Agua Hotels Lagos Bay
The coastal city of Lagos is often considered the gateway to southwest Algarve. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was Portugal’s gateway to the world: the country’s pioneering explorers set sail from here, charting the first sea routes from Portugal’s southern tip to Brazil, India, and beyond.
Traces of these past glories can still be seen across narrow streets and alleyways of the old town, if you know where to look. The Agua Hotels Lagos Bay sits in the centre of this ‘zona velha’ – it’s small, with just twenty rooms, and it’s boutique: great care and attention was paid during the renovations, to reinstate the original art deco styling of this handsome 1920s Algarve townhouse.
The Grand Suite is arguably the most impressive – the original living room, with its intricate cornice work; you’ll need to book early to snag this suite. There’s a more contemporary, unfussy feel to the décor of the Signature and Premium rooms – moving down in size, the Deluxe and Standard rooms also have a modern feel, whilst the Classic rooms live up to their name, with a return to the deco-inspired decor of the Grand Suite.
Despite is significant role in Portuguese history, Lagos is quite a compact city: the Igreja de Santa Maria, the Castelo do Lagos, and the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira are all a short walk from the hotel, and the riverfront Avenue of Discoveries leads you over the Bensafrim River to Lagos’ modern marina. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches: Meia Praia on the eastern outskirts of the city is the largest; Praia do Canavial, Porto de Mos, and Praia da Luz are to the east, with their striking sandstone cliffs.
