Casa Stephanie
ALGARVE / HOMES / TRIED & TESTED
On a quiet, car-free street in Aljezur’s old town, the almost-beach-house come cottage, Casa Stephanie rests like a secret - a village house on the hill where silence is broken only by the quiet hum of local neighbours, the rustle of countryside breezes and the clap of storks nesting ahead. From the windows, the rooftops of the town spill out toward rolling hills, a reminder that here, life unfolds at a gentler rhythm.
Casa Stephanie has been thoughtfully restored by Janete Rodas, a New York fashion PR professional originally from Northern Portugal, who felt the pull to return to her roots, perched on a tiny street in the historical village of Aljezur. Both personal and timeless, it is a tribute to her sister and to the barefoot summers of their childhood together at their grandmother’s house.
Two serene bedrooms, one bathroom, a long kitchen and an open-plan dining and living room flooded with light create a space that feels both deeply rooted and effortlessly contemporary. Within taipa walls, ancestral techniques meet contemporary simplicity: cool linen fabrics, heavy woven reed blinds that temper the Algarve sun, shelves lined with Portuguese pottery, textures of jute and basketry woven into daily life.
Step outside and you’ll find an outdoor shower draped in bougainvillaea, where evenings stretch long into golden hour. Every detail carries that essence of Portuguese ‘saudade’, a longing made tangible in flowers, textures, and memory. Just like the endless stretches of coastline and dramatic, wild and rugged landscape that await to explore from here, Casa Stephanie is a place to pause, breathe, and fall gently into the rhythm of Algarve West Coast living.
Room Service
Location: Aljezur, West Algarve, in the historic old town on a quiet, car-free street with views across rooftops to the surrounding countryside.
Price: Two-bedroom village house (sleeps up to 4), with prices starting from around €180 per night.
Highlights: Unlike the rest of our Design Escapes in this area, there is lots in walking distance. From the doorstep, you can wander on foot to Aljezur’s coffee shops, bakeries, and even the medieval castle ruins, making it the perfect base to slip into local life.
Our favourite corners: The sun-dappled outdoor shower at golden hour after a long salty day of surf, and the living room - a space layered with flea-market finds, local pottery, and old books about Portuguese fishermen that create an atmosphere both eclectic and serene.
Services: A fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and thoughtful details throughout. While not a hotel, Casa Stephanie offers the freedom of a home with the atmosphere of a retreat. A place to cook, gather, and pause.
Designed by: Janete Rodas, a New York fashion PR born in Portugal’s Minho region.
Photography by: Casa Stephanie.
The Neighbourhood: Casa Stephanie is nestled in the town’s historic centre, with its whitewashed houses and cobbled streets dotted with cool speciality coffee shops and a bakery as well as some cute shops. Surf beaches, hidden coves, winemakers vineyards and the wild beauty of the Vicentina Coast Natural Park are just minutes away, making it an ideal base for both slow village days and coastal adventures.
Casa Stephanie is a member of the Design Escapes Club, tried & tested by us.
The Map
Praia do Canal lies deep within the Vicentina Coast Natural Park, just south of Aljezur on the Algarve’s wild West Coast. The closest airport is Faro - from there, rent a car and enjoy a scenic drive through rolling hills and rugged coastline, with the freedom to explore hidden beaches and cliff-top trails along the way.
Casa Stephanie sits high in Aljezur’s old town, where narrow cobbled lanes open onto sweeping views of the valley below. The journey begins at Faro airport. From there, it’s a 1.5/2 hour drive that carries you through cork and eucalyptus forests, and wide Atlantic horizons before the road narrows into the village.
Download the Design Escapes Directory for local inspiration & The Map to ensure you don’t miss out any spots on your journey.