DOMES Lake Algarve is the eponymous luxury hotel brand’s first venture outside its native Greece. Infused with Dome’s DNA of style and service, the palatial, 192-room retreat sits a stone’s throw from the cosmopolitan marina of Vilamoura. The galleried central atrium is unapologetically lavish — think cool marble, sky-high ceilings and gargantuan windows flooding the impressive interiors with that famous Algarvian sunlight.
Algarve coast
Through the opulent reception, we discover a Garden of Eden: three swimming pools, one edged with the softest white sand to create a private beach of sorts, and a saltwater lake are nestled among almond, fig and pomegranate trees, bougainvillaea and hibiscus, to create the ultimate holiday paradise. Accommodation is luxuriously spacious, ranging from retreat rooms to family suites all in restful, muted hues with private balconies, enormous, inviting beds and marble bathrooms.
Hotel exterior
Culinary culture reigns supreme here, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients across the four signature eateries. We dine at their latest addition, Soma. Pitched on the golden sands of Falésia beach, the cooking at this Portuguese seafood restaurant, serving ‘Bulhao de Pato’ clams, octopus salad and Algarvian sautéed prawns is rivalled only by the evening’s extraordinarily technicolour sunset. The family-focused Apricus Pool Bar serves fresh, Californian-style healthy offerings — think superfood bowls and zingy smoothies, delivered with relaxed and easy hospitality.
Makris on the lake
The hotel’s Soma Spa offers world-class treatments to restore body, mind and soul. I opt for the perfectly fitting ‘Botanical Gardens of Portugal’ experience, which incorporates a facial and full body massage, using locally-sourced essences of rosemary, thyme, basil and lemon. I emerge glowing, calm and blissfully relaxed. Spa junkies will adore this adults-only oasis, with a hydrotherapy pool, Turkish and greek baths, sauna, Vichy shower and myriad treatment rooms, for pedicures to peeling treatments.
Suites
More gym bunny than lounge lizard? The alfresco gym is open 24/7 and features state-of-the-art equipment for the most satisfying workouts. Daily activities include paddle-boarding, HIIT classes, canoeing and lakeside yoga sessions, certain to hone that ultimate holiday body.
With 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, flight times from the UK at under 2.5 hours and a mere 20-minute drive from Faro airport to the hotel, Domes makes for the ideal weekend getaway. My speedy two-night stay, and (let’s face it, rather lazy nature) ensure an indulgent routine of beach/pool/spa/repeat. But for more adventurous guests, the possibilities are endless.
Try clam and oyster picking alongside a local Portuguese fisherman; discover traditional Algarvian crafts at Loulé market; tee off at one of Vilamoura’s five world-class golf courses; explore historical cities including Silves, Monchique, and Aljezur on Portugal’s famed west coast or take a birdwatching tour to Lagoa dos Salgados.
Concierge service and a tireless commitment to guest experience lie at the heart of Domes Lake Algarve, whether that’s creating the family holiday of a lifetime or a restorative couples getaway. Unapologetically glamorous, eye-poppingly beautiful and with suburb service — never has the phrase ‘go big or go home’ felt more apt.
by Thea Lewis-Yates
Room rates: starting from 286€ on a B&B basis for an Inland Retreat