After five successful years, Chef Louis Anjos has announced his departure from the Michelin-starred Al Sud restaurant at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf, near Lagos. The restaurant, which earned a Michelin star and a Silver Fork from Boa Cama Boa Mesa, will close on November 15 for the winter break. A new chef will be announced in early 2026.
“It’s the end of a cycle,” said Anjos in an interview. Differences in vision with management played a role in his decision. Louis Anjos brought Al Sud to the top of Portuguese fine dining — just six months after opening, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star, the fastest ever in Portugal.
Originally from central Portugal, Louis Anjos built his career through top restaurants like Vila Vita Parc and Bon Bon in Carvoeiro, earning his reputation as one of the Algarve’s finest chefs. His style blends precision with creativity, highlighting local ingredients from the sea, mountains, and Ria de Alvor.
His menu Momentos Únicos was praised in the 2025 Boa Cama Boa Mesa guide for its harmony, finesse, and wine pairing by sommelier Nuno Pires. Anjos says he plans to rest for now, but hints that “new culinary projects will surely come.”
As Louis Anjos departs, Palmares Resort is entering a new phase. Construction has begun on the JW Marriott Algarve Palmares Hotel & Spa, developed by Grupo Norfin and designed by the award-winning RCR Arquitectes, winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize.
The five-star hotel will feature 172 rooms and suites plus 133 JW Marriott residences, all offering stunning views over the ocean, golf course, or Ria de Alvor. This marks Palmares as one of the most exclusive destinations in the western Algarve.
The departure of Louis Anjos closes a remarkable chapter, but the future looks bright. The arrival of JW Marriott is expected to attract new culinary talent — and perhaps one day, Louis Anjos himself may return to this new wave of Algarve gastronomy.
Source: Expresso, article by Fernando Brandão.
Chef Louis Anjos leaves Al Sud
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