Casa dos Mercados
OLHÃO, ALGARVE
Think of Olhão & you will think immediately of its bustling bi-weekly market brimming with some of the freshest & most abundant produce that the Algarve has to offer. Fishermen dismount boats teaming with silvery seabass, glistening octopus & plump tuna, beekeepers unload trays of runny honey cultivated in nearby hives & farmers pile up pallets of fruits & vegetables in all colours of the sun at every which moment in the season, constantly adjusting to the perfect conditions where the Atlantic meets the Medetteranian.
If, like me, you travel mainly with a mission of hunting out the best markets to soak up real local life, look no further than a stay at Casa dos Mercados. The clue is in the name. Located right opposite Olhão’s Mercado, this newly opened small & independent guesthouse features a sprinkling of rooms with views out over its Moorish rooftop & onto the sprawling Ria Formosa, the Eastern Algarve’s secret weapon. A national park that comprises a labyrinth of inlets, oyster beds, small fish farms & beyond, some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, accessible only by tugboat ferry or fishing boats that double as water taxi’s.
Interiors are warm & inviting yet kept minimal to act as a backdrop for the vibrancy of life outside. After a day out immersing into the local cultures, a retreat into Casa dos Mercados for a glass of wine on the roof terrace as the sky dramatically shifts from orange, to purple & midnight blue, has never felt better.
Room Service
Location: Olhão, Algarve.
Price: Suites start from 110€ per night in the low season.
Highlights: The front-row views of the Ria Formosa and the ocean beyond from Casa dos Mercados are unparalleled in Olhão and the access to the market below means you can watch from above as daily life buzzes around you.
Our favourite room: Suite 3 or rooms with direct access to the rooftop terrace are best for those wishing for quick private dips before everyone else is up.
Services: Breakfast is served every morning & daily turndown is offered.
Designed by The owners renovated the property themselves.
Photography by Casa dos Mercados.
The Neighbourhood: Olhão is rough around the edges as a fishing town that is home to one of the poorest communities in the Algarve. That being said, it exudes charm & character & a stay here requires a desire to get under the true surface of what makes this part of the region tick.
Things to know: While the proximity to the market, the marina for catching boats, and all the restaurants that Olhão has to offer are in arms reach, there’s a risk of the hubbub becoming noise. We imagine if you bare that in mind and prepare by packing earplugs, it’s nothing to worry about.
The Map
Casa dos Mercados is located in the fishing town of Olhão, graced with an active waterfront & pretty, bustling lanes in its old quarters. Around a fifteen-minute drive from the nearest airport, fly to Faro & rent a little car to take a road trip while finding some freedom during your stay.
Other Olhão stays
The Design Directory
Wander through Algarve with the Design Escapes curated destination guide, a Design Directory filled with homes & hotels, tips & tastes, sights & scenes with the thoughtful & modern traveller in mind…
