Casa da Figueira

An Intimate Modern Beach House

With a tropical vibe and unfussy boho-beach style, this house in the pines on Portugal’s Comporta coast near Carvalhal hits all the contemporary beach villa high notes—breezy, whitewashed rooms, a classic red tile roof, ample objects in rattan, sea straw and cane, and a lovely L-shaped lap pool surrounded by sun loungers and furnished shaded porticos.

Portugal’s classic coastal pines insulate this intimate modern beach house in the private gated community of Casas da Encosta on the sought-after Comporta coastline. Nestled within a lushly landscaped garden and built around a central, courtyard-styled pool with an ultra-spacious outdoor dining patio, the low-key modern home features huge sliding glass doors and cheery whitewashing inside and out as the backdrop to easygoing contemporary furnishings. 

A two-minute drive from the heart of Carvalhal, it feels intimately off-the-beaten path given its privileged site within a protected residential enclave. Praia do Pego’s pale sands and grass-tufted dunes are just 10 minutes away on foot, the beach a favorite spot for sport fishing that hosts annual sea fishing competitions.

Around

A coastal village some 10 miles south of buzzy Comporta and its cool neighboring village, Melides, Carvalhal’s beaches are freer and easier, with fewer visitors. The town is one of seven in the the Herdade de Comporta, a zone of rice paddies and the wetlands of the Sado Nature Reserve. Carvalhal Beach is located at the end of the village’s main street. Dune backed and flanked by rice paddies, the family-friendly beach also has a well-loved traditional waterfront restaurant, and there are beach loungers and umbrellas available for a fee. Pego Beach is walkable from the villa, a remote-feeling, 4-kilometer stretch of golden sand surrounded by a pine forest. There's a destination restaurant for those in the know, Sal Restaurant, a family-run domain of grilled fish and freshly caught seafood. Dolphins jump in the waters offshore, and the waves make the entire region a surfing hotspot for pros and beginners alike, well-served by surf schools and local guiding companies. 

Carvalhal is also known for its boutique shopping and antique outlets and its simple cafes and taverns. Nearby Comporta (about 10 minutes north) has become a favorite playground of hip global nomads who’ve ridden in on the coattails of fashion designers, international architects, entrepreneurial urbanites, and modern art collectors. Comporta is well loved for its easygoing elegance and trendy artisanal boutiques, lively galleries and handful of cute cafes. Nearby Melides is also a favorite of design-conscious shoppers who delight in the burgeoning selection of galleries, studio/workshops, and carefully curated boutiques. 

Location

Lagoa Formosa, Comporta, Setúbal, Alentejo, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon (75 miles)

Best time to visit

April to October