Villa Epicurea

Villa Epicurea is pure magic. Nestled high on a hilltop in Portugal with breathtaking views over the sea, it’s a serene wellness retreat that instantly soothes the soul. The atmosphere is calm, cozy, and deeply nourishing. The in-house meals, made with fresh local ingredients, are absolutely delicious—crafted with care and full of flavor. Whether you’re joining a retreat or simply unwinding, there’s a beautiful rhythm to life here. From yoga to nature walks and other mindful activities, there’s always something to reconnect you with yourself. With its peaceful setting, thoughtful design, and year-round wellness offerings, Villa Epicurea is a true haven for those seeking tranquility, inspiration, and a touch of magic.

As a company that has hosted multiple yoga and movement retreats at Villa Epicurea, we feel it’s important to share our experience to help other retreat leaders and organizers make an informed decision. We initially chose this venue because of its promise of exclusivity, professionalism, and a natural setting for deep, immersive experiences. Unfortunately, our expectations were not met—and our final experience was significantly below the standard any retreat host should accept. 1. Disruption Due to Construction & Misrepresentation During our most recent retreat, we were told a sauna would be available—a feature we advertised to our participants. On arrival, not only was the sauna unavailable, but active construction was taking place throughout the retreat. Builders were on-site from early morning to late at night, with no prior warning. The noise severely disrupted the peaceful environment we aim to create and led to participant complaints. 2. Poor Communication and Financial Inconsistencies We were charged unexpected and previously uncommunicated fees (e.g. for kitchen use) after our summer retreat. Despite multiple follow-ups, we had to wait months for a clear breakdown of costs. The final documentation only arrived long after our fiscal year had closed, creating real challenges for our bookkeeping and compliance. This lack of transparency made it difficult to trust the financial integrity of the partnership. 3. Lack of Respect for Exclusivity Even though we booked the full venue for private use, we encountered other guests using the pool and shared spaces. This completely contradicted our agreement and disrupted the sense of safety and community that is essential to our retreats. 4. Breach of Privacy One of the most concerning issues was the unauthorized sharing of private contact information. We were contacted directly by a third party who had been given our details and asked us to reschedule—despite our booking being confirmed nine months in advance. This was both unprofessional and distressing. 5. Aggressive Collection Practices Instead of addressing our complaints or acknowledging any service failures, Villa Epicurea escalated the situation to a debt collection agency. Even as we attempted to negotiate a reasonable discount given the significant disruption, we were met with rigid, legalistic responses. In the end, we paid the balance simply to end the conflict—but were left feeling dismissed and disrespected as a client. 6. Hostile Neighbor Situation Finally, future retreat hosts should be aware that a neighboring resident is highly intolerant of any outdoor sound. Even minimal music played during a yoga session on the terrace led to threats of police involvement. This makes the venue unsuitable for even the most respectful outdoor programming—a key part of most retreat formats. ⸻ In summary: while the physical location of Villa Epicurea holds potential, the management practices, communication style, and lack of client care make it very difficult for us to recommend—especially for professional retreats. What we experienced was not hospitality, but a transactional approach with little regard for client experience or trust. Proceed with caution and get every detail in writing.

I booked Villa Epicurea for one night as it was a gift for my boyfriend's birthday and we spent wonderful time there! To start with - villa is located not far from Sesimbra (20mins drive) and is right in the middle of green area - it looks like an oasis in the mountains! There is free parking at the entrance and then you have to walk a bit up the small hill (but it is kindly mentioned that in case luggage is heavy - one can go up with a car just to deliver suitcases). Villa has three rooms on the ground floor and a beautiful dining/living room on the first as well as two separate buildings and the dome. Our room was one of those on the ground floor and it was really nice - everything was so perfectly designed with wooden furniture and natural colors... There was a nice wooden desk, a fan just in case, a patio with chairs and small table... We had everything we needed! The living/dining room was another cozy place - the room itself is very spacious and has French windows so you can admire the view all the time. There are few tables with chairs where they serve breakfast in the morning (which was fantastic!), fully equipped kitchen that visitors can use, etc... The living room part had some nice sofas, board games and even a telescope! Sunset lovers can go to the rooftop and enjoy the view from there, others may chill by the pool... Staff of the villa was exceptionally nice and friendly. My only regret is that we only had a one night as we had to go back to Lisbon but hopefully will be back again!

We booked four nights at this eco-resort, which also markets itself as a four-star hotel on Google. Unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations. Upon arrival, it became clear that the four-star status was misleading. The owner was nowhere to be found to discuss this, and the friendly young lady at the front desk could do little to improve this. The tiny house where we stayed needed maintenance: it was not clean, the beds and pillows were of poor quality, it was cluttered with furniture, and the bathroom was very small, which does not reflect the atmosphere portrayed on the website. The Chef's dinner was disappointing and not worth the price. We decided to leave after one night without getting our deposit back. There was another couple that left the same evening. Overall, a disappointing experience and the price and quality do not add up. We would like to mention that the view of the surroundings was spectacular.

We had a fantastic stay at Villa Epicurea - The staff are very kind and accommodating, and for us it was the perfect combination of informal and luxurious. We stayed in one of the rooms in the main building, with a very comfy bed and beautiful view. Breakfast was wonderful with a large variety and the "Dinner in the Oven" was delicious. We recommend booking far in advance for additional services as they weren't always available, but the cooking class we had was quite fun, and the honor system for getting wine and coffee was very nice. Also the infinity pool and various places to lounge were wonderful.

I travel a fair bit with my boy and I keep saying that this villa is one of the nicest and most beautiful I have been in a long time. The infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The quietness of the pines. It had everything I needed to truly relax. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the beds are super comfortable. The main house is beautifully thought through, with again amazing views to the pines and the ocean. You can enjoy a glass of wine there in the evening watching the sun setting (one of the best I’ve ever seen) the breakfast is included and is absolutely delicious - with all local produce and plenty of healthy choices. Marianna the owner and the rest of the staff were extremely friendly and very accommodating to every request we made. And to top it all up I had a massage which was fantastic (not often the case in spas - in my opinion) so that was another pleasant surprise. I loved it and am counting the days to go back. I think it’s nice for a retreat a couples weeks away or a family holiday. It could cater for all I thought.

This was a terrible experience. The villa itself is a glorified hostel. It is literally filthy, sink which was once white is now brown, bins not changed/cleaned, toilet had urine on seat and shower tiles were black with dirt. The pool is also very dirty with cold water so nobody swam while I was there. When we checked in the last did not speak English so we couldn’t report any concerns. I tried to contact the host, who did not answer her phone and then text to say ‘deal with Airbnb as that’s how you booked’. The location is extremely isolated and rural which is nice but there is very little to do. No amenities close by and a 50 minute walk to a beach that is not safe to swim. It was far overpriced for what it was. We even experienced some young people who were openly taking drugs in the living area and nothing was done or said to them. Overall, I would not recommend.

The scenery is amazing! We booked the eco lodge villa for 4 persons but it was just too small for us. Keep in mind that the eco lodges are not comfortable, too small bathroom, I wasn’t really able to shower. I would strongly recommend to book the double rooms (like courage or serenity) inside of the main building. 2 persons maximum for 1 room. The main building with the infinity pool is perfect, and the breakfast was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the silence in the mountains with the surrounded nature. It is a great hideaway to empty your mind floating in their infinity pool. We also booked the dinner which was fully vegetarian and very delicious. Roberto did a great job welcoming us and providing everything. Only negative point was the actual eco lodge villa which was too small and needs a complete renovation. Thus the eco lodge was far too expensive for what you get as an exclusive private lodge! You pay for the view and scenery, that’s it. Nevertheless I do recommend this place under the condition you book a normal room inside the main building. For those who practice yoga will be impressed by the small yoga tent on top of the mountain.