Vila Joya lived up to both name and reputation, and exceeded all our expectations. We feel very fortunate to have had the privilege to stay here, and also to have dined at both the 2 Michelin Starred restaurant, and the beach restaurant, Vila Joya Sea.
LOCATION
We chose to stay at Vila Joya for one night as a stop on our road trip, from Quinta do Lago to Comporta, and the location was very convenient. About 45 minutes’ drive from Faro airport, just along the coast from Quinta, this is a discreet hotel tucked away on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, perfect for relaxing or exploring the Algarve. Vila Joya is a c.20 minute drive from the famous Praia Marinha, which I would highly recommend visiting if you have time. You should go early during the summer, as the car park gets full, and there is plenty to do there (you can take kayaks and kayak through the rock formations). It’s a great day out! We then drove directly to Comporta the, and the drive took us around 2-2.5 hours on the inland motorway. You could make a 1 or 2-day road trip out of it, taking your time to drive all the way up the coast (we bumped into another couple who did this in 1 full day, and said it was very enjoyable).
HOTEL
The property is hidden away, subtly set back off a residential street and accessed through a discreet electronic gate that hides the expanse of garden oasis behind. The property is traditional in style, laid back and cosy (it feels more like you are being welcomed into the villa of close friends, rather than staying in a luxury hotel, in a good way). With sweeping sea views, a majestic and lush garden, large swimming pool and two sandy beaches, this has to be heaven. It’s the perfect place to relax, unwind, and make memories to last a lifetime.
ROOM
The room was very relaxed, spacious and comfortable. It had a classic design with a large and comfortable bed, seating area and large en-suite shower room. Our room lead out onto the terrace next to the restaurant, with steps leading down to the pool in the garden, and the beach beyond. The sea view from our room was heavenly!
DINING: Vila Joya Restaurant
We decided to go for the Special Chef's Menu (c.€250 per person + wine pairing), and we were so happy with our decision. The restaurant (and chef) has 2 Michelin Stars for a reason, with the utmost attention paid to each and every tiny detail. The sunset view was spectacular, service was impeccable, with courses served in a seamless and elegant dance, 'serenading' us through the evening. Each course was carefully prepared, and the food was delicious - there wasn't a single bite left on our plates. The pacing and timing was perfect, and there was a good balance between savoury courses and sweet. The menu only lists 4 courses, but there are plenty of treats and surprises along the way. If you are visiting Vila Joya, this is an experience not to be missed! You can also book as an external guest, but be sure to book in advance as it gets fully booked pretty quickly.
DINING: Vila Joya Sea
With the same attentive and friendly service, and high-quality fresh local ingredients that seems to be standard at Vila Joya, the beach restaurant charms with it’s white beachy drift-wood decor and relaxed atmosphere. The menu is half-Mexican, half-Japanese, and guests are invited to mix-and-match to their heart’s content, or to simply invite the waiters to dream up a selection of their favourites to delight. After all, isn’t it nice to not have to make decisions on holiday, for a change? We tried the tuna tostadas, fresh fish ceviche, fish taco, and sashimi selection, and it was all delicious. If only we hadn’t still been full from breakfast, we would have been tempted to order several more dishes to try!
DINING: Breakfast
As you would expect from this type of luxury boutique hotel, the breakfast is simple yet perfect. There is a buffet with fresh homemade bread, cold cuts, fruit, granola, yoghurt, fresh juices, pastries etc. as well as a small menu for eggs/omelettes/pancakes and coffee, and breakfast is served on the terrace of the Michelin Starred restaurant, with views over the garden and sea below.
DINING: Pool Restaurant
This is the only restaurant we did not have time to try (unfortunately), but looks to be a great option for relaxed lunch of grilled fish, salads, and hotel classics such as sandwiches/burgers (as far as I can remember!).
OVERALL VERDICT
We loved our stay at Vila Joya, and I sincerely hope we will be able to visit again soon. In the meantime, I will be recommending this hotel to all my friends and family! I have to admit, I used to think the ‘Algarve’ was not such an elegant and sophisticated destination, but I was really swept off my feet by my experience at this beautiful hotel.
