, Marta will recommend excellent restaurants a short drive away, including Casa da Igreja for tapas (including just-caught oysters with chorizo). We enjoyed a laid-back pizza restaurant in Tarifa, too; ideal for families.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Coffee / tea making
• Coffee maker
• Dinner by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Do very little! We spent hours lazing by the pool, leaping in occasionally to cool off. There are hammocks and sofas in the garden for shady snoozes, and massages in a little hut at weekends
  
• Nearby beaches are idyllic, part of the Rio Formosa Natural Park. We found Manta Rota easy with kids, but Fábrica is the stuff films are made of; white sands, blue waters, pretty shells to collect. Be aware it gets windy and there are no facilities there, bar a seasonal cafe with tiki loungers
  
• Tavira is charming for a half day, all cobbled mazy streets and little shops. Wander up to the castle, eat an ice cream, stroll along the river with its Roman bridge
  
• Alpendre has bikes to borrow or you can go horse riding through nearby meadows and along the coast
  
• The tiny village of Cacela Velha has traditional blue and white houses, an 18thC fort, a peaceful cemetery, and killer views along the coast up to the Spanish border
  
• Take time to admire the decor and curios around the hotel, every detail hand-picked: a driftwood lamp, rosemary sprigs in tiny glass vases, a low trestle table on wheels, jute rugs, cowhide chairs... it's Instagram heaven

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling

Kids

Small families are warmly welcomed, ideally 1-2 kids per booking to keep the ambiance peaceful. Marta has a young son (Francisco), and she was kindness itself to our 4-year-old daughter. Staying here as a family was relaxed and easy. In the evenings, we ate an early dinner all together, but you could easily put a younger child to bed then leave your window open and dine a deux on the terrace within earshot. The gardens are extensive and there's a saltwater pool with a shallow baby section.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The stand-alone loft-style Warehouse has a mezzanine floor for kids as well as its own private pool and large terrace. The Family Apartment has twin beds in its open-plan living area plus a sofabed for 1 extra guest, and a separate double bedroom. Parents will find its kitchenette useful. All rooms except the Tree House can fit a baby cot or have a very comfortable sofabed for 1 extra guest.

Distances:

• Airport: 45-minute drive (Faro)
• Shops: 5-minute drive
• Hospital: 20-minute drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is set in the small hamlet of Santa Rita in the eastern Algarve, 2km from Cacela Velha and Fábrica beach, 8km from Tavira and 45 minutes' drive from Faro airport. 

By Air:
Fly into Faro (50km) then hire a car. Airport transfers can also be arranged.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.