A new five-star resort combining luxury hospitality with a strong focus on fine cuisine and top national wines has opened its doors in the Algarve.
The Wine & Books by the Sea Algarve Resort – formerly the VidaMar resort – is the latest investment from Portuguese hotel group PBH and is operating in soft opening mode until the end of March, gradually introducing its full range of services.
Located within the Salgados Natural Reserve in Albufeira, the resort features 250 rooms across six categories, including suites and connecting pool-view rooms designed for families and groups.
Facilities include four outdoor swimming pools, two indoor pools, a spa, gym, kids’ club and event spaces, positioning itself as “a new benchmark of excellence in the Algarve,” the PBH group says in a statement to the press.
According to Carlos Saraiva, chairman of PBH, the concept aims to celebrate Portuguese identity through hospitality.
“The Wine & Books Hotels signature aims to convey what Portugal is and what it means to be Portuguese, based on literature, gastronomy and national wines,” he said. “The essence of this project is to act as ambassadors of Portuguese culture through a rich and complementary hospitality experience.”
According to Saraiva, the Algarve investment reflects the group’s strategy to strengthen the region’s tourism offering with a focus on quality, exclusivity and personalised service.
Gastronomy at the heart of the experience
Food will play a central role in the resort experience, with five distinct dining concepts planned, ranging from Mediterranean and Asian cuisine to Italian and traditional Portuguese dishes.
During the soft opening period, several venues will already be welcoming guests, including Cover, serving breakfast from 7.30am to 10.30am, Primadonna, open for lunch and dinner, and the Piano Bar, which will operate throughout the day and evening.
From March 15, the Moby Dick buffet restaurant will open for breakfast, while Cover will become an exclusive breakfast room for guests staying in suites and superior ocean-view rooms.
Additional venues are scheduled to launch in stages over the coming months, including COCO’S Restaurant, TIKI Pool Bar, Praia de São Rafael Restaurant, and several other dining concepts expected to open between April and May.
Inspired by nature
The resort’s interior design was led by architect Joana Saraiva, a board member of PBH, who said the concept was designed to blend with the surrounding landscape.
“Soft tones inspired by the dunes’ sand, combined with muted greens reminiscent of palm trees, the lagoon and the golf course, create a serene and welcoming atmosphere where comfort is our priority,” she explains.
Signature bookshelves – a hallmark of the Wine & Books Hotels brand – feature prominently throughout the property, Joana Saraiva adds, alongside “warm wood tones and traditionally crafted furniture” intended to highlight the project’s “authentic and artisanal character”.
