ESTAMINÉ RESTAURANT is being totally rebuilt next to its original building on the Ilha-Barreira da Barreta, the deserted island on the Ria Formosa, Faro.
The new restaurant, which is due to open this summer, is built entirely from wood and has been designed by the architect Goncalo Vargas. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, the national park organisation, approved the work after having given several recommendations, which were accepted.
The owner, José Vargas, has said that he wants the atmosphere and cuisine to remain the same, however, the building itself will be completely different on the outside.
Once the new building is inaugurated, it will be open all year round with new travel times from the sea transport company Animaris. It is hoped that Animaris will begin taking people, from Faro to the Island for lunch time trips. Jose Vargas said: “Opening all year round will improve service at the restaurant as staff will be retained all year instead of having to employ different staff each summer and retrain a new team.”
As the island is not linked to mainland electricity, the restaurant has to use solar panels, which will provide 80 per cent of the electricity required, and also a generator which reuses cooking oil.
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