New hospitality developments and international recognition are joined by TAP’s decision to extend its Faro flights throughout the year

Vilalara earns Michelin Key 

Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve has received its first Michelin Key, joining the selection of hotels recognised by the Michelin Guide in Portugal.  

The distinction, awarded to hotels offering “a very special stay”, comes as the Porches resort celebrates its 60th anniversary.

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Founded in the 1960s by George Ansley, Vilalara occupies 11 hectares of clifftop gardens with direct access to Praia das Gaivotas and pioneered thalassotherapy in Portugal.  

The accolade follows the inclusion of its Coral – Éden do Mar restaurant among the recommended restaurants in the Michelin Guide Portugal 2026, announced in March. 

Nobu comes to the Algarve 

Nobu Hospitality is coming to the Algarve with a new project at Monte Rei in the eastern Algarve, scheduled to open in 2029.  

Developed in partnership with Norfin, the project will include a hotel with 100 rooms and suites, a Nobu restaurant, and around 21,000m² of branded villas and residences.  

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Set within Monte Rei’s 400-hectare estate, home to the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, the development will be designed by Rockwell Group in collaboration with DSA Architects.  

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 as part of a wider investment programme at the resort, which also includes new leisure facilities. It will be Nobu’s second destination in Portugal, following the project announced for Lisbon. 

Funchal connection year-round 

The air link between Funchal and Faro will no longer be seasonal.  

From the end of October, TAP will operate the route year-round, with two weekly flights between Madeira and the Algarve during the quieter period until the end of March.  

The decision follows an 88% load factor between March and June 2026, up from 83% the previous year, whilst the number of flights increased by 179% compared with the same period in 2025. Following these results, the airline is considering increasing services for summer 2027. 

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