A quinta reborn on the edge of the Ria Formosa
Quinta do Pinheiro, which opened in 2025, is a collection of five houses within an 85-acre agricultural estate—known in Portuguese as a quinta—that dates back to the 1870s. It remains a working farm, with hundreds of avocado trees, a citrus orchard, olive groves, and a vineyard. Located near the town of Tavira, this strip of coast borders the protected Ria Formosa nature reserve, one of the last corners of the Algarve that still feels wild and unspoiled, with tidal flats, oyster farms, and barrier islands.
The property was purchased in 2021 by Dutch couple Martijn Kleijwegt and Monique Snoeijen, who hired the Portuguese father-daughter duo Frederico Valsassina, the architect, and Marta Valsassina, the designer, to preserve and update the structures. Over dinner with Kleijwegt and Snoeijen at nearby Mesa Farta, an elegant restaurant serving a seasonal menu rooted in Portuguese flavors, the couple shared that they had first imagined the property as a private family home. It soon became clear, however, that it was too special to keep to themselves. For guests, the result feels less like a hotel and more like an invitation into an exceptionally beautiful guesthouse, where solitude and comfort come without the usual fuss.
Cobbled paths lined with fragrant herb gardens lead to two- and three-bedroom whitewashed cottages, each with slightly different interior details but all with spacious living areas and full kitchens. The materials are simple, rustic, yet entirely beautiful: handmade Santa Catarina terracotta floor tiles, lime-washed walls with window frames and doors painted red in the regional vernacular, and furnishings in cork, wool, and wood crafted by local artisans. Decorative pieces from the previous owner’s collection—antique maps, farm tools, and pottery vessels—add character.
The most impressive of the five cottages, and where I stayed during my visit, is Casa Celeiro, a converted barn with soaring exposed rafter ceilings inset with wicker and a lovely outdoor terrace beside the pool—the perfect spot for morning coffee. The homestyle breakfast delivered to the room is a real treat: trays laden with fruit from the farm, freshly baked breads and pastries, farm cheeses, yogurt, granola, and homemade jams.
