There are moments when Christmas begins before the lights come on in the streets. It starts with the gesture of gathering people around the table, opening a bottle, sharing stories and laughter that warm more than the fire ever could. Here, that spirit is lived simply and generously: through group dinners that, every year, turn December into a celebration of flavour and togetherness.

From the 17th of November, the Bistro at Mar d’Estórias once again dons its Christmas attire. Not with glitter or haste, but with time well spent. Here, every table is an invitation to conviviality, and every dish brings a taste of the Algarve, from the countryside and the sea, from fire and sweetness.

Before the main course arrives, the table comes alive with boards of cured meats and preserves, small tributes to Portuguese tradition. The vegetarian alheira croquettes with apple purée strike a balance between flavour and lightness, while the roasted chouriço and prawns with spiced orange and cashew fill the air with a festive aroma where salt, smoke, and sweetness meet in harmony.

For mains, the menu is a portrait of Algarvian diversity: from the rustic comfort of slow-roasted pork shank with baked potatoes and orange and ginger sauce, to the grilled tuna with pepper relish and celery and apple purée, a dish that smells of the sea and summer. For those who prefer the land to the ocean, there’s mushroom and asparagus rice, created for vegan palates, and red wine-braised cheeks, cooked slowly until they melt into a rich, deep sauce. The cod loin with chestnut purée and caramelised leeks combines tradition with elegance, while the roasted octopus with sweet potato purée closes the parade with the sweet-and-salty taste that is the hallmark of the South.

Each dish is a story, a bridge between who we were and who we continue to be. Cooking, after all, is storytelling through the senses. It’s knowing that the taste of a sauce, the scent of a herb, and the texture of a purée can transport us to memories and places. Portuguese cuisine isn’t defined by recipes, but by the soul we give them: it’s a land of affection, where time is the main ingredient.

And, as in every good story, the ending is sweet. The desserts celebrate the country’s rich confectionery heritage, memories crystallised in sugar and almonds, echoes of convent kitchens and old homes, of grandmothers teaching the perfect caramel point.

More than just a dinner, we offer an experience: a chance to rediscover the meaning of the Portuguese table.

They say that sharing a meal is one of the oldest and most human of gestures. Perhaps that’s why our Christmas dinners are more than just a meal, they’re a ritual. Between toasts and laughter, what remains isn’t the menu, but the moment, the warmth of company, the joy of discovery, the taste of the Algarve in every bite.

This year, bookings are available from the 17th of November, Monday to Saturday, and the invitation is simple: bring your group and celebrate Christmas with time, flavour, and soul. Because some memories are made at the table, and that’s how Christmas truly begins.