The Palácio de Tavira, the eastern Algarve city’s latest boutique hotel, is preparing a feast for Christmas and memorable celebrations to welcome the New Year in style. Set within a restored palace in Tavira’s historic centre, the hotel has won over both locals and visitors with its cosy, warm-toned décor and modern medina.
This tranquil retreat is preparing memorable Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus, served in the intimate setting of the Mirsal restaurant, led by chef Fábio Domingues.
For Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch, a special menu is available at €47 per person. It includes a selection of breads, featuring sun-dried tomato and oregano focaccia with roasted garlic butter and marinated olives; followed by a very seasonal starter, leek velouté, chestnut ragout, and wild mushrooms; the main course is a cod stew with sweet potato; and to finish, a very Christmassy pumpkin French toast with verbena and vanilla.
New Year’s celebrations kick off with a cocktail reception featuring a saxophonist, followed by a tasting dinner with wine pairings. Starters include beef and oyster tartare, cod tempura, and sourdough bread to accompany Messias sparkling wine. For the first course, Chef Fábio Domingues will prepare lobster with parsnip and caviar, and turbot with cauliflower and champagne, paired with Anselmo Mendes Contato, a Loureiro white wine. The second course offers truffle ravioli with wild mushrooms and coffee, and veal loin with foie gras and salsify, harmonised with Florão red wine. For dessert, there is chocolate Sacher torte with orange, paired with Kopke Reserva Tawny. The price is €197 per person and includes a memorable conclusion: at midnight, guests are invited to take a small bottle of sparkling wine and walk three minutes to the historic Old Bridge of Tavira to watch the fireworks and welcome the new year.
Make the most of the occasion by staying at the hotel and avoiding the worry of driving home. Rooms on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day start at €270, and on New Year’s Eve at €405.
For more information, visit the hotel’s website.
