Family run boutique hotel with exquisite design on Portugal’s Algarve coast

Casa Modesta / Moncarapacho / Algarve / Portugal

To unwind. To relax and recharge. Some hotels have this magic ability to facilitate a change of gears from high to low, where vacation mode is the only mode. Casa Modesta is such a hotel. There is something in the gentle architecture, the soft rustle of the pine trees in the breeze coming in from the Atlantic and the affable and attentive service that makes it easy to wind down and to fall in love with this place.

Casa Modesta is a true family affair. Carlos, who is running the hotel shared with us that this used to be his grandpas house. He was a fisherman and his name was Modesto, hence the name of the hotel. Today there is a new Modesto on site, the friendly hotel dog (When we stayed they had just gotten another puppy to keep Modesto company, the ûber cute Ludo). Carlos sister is the architect who created the look of the hotel,, his mother swung by at breakfast with freshly baked carrot cake and sometimes grandma pops in to fire up the old fireplace to bake traditional bread.

The design is all whitewashed walls, terracotta tiled floors, cork lamps and beautiful vintage furniture that makes for a very attractive mix. There are only 8 rooms, 4 in the annex and 4 in the main building. Our room was in the annex where we had our own private roof top terrace where we spent the evenings with a glass of white, listening to some music and just taking in the surroundings while the sun slowly set on the Algarve.

The two houses are surrounded by a lush garden, lined by pine- and citrus trees. Between the buildings there is a small pool with some sun loungers where you can lay and look at the swallows zooming back and forth through the pale Spring sky. The hotel is resting on a gentle slope with a view of the sandbanks sheltering the lagoon from the wild Atlantic. To me, this is barefoot luxury in the true essence of the word.

The design is mixing traditional Portuguese with more contemporary features with some really beautiful vintage furniture to top things off.

Our room was in the annex, right behind the main building.

Casa Modesta is so geometrical. Everywhere you look there is an angle or a shape that catches your eye.

Cork is a material that is frequently used in the design at Casa Modesta. It looks so good against the white walls and the wooden head board. And it is locally sourced, of course!

The stairs outside our room leading up to our private roof top terrace.

M is cooling off in the pool, wedged between the two buildings.

How cute is this bike shed? It was built using local traditions from the islands, just off the coast.

M is exploring the ecovia with one of the hotel bikes.

We biked into nearby Olhão. I got a bit obsessed with all the old beautiful doors in the old town.

M returning back at the hotel as the sun is slowly setting, casting long shadows on the facade.

A quick stop by the honesty bar in the lounge. You can (almost) see me struggling (behind the giant lemon) to open the complimentary bottle of white wine…

…that we brought with us up to our terrace, where we had a perfect view of the sunset.

After our hang out on the terrace we did a quick stop by the pool for a late evening dip.

Love this photo of the hotel entrance in the dark of the night, just before we went to bed.

My favorite time of day, breakfast time. The breakfast at Casa Modesta is incredible. So yummy!

Finished off with some scrambled eggs with locally produced salt.

Modesto and Ludo kept us company during breakfast.

M is cozying up with super cuddly Modesto.

Carlos recommend us to head out to the islands by speedboat. And we did as told.

Desert island is really deserted. Rugged and beautiful.

Gone for a dip in the Atlantic. It was fresh. Ok, it was cold. And wild.

This restaurant must not be missed. It is called Estaminé and is the only restaurant on the island. Only open for lunch and bookings are essential.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…love small, family run boutique hotels where the service is attentive and there is a rich heritage. If you are looking for a place to unwind, relax and just enjoy a calm vacation in the shade of tall pine trees, I am positive that you’ll appreciate Casa Modesta.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the fact that the whole family is involved. You can both see and feel how much this place means to them and how keen they are that you will enjoy your stay at Casa Modesta. And trust me when I say that you will.

What not to miss when staying here is…

…to bike. The hotel has bikes to loan for free and there is a lovely bike path, the ecovia that follows the coastline of the Algarve (apparently all the way up to Norway). If you want to experience something extra, book a speedboat from Faro to Desert island and reserve a table for lunch at the Estaminé restaurant. Carlos recommended us to experience this and it was a real highlight. The garlic butter prawns are to die for.

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