Where are we?
Algarve, Portugal. A sandy road winds through low fields, the kind that seem to breathe under the weight of the sun, until it meets a neat procession of olive trees. At the end of this unmarked approach stands Quinta do Pinheiro, a modestly grand former farmhouse nestled somewhere between Olhão and Tavira, near the southern edge of Portugal.
There is no show. Just light – golden, weightless, sifting through gnarled trees and past a white-and-red cluster of buildings, more lived-in than landscaped, more composed than curated. For us it was love at first sight.
The Quinta
The owners, Monique Snoeijen and Martijn Kleijwegt – a Dutch couple who now split their lives between Amsterdam and the Algarve – discovered the property in 2021 while searching for a modest family getaway. They left with something else: a full-scale vision.
By 2023, the couple had opened five dreamy holiday houses on the site. The story is: These are not hotel rooms disguised as homes. They are homes in their own right. Even the smallest of the five, Casa da Eira, measures around 700 square feet, and includes a 430-square-foot living area with a full kitchen and living room. It doesn’t feel like a compromise. There’s room to cook, to read, to leave your shoes by the door. You don’t have to squeeze four people into a converted bedroom. By the way: The biggest house, Casa Grande stretches even closer to 1.075 square feet.
Together, they can accommodate up to 26 guests – with 13 bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, five kitchens – although each of the houses maintains a sense of seclusion.
On the premises there’s a swimming pool, a yoga deck, a small gym, and the quiet that comes from space well-used, not over-filled.
What we love
The buildings, carefully restored with help from the Lisbon-based studio Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos, retain the character of the region. Interiors feature terracotta floors, reed-lined ceilings, and reclaimed furniture from a former owner – a Portuguese army colonel. Red window shutters echo the local vernacular, while the thick clay-and-limestone walls keep the sun at bay.
The design leans away from statement pieces. It is thoughtful but restrained, and perhaps that’s the point. You are meant to live here, not merely visit. To open the wooden shutters at dusk and sit with a glass of local wine. To make toast for your children at noon. To forget the agenda.
By the way: Children are welcome here – at the two houses Casa Flores and Casa da Avó.
Culinary
Guests are offered breakfast – rare for a self-catering stay – and the staff can stock the fridge before arrival. On certain nights in July and August, the Dutch chef-in-residence, Ben van Geelen, prepares communal dinners under the stars. There is more to come, says Monique: a fully equipped restaurant is in the works, with a “farm-to-table” philosophy and an on-site wine cellar already under quiet construction. The owners also enlisted the renowned winemaker José Luís Santos Lima Oliveira da Silva to revive the former vineyard of the estate, who’s walls date back to 1870.
Surroundings
The property borders the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a protected lagoon system that draws birdwatchers and oyster farmers in equal number. To reach the beach, you’ll need a boat or a short drive. But no one seems in a rush. This is a place of in-betweens – patios between buildings, terraces above rooftops, long shadows at the end of hot days. Also: the truly beautiful beach villages Olhão and Tavira are sort of around the corner.
IDEAL For
Couples, families and nature seekers. It is hard not to be charmed. Quinta do Pinheiro simply works. It is for people with high expectations, who don’t need the five star badge on the entrance door.
Rates
From 300 euros (low season) to 750 euros (high season) per night.
Booking & Contacts
Quinta do Pinheiro
Estrada da Quinta do Pinheiro
Luz de Tavira, 8800‑102 Pinheiro
Algarve, Portugal
