Forget Dry January… How about Damp January?

Christmas is long gone, 2024 is in full swing, and let’s be honest… Dry January is looking like a pretty terrible idea right about now. So, if your January is looking more damp than dry and you’re in search of a bit of inspiration for wine bars in Lagos, we’ve got you covered! 

Lagos is packed full of bars and restaurants serving the highest quality local wines. So, why not brighten up your January with a culinary and wine-tasting experience, day trip to a vineyard, or amble down to any of Lagos’ prime wine dealers to pick up a bottle or two to take home? After all, you’ll want to make sure you have the perfect bottle to pop open on one of LUX MARE’s terraces as you watch the sun set over the Atlantic….

Read on for some inspo!

Travia Natural Wines and Food

Located on a prime corner of the winding streets of Lagos old town, serving local food with a sophisticated twist, is Travia. And what brings diners to Travia in droves is its wine list. “Intentionally small”, the restaurant’s wine list is made up of about 50 natural, organic, low-intervention Portuguese wines, allowing diners to sample options not widely available. Where the food is concerned, the menu is small but packed with flavour and guided solely by what’s available at the local market. However, providing veggie, meat, and fish options means most will be pleased with what’s on offer. Hosting a monthly wine club as well as themed nights every day of the week, Travia is a must for any wine lover’s visit to Lagos.

Wines&Co

If your focus is less on the food and more on the wine, Wines&Co, right opposite Lagos Marina, is a stop you’ll want to make. A clean, bright shop sure to get your spirits up whatever the weather, it sells a wide selection of wines from small and medium Portuguese producers from across the country. Stocking wines not widely available at other locations makes Wines&Co a must for any connoisseur’s list. And you can even book a tasting to spend an hour sampling wines tailored to your tastes before you decide which will make your “to buy” list. (But you’ll need to book 3 days in advance for a tasting, so do make sure to plan in advance or let our concierge know!)

Mosto Wine Shop

Just around the corner from Wines&Co is Mosto: another modern, airy establishment where wine takes centre stage. In fact, why not make a day of it by stopping at one and then the other and tasting your way through both catalogues? 

Where Wines&Co stocks exclusively Portuguese wines, Mosto also sources specimens from further afield, making its range slightly more varied. It also allows its customers to taste wine by the glass, whether at the indoor bar or on the sunset terrace, making for a very pleasant place for an afternoon drink accompanied by snacks, tapas, or even a dessert or two. A shop dedicated to craft wine, it holds events twice a month where winemakers come and share their stories and wines. Or you can choose to take your tastebuds on a tour of Portugal through a specialised wine-tasting session served with a cheese board. 

Not sure you want to leave the comfort of LUX MARE? Have Mosto deliver you a curated box of their finest wines. 

Monte da Casteleja Vineyard, Lagos

But if you want to dive headfirst into the world of wine. If immersing yourself in the best of what the Algarve has to offer in terms of wineries is what you want to do… Why not set aside a day of your trip to do just that? 

Only 13 minutes from LUX MARE, Monte da Casteleja boasts sweeping views across the Algarve’s gorgeous countryside. Employing artisanal production methods, ancestral artistry, and new technologies to produce wine from grapes grown in organic terroir, it’s sure to impress with both its selection of wine and comprehensive tour… not to mention the wine tasting accompanied by tapas. 

Whether you want to get out about to try your wines, have them delivered to your door, or have our concierge recommend a bottle or two to go with whatever meal you’re having, a stay at LUX MARE is made all the better by wine. So, if damp January is more your style, let’s get 2024 off to the best start!