It will be their light. It will be its tasty local gastronomy. It will be its exquisite design with an artisan soul. The truth is that it is difficult to check out of this perfect refuge to avoid routine, recover calm and savour the taste for life.
Twelve kilometres from Olhão, and after driving through an extensive preamble dotted with olive and holm oak trees, the first impression of the Hotel Octant Vila Monte is unbeatable: the friendliness of the staff who facilitate your arrival; the fresh flowers and the reddish touch of the callistemon, which adorn pieces of local pottery; the spotless glass window that allows you to see the bustle of the cookers and the colossal wood-fired oven of the A Terra restaurant; the black fireplace, on a white background, which is lit at sunset… Sitting on a soft sofa, with a citrus cocktail in hand and gazing at the charms of a lush garden emerging in the southern light, it’s time to surrender to a hunch: this treat is so tempting that it would be a shame to give it up.
Secret suites to discover art
“A new latitude of freedom” is the philosophy that sums up the local and flexible experience of Octant Hotels, the boutique label of Discovery Hotel Management. An approach in which the service and the experiences are intended to leave that sweet aftertaste of the Algarve: a hospitable region that stands out for the beauty of its geography, its endless beaches, its excellent gastronomy and a delightful counterpoint between tradition and modernity. That’s why every Octant hotel connects with the authenticity of the place. And Vila Monte, of course, is no exception.
Here luxury is measured in time, freedom and the elegance of its fifty-four exceptional rooms to stay in. Preserving the local heritage, regenerating the architecture and reflecting the goodness of the various local producers are not the only successes. In addition to the flexible timetable for enjoying breakfast at any time (the wellness menu for a good start to the day is rich and generous), this lack of preoccupation with the clock is transferred to other facilities, including its heated swimming pools, framed in an Eden dotted with undulating paths and where there is also a summer cinema.
One of them leads to Casa de Cima, the most secluded building away from the rest of the hotel services and reserved for adults only. Here, time definitely stands still in its four recently opened suites, all with private garden and swimming pool and, if required, butler service to attend to all your needs: from storing your luggage to arranging a reservation for a restaurant or a massage.
It is impossible not to succumb to the tranquillity of the South, an inspiration where the light allows the play of geometric light and shadow of pergolas and trees. This natural disconnection continues inside the rooms, where the brightness is interrupted, here and there, by design notes that refer to local craftsmanship. A display of creativity with a soul of wood, basketry and rope that, surprisingly, turns simplicity into luxury. In the Solarium Suite and the three Secret Suites, there is no shortage of Panama hats, a Futah sarong, a wicker basket and a welcome treat: a crystal bell whose macaroons are a temptation before surrendering to the arms of Morpheus in a bed subtly dressed in premium cotton.
Another perspective of the Algarve
In addition to enjoying the southern and romantic atmosphere of the hotel, marked by the architecture of the Algarve, Octant Vila Monte, following the local connection with the possibilities of the environment, offers a wide range of experiences.
At the hotel you can take part in craft workshops, including one that reveals the secrets of basket weaving or the benefits of aromatic herbs for our skin, or a night-time route to interpret the skies during full moon nights. And outside of it, the catalogue is extensive: hot air balloon or gyrocopter flights, horseback riding, hiking trails, a visit to a beekeeping farm, sailing on a private yacht among the string of unspoilt islands that make up the Ria Formosa Natural Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal.
In the estuary you can also enjoy the explanations that clarify the long process behind the intense flavour of the oysters. It is one of the products par excellence in this part of the Algarve and, of course, at A Terra Restaurant. So before returning home and regretfully handing over the bamboo key at the reception desk, it is a must to enjoy the Chef’s Table, which, of course, is nourished by the products of local producers and the aromatic plants, olives and fruit from the orchard that covers the nine hectares of this bohemian country house, where citrus trees and pink bougainvillea abound. A show that exudes the creativity of mentor and chef Pedro Mendes in an exquisite seven-course proposal. There is no shortage of fresh ingredients such as olive oil, fleur de sel, coriander, figs, avocados from Tavira, Cataplana of bivalves from the estuary and anchovies from Olhão. There, by the way, the show is on a Saturday at the Mercado de Abastos, signed by the engineer Eiffel. Another example of the wonderful taste of tradition and modernity in the Algarve.
