For big birthdays in my family, my dad always gives us a trip in lieu of a physical gift and lets the recipient pick the location. For my 30th, we all went to Sicily and it was a dream come true. None of us have ever been to Portugal and it had been on my short list for years, so I chose it for my 40th!

I wanted a vacation that felt both luxurious and grounding so we decided to leave all the kiddos at home this time around. Love them but an adults-only Euro trip felt right.

I looked dozens of destinations in Portugal, and finally landed on Comporta, a Montauk-like beach town just east of Lisbon, after several hours of discussions with my friend Alex, a travel genius. She is amazing at discovering the best hotels, restaurants, and adventures all over the world and I’m so grateful for her help on this!

We spent most of our time on the trip in Comporta lounging and eating seafood at beautiful South-of-France vibe beach clubs, shopping the colorful and insanely stunning local boutiques, and relaxing in a way that I haven’t done in a long time.

After a few days there, we headed into Lisbon for a European-city fix before heading home. Between the fresh seafood, the incredible wine, and the laid-back yet stylish energy of both spots, it was truly the perfect way to ring in this new decade.

Where to Stay:

In Comporta, we stayed at the Sublime Comporta, and it was exactly that… sublime. Every corner felt like an interior design dream, and the vibe was so calm and effortless. The staff and service was next level and I would go back in a heartbeat.

The hotel gave off the kind of understated, (sustainable!) luxury getaway that made me feel like I was in movie… or a dream. The boho-chic property is nestled in a pine tree forest, a ride from pristine white sand beaches.

My dad and his wife booked a bio-pool suite which was a stunning room overlooking an organic swimming pond. Anel and I booked a cabana villa with my sister and brother-in-law with our own living room, kitchen, and pool. It was nice to be able to see both options but I would definitely do the bio-pool if we went again. It was so different and cool!

They also had a stunning pool on the property with a cute little bar and ice cream hut where we spent one particularly hot afternoon. The spa, fitness facilities, yoga/pilates studios, and tennis courts were also 10/10. Anel and I played tennis one morning, but I definitely skipped the gym all of the other days.

The farm-to-table food at the hotel was definitely a highlight too. I am still dreaming of the fresh, organic breakfast buffet a month later! More on the dinner restaurants below.

The other big place to stay there is Quinta da Comporta, another eco-friendly resort that looks incredible too. But the bio-pools and food scene drew me to Sublime in the end.

Where to Eat:

Xtian in the famous Vermelho Hotel: This was a wild culinary experience and 100% worth the 20-minute drive to Melides from Comporta. Xtian is named for Christian Louboutin who designed the hotel and restaurant. It has a very Moroccan feel and the food was delicious if not a little fancy for our taste. But the location alone was worth it.

Sal Beach Club: Definitely my favorite meal of the trip! Sal was laid back and casual but so so cool. It’s a beach club located right next to the Sublime beach club and overlooked the stunning Praia da Comporta. We ordered a ton of fresh seafood, sangria, and veggies and everything was fresh, vibrant, and amazing. They also had very fun merch which I always love.

Semporta: Semporta was a really really special experience. It’s one of the restaurants in the Sublime. Again with the stellar service, incredible fresh seafood, great wine pairings, and SUCH a vibe.

Sublime Beach Club: Probably one of the coolest places I’ve ever been. It was giving Saint Barth’s but with a Portuguese flair. Phenomenal drinks, oysters, and food for lunch by the beach.

Cavalarica: Ok so lots of thoughts on this. Cavalrica is a Michelin-star restaurant so we had very high hopes. It used to be a stable but when they sat us six adults in an old horse stall, we were quite cramped. It was funny and we had a great time but the service was not great and while the food was good it wasn’t great for the price tag. I might go for apps and drinks or a lunch next time.

JNcQUOI Beach Club: Another great great meal here for dinner one night. The sunset was stunning, the food and wine were amazing. Highly recommend the paella.

Also recommended but we didnt have time for:

• Comporta Cafe Beach Club
• ALMO Cafe (brunch)
• Sao Joao

Where to Shop:

Casa da Cultura Comporta: Out of all the shopping we did (and it was a lot) the Casa da Cultura was my favorite stop by far. It’s an indoor bizarre with booths for different fashion, food, and home brands. The prices were lower than the other boutiques so it was a bummer that we discovered this last lol. I highly recommend stopping here first if you’re in town for some shopping.

Lavanda: The most charming boutique that I could have spent hours in but we quite literally closed it down. It carries an incredible selection of clothing, accessories, and home decor. It’s colorful, beachy, and the perfect mix of sophisticated and laid back. I bought bright striped glasses, an embroidered dress, a cotton set, napkin rings, and a necklace here.

Cote Sud: A gorgeous shop featuring higher-end women’s fashion from Portugese and other international designers, although they don’t allow any photos apparently so I got a slap on the wrist for that one. Oops!

The Life Juice: Another beauty full of mostly home goods. This one was pricey but had so much beautiful stuff to peruse so definiteley don’t miss it.

Vida Dura (in Melides): Melides is a tiny little town with, as far as I could tell, only two shops in addition to the famous Vermelho hotel. Vida Dura is connected to the hotel somehow but we couldn’t quite figure out how. It is a design shop but also a flower shop which makes for a very cool space. I bought my favorite pottery of the trip here and now am kicking myself that I didn’t buy more.

Noemina (in Melides): This is the other shop we found in Melides that was full of clothing and accessories from Portuguese designers and brands. I bought a super cool wicker bag with a neon yellow strap that I have worn every day upon return. It was teeny tiny but packed full of great stuff.

Where to Stay: Lisbon

In Lisbon, we stayed at the Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel, a true oasis looking over the city. It ended up being insanely hot while we were in Lisbon, due to an unprecedented heat wave, so we were very glad that it had a pool for us to cool down in after exploring the city. Again, spectacular service and a beautiful space. I would definitely recommend it however it was a little bit off the beaten path and not in the center of all the action so it depends what you’re looking for.