A hidden brunch spot in Albufeira

Oh Là Latte Coffee & Food

Scrolling through social media, I recently came across Oh Là Latte, a stylish café and brunch spot tucked away in Albufeira. Honestly, without social media, I probably would have never found it by chance, as it’s located inside Hotel Paraíso. Curious to see more and try their menu, I decided to pay a visit — and after spending some time there, it quickly became clear why people keep talking about it. Beyond the beautifully presented dishes and specialty coffee, there’s also a very genuine story behind the business, built on persistence, creativity and staying true to a vision.

Creating something together

Oh Là Latte was founded by Catarina and Miguel. She is originally from the Algarve, while Miguel has Portuguese roots but grew up in Germany. Despite their different backgrounds, both always felt strongly connected to the Algarve. For Miguel, the region had a special charm and lifestyle that drew him in, while for Catarina, it was simply home. Eventually, it became the place where they decided to build something together.

What they love most about living in the Algarve are often the simple things: the weather, the beaches and the slower, more balanced pace of life.

“People here tend to live with a better quality of life,” they explain. “Everything feels a bit less rushed and more balanced. That combination makes a huge difference in everyday life.”

From passion to concept

Catarina has always loved cooking, while Miguel has always been passionate about coffee and has had the ambition to create his own business. With a bit of his persistence, they decided to combine both her food and his love for coffee into one concept.

“At the time, brunch wasn’t as established in the Algarve as it is today, which made the idea even more exciting for us,” they say. “We started very small — it was just the two of us, with my grandmother helping in the kitchen — and slowly we began building a connection with the local community.”

Although the business has grown into a proper team since then, they still try to maintain the same personal and familiar atmosphere they had from the very beginning.

The struggle to find the right location

Before opening Oh Là Latte in 2023, one of the hardest parts was actually finding the right place. They spent a long time looking for a suitable location. At one point, they even changed plans completely and bought a food truck, thinking it would give them the flexibility they needed to start without a fixed space.

However, reality proved far more complicated.

“We quickly realised operating a food truck wasn’t as simple as we thought,” they explain. “There were specific licences needed and, most importantly, we still needed somewhere to place it. We faced a lot of rejection at that stage and honestly felt like nobody really believed in the project.”

Then, almost unexpectedly, the opportunity to open inside Hotel Paraíso appeared.

“They were the first people who genuinely believed in us and in our concept. That’s really how everything started.”

Staying true to their vision

Being located inside a hotel helped enormously in the early stages, especially while people were still discovering the café.

“It gave us immediate exposure and a first flow of customers beyond just friends or people who had seen us on Instagram,” they say.

At the same time, however, the hotel setting also brought challenges. Many hotel guests were looking for a completely different experience — traditional English breakfasts, beer, or a more fast-food-style menu influenced by what the previous business in the space used to offer.

From the beginning, Catarina and Miguel had a very clear vision for Oh Là Latte. They wanted to create a modern brunch concept focused on quality ingredients, speciality coffee and a more balanced food experience. Although many people advised them to adapt the menu towards more conventional tourist options like burgers and fast food, they decided to stay loyal to their original concept.

That decision ultimately became one of the reasons why the business grew so successfully.

“Over time, we started attracting more and more people from outside the hotel who were specifically looking for what we offer,” they explain. “Even today, while we still have hotel guests visiting us, most of our customers actually come from outside. That’s a direct result of staying consistent with who we are.”

More than just signature dishes

When Oh Là Latte first opened, dishes like eggs Benedict and guacamole toast quickly became customer favourites — partly because they’re familiar brunch classics people naturally gravitate towards. However, the menu has continued evolving.

The couple constantly introduce new dishes, tests ideas and refines the menu, which makes it difficult to point to just one “signature” item.

“In a way, that’s become part of our identity,” they say. “People don’t just come for one specific dish. They come because they know there’s always something new to try.”

Many returning customers specifically visit to explore new additions to the menu, something Catarina and Miguel value a lot.

Of course, like most cafés today, Oh Là Latte has also seen trends come and go — from matcha drinks to viral brunch dishes constantly appearing online. But they insist trends are never the main factor shaping their menu.

“Everything we serve comes from our personal taste,” they explain. “Whether it’s speciality coffee or the food itself, it’s based on what we would genuinely order ourselves. That’s why we don’t build the concept around trends.”

Instead, they focus on consistency and authenticity — something that clearly resonates with their customers.

Challenges and rewarding moments

Like any business, the journey also came with difficult moments. One of the hardest challenges was dealing with the first negative feedback they received after opening.

“It affected us more than we expected,” they admit. “We genuinely believe in the project and had always received very positive reactions, so hearing criticism for the first time was difficult.”

At the same time, they say the most rewarding part of running Oh Là Latte is the exact opposite: the daily positive feedback from customers.

Not only online, but especially in person.

“The reactions people give us directly, the conversations, the fact that customers keep coming back, that’s what reassures us and keeps us motivated.”

Building a local community

Although the Algarve is known for its strong seasonality, Oh Là Latte has built a strong local customer base alongside tourists and international visitors.

“From the beginning, we never wanted to be just a tourist spot,” they explain. “We always wanted this to be a place for both locals and visitors — anyone looking for a quality breakfast or brunch experience.”

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Catarina and Miguel are already planning their next project. Despite receiving several franchising opportunities, they are being careful about how the brand expands.

“As a small team, we prefer to grow in a way we can fully control while maintaining quality,” they say.

Their next step was opening Honey in 2026. A brunch-to-go concept combined with yoga and pilates that they feel naturally aligns with their lifestyle and existing brand.

They are open to franchising in the future, but only if it allows them to maintain the same standards and identity they’ve built so far.

The perfect Algarve day

And what does the perfect Algarve day look like for the couple behind Oh Là Latte?

“For us, it’s waking up, having a really good coffee with brunch, spending the whole day at the beach and then finishing the day with a nice dinner.”