Casa Mãe Lagos

From the property itself, to the food and especially the service, this is the absolute best place to stay in Lagos. Daniel, the bar manager made us feel so welcome and special on our honeymoon, and Jose Carlos was there for anything we needed. The food was some of the best I have ever had and service was world class. We will back to Lagos and we will be staying at Casa Mae! Thank you so much Daniel!!!

Casa Mae was exceptional. As you pull up, it’s a bit unassuming, but as you soon as you step in the doors, you realize you’re in for a treat. Great location, fresh and delicious food, spa and pool are charming. Very clean. And everyone is so kind. We had an early drive back to Lisbon and there was a “to go” breakfast ready for us at 5 am. We had a really great stay.

This was our first time in the Algarve and we did not know anyone who had stayed here, so were to some degree 'flying blind'. On the recommendation of other guests writing online reviews, we decided to give Casa Mae a try. Did we ever luck out. Where to begin. For starters, it is a small enough hotel that in 4-5 days you meet most of the staff. Whatever their roles, to a person, these people were incredibly genuine, welcoming, competent, kind, and funny. They were reason enough to warrant a return trip. The location was a (very) short walk to the center of the old town, tucked inside the fortress wall. What I would characterize as a former manor house is where we stayed, and there were other rooms on the property in the newer structure atop the expansive kitchen area. Our room was exquisite with views overlooking the town out to the ocean. The property is beautiful, quiet, and has as its centerpiece a large garden from which the hotel prepares its menus and meals. And though we sampled the renowned cuisine of the area, our best meals and service were by far at the hotel. The mixologists on staff also craft their own cocktails, some of the most unique, delicious, refined we've had anywhere. There was not one detail overlooked. This place and its people are first rate.

We recently stayed at Casa Mae for a family vacation and truly loved our time here. From the moment we arrived, we felt so welcomed. Check-in was warm and thoughtful, and all the little touches, from the welcome drinks and treats to the little teddy bear waiting for our son, made us feel like they had really thought about the details. We also really enjoyed the food and loved the farm-to-table concept. It was clear that everyone who works at Casa Mae takes a lot of pride in what they do, and that really came through in the service and overall atmosphere. The location was another highlight. It was an easy walk into town and to the beaches, which made exploring with our little one so convenient. We also never had an issue finding a pool chair. The only small downside was that the pool bar wasn’t open during our stay. Overall, Casa Mae felt warm, personal, and special, exactly what we were hoping for on our family vacation. We would absolutely stay here again!

We are Portuguese and know the Algarve well, and unfortunately, we did not enjoy our experience at all. Nothing about the hotel justified the price. The food was expensive and nothing special, and there was a noticeable lack of organisation and management throughout the property. The spa and garage were unavailable, and although we had made our reservation two months in advance, we were only informed of this situation four days before our arrival. Furthermore, the location was not convenient at all and, due to the garage being unavailable, we had to park our car quite far from the hotel.

My summary after staying at this hotel that considers itself a high end boutique is the following: VERY OVERPRICED SMALL ROOMS (the pictures shown online are deceiving and must have been taken with a fish eye lens) LOUD property- with multiple disturbances despite the claim to be a place to go for wellness and to be refreshed. We met with the owner to discuss a problem that occurred during our stay and she was dismissive and hostile when we expressed our issue, and it was obvious she had no concerns other than making money. I’ve never experienced such a rude and condescending approach to trying to find a solution to a problem. The grounds are pretty. There is no sea view and the rooms with a deck feel confining as there are big walls next to you and metal grates in front of your windows. Would not advise staying here!!!

I originally wrote a review but had to edit it because I keep being disappointed. Can you believe the hotel gave us a complimentary bottle of wine? However, when we showed up to drink it, we were told we could only drink it in our room (not in the restaurant or by the pool), otherwise we would be charged $25 ... I am not making that up! Guys, it would have been so easy to make an exception on our last night, but no, you could not... I wanted to share some feedback following our recent three-night stay at your hotel. We chose Casa Mãe because of its reputation as a luxury five-star property and paid approximately $1,200 per night. At that price point, we expected a level of service that, unfortunately, was not consistently delivered. Our main concerns were: Breakfast: While the ingredients were good, the portions were surprisingly small, and the overall experience felt unnecessarily stingy. Rather than reflecting the generosity one expects from a luxury hotel, it gave the impression that costs were being minimized in an area that should leave guests feeling well looked after. Housekeeping: On one afternoon, our room had still not been serviced by 3:30 p.m. This was disappointing, particularly when returning to the room to rest after spending the morning out. Reception: We found the reception desk was frequently unattended, making it difficult to speak with someone when we needed assistance. A hotel positioning itself as five-star should have staff readily available to assist guests at all times. What disappointed us most was the lack of any meaningful service recovery. After we raised our concerns, we expected at least an acknowledgment that our experience had not met the standards of a hotel charging over $1,200 per night. Instead of offering even a small gesture of goodwill—such as ice cream for the children or dinner on the house—the response was to justify the hotel’s actions. Luxury hospitality is measured not only by avoiding mistakes, but by how those mistakes are handled. In our case, we felt there was little effort to make things right. I want to emphasize that Casa Mãe is a beautiful property. The architecture, design, and atmosphere are exceptional, and it’s clear that a great deal of thought has gone into creating a unique hotel. However, beautiful surroundings alone do not make a five-star experience. Ultimately, luxury is defined by service, and in our experience, the service did not justify the premium price we paid. I hope you take this feedback in the constructive spirit in which it is intended. Casa Mãe has the potential to be truly exceptional, but the guest experience needs to consistently match the standards and pricing of a luxury hotel.

This past week I got engaged on a boat tour in the algarve please. casa Mae contributed to making this experience truly incredible. They worked with my boyfriend Behind the scenes to plan every small detail of our trip. The grounds and the room are incomparable truly second to none. But the staff are truly what make this place special they helped us arrange all the details of our trip provided the best local recommendations every meal and drink we had on site felt truly curated. The food is beyond fresh as much of it comes from their personal garden. I will never forgot how casa Mae shaped our experience and perception on the Portuguese people and their beautiful culture. We look forward to intentionally returning to casa Mae in the future

Our stay in the Baluarte villa was an absolute dream and far exceeded our expectations! The room was beautifully designed with an amazing outdoor space! The kids loved the pool so much. The food was incredible with special accommodations for vegetarian and vegans. The location was so perfect as we could walk everywhere and yet it felt so private. The staff were all amazing, kind and helpful, going above and beyond to make our visit extra special. We loved the complementary yoga classes, fresh baked muffins delivered every evening and the unforgettable special touch of turn down service in which lavender pillows were delivered and our music was turned on. Such a special place!!