Vila Joya

After leaving the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, we headed to the southernmost coast of Portugal to a region known as the Algarve. Enjoying the slower pace of the region was exemplified by our leisurely (and quite long) lunch at the 2 Michelin starred Jila Joya. Located within a luxury boutique hotel of the same name, Vila Joya has been a culinary institution in the south of Portugal for many years.

Here is what we had for lunch on August 15, 2025:

Potato crisp snack with caviar

Snacks - Tuna, chipotle, avocado

Snacks - Smoked salmon, sour cream, caviar

Snacks - Sardine, bell pepper, espelette pepper

Foie gras, fig, vanilla

Balfego tuna, red shiso, kohlrabi

Lobster, mango, thai curry

Grouper, leek, black garlic

Imperial pigeon, beetroot, raspberry

“Gin & Tonic”

Cherry, yogurt, chocolate

With the same Michelin star rating as Belcanto, it was hard not to compare and contrast the two meals as we dined at Vila Joya. While there were a couple of courses here at Vila Joya that were a bit confused in flavor (such as the imperial pigeon), overall the food and experience at Vila Joya was the stronger of the two meals. While it was hot given the time of year, the ambiance and view of the southern Portugal coast from our table at Vila Joya was tough to beat.

Vila Joya
Strada da Galé, 8200-416
Albufeira, Portugal
www.vilajoya.com