I’ve been day dreaming a lot lately, I’m probably not alone right? I think we’re all feeling a little crazy during this time we’re asked to stay put at home. For me, I’m yearning to take off to far away places, specifically deep into nature.

Today I’m travelling into my archives from a trip I took last August to the Azores Islands. And because I love restaurant design as well, I wanted to share a lovely little gem I discovered called Magma.

Magma restaurant is located on the small island of Pico, one of a group of islands in the Portuguese Azores. Home to the volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal (hence the name Magma). The restaurant is located on the rugged north coast in the small rural village of Santa Amaro.

I fell in love the moment I entered. The warm minimalism, sustainable local materials, rustic quality that fits in with the surrounding landscape, yea checks all the boxes for me. The food is all local and produced on the island and so delicious. I still think about that meal to this day.

“Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are”.
- Rumi

There’s a beautiful hike that takes you to the restaurant, winding through the woods and opening up to the view of the ocean. The landscape is spotted with old traditional stone houses and you might see a few friendly goats too.

Located on the same hill are the Lava Homes vacation houses. These homes are stacked up on the hillside integrating the houses harmoniously with the landscape. They used sustainable practices such as local materials, rainwater for irrigation, energy-efficient water heating and renewable energy house heating. The interiors are sweet and simple, with amazing views. Although these houses were built for tourists, it’s not touristy at all. This area of the island is quite remote, in fact this village has only 300 occupants.