Where gastronomy meets art in the Algarve

As a big pasta lover, I decided to try their signature pasta with pistachio sauce, and it was one of the best pastas I have ever eaten. I even tried to recreate the same pasta at home, but I think there is something special they do which I am not able to replicate.

Visiting this restaurant is a completely different experience, as it´s not just a place to eat but also a concept store where healthy, floral-inspired dishes, signature ceramic pieces, clothing and jewellery from local brands all exist in harmony. To my surprise, the creative force behind all of this is only one person, multi-talented Cristina Sequeira.

Cristina is originally from Porto. She studied to become a dental surgeon and moved to Faro to pursue her career in dentistry. But life had other plans for her and she no longer works in this field.

“With my husband, we started our first project in our own apartment. It was called Oitavo Frente Supper Club. There, we served dinners for eight strangers every night, and people loved the concept. Because of that, we wanted to grow the project, and thats where an Alameda Restaurant emerged. At that time, I was working as a Dentist Surgeon all day and working in the restaurant at night. I knew I would need to decide what I really want to do in my life.“

Cristina´s husband is a well-known chef, Rui Sequeira. Many people remember him as a finalist of the TV show Top Chef. Alameda restaurant, offering a haute cuisine in an intimate setting, has been recommended in the 2025 Michelin guide.

During the lockdown, Alameda operated through takeaways only, and Cristina was helping her husband prepare orders for Mother´s Day. She decided to add some dry flowers to each order. They got very positive feedback and people kept asking for something similar. That´s when a business idea was born. Cristina saw this as an opportunity and decided to design the Resilience jar, which remains a bestseller. She began drawing more vase designs and sending them to artisans in the north of Portugal. Her kiosk in Mar shopping soon became too limited, and that's when she decided to open The Flower Bar Healthy kitchen and Living store.

Cristina has always loved art, drawing and fashion. Her mum is a plastic artist who has also played a big role in her creativity. Having all of this combined with the love for gastronomy, which Cristina discovered through her husband, a unique space was born, where Cristina can unite all her desires.

“I really like to be part of every aspect of my business, so for a long time, I was the only person behind logistics, customer service and content creation. I was doing everything. But as the business grew, I brought more people to work with me, and today I have a team, both in content creation and in customer service and logistics. Still, I make a point of following everything closely and being present.“

The Flower bar is a place which values Portuguese brands and artisans, they sell here a sister – brand Cristina The Brand – a clothing line designed by Cristina in a partnership with a Brazilian factory, the mother-brand The Flower Bar - ceramic and dried flowers store and other brands from local entrepreneurs.

“Since we started with flowers, they have become the central theme of the project, and they appear in every dish. Our food is healthy, focused on flavour and well-being. It‘s a place for brunch, a full breakfast, a healthy snack or even a dinner. Everything is designed to redefine the concept of healthy food and prove that you can eat well and with a lot of flavour. We have gluten-free dishes, with vegan and dairy-free options, and we don’t use white sugar at all. We wanted a healthy cuisine that would match the lightness of the space.“

Customers can always expect changes and innovations of the menu, as the idea is to adapt to the season and prioritizing seasonal products. Jasmin Asian bowl with tofu, Pink cherry garden with beetroot hummus or Falafel bloom bites, everything on the menu is visually stunning. It’s worth checking out their Instagram page, Flower Bar, all the photos look extremely professional, no wonder their account has a lot of followers. Everything is done with attention to detail. From food, colours, flavours, to flowers and photos posted on social media.

Cristina and her husband currently own three restaurants in Faro: Alameda restaurant, Monky, and The Flower Bar. With their creative energy and business ideas, maybe soon their culinary creations will also reach other towns of the Algarve.

R. Ataide de Oliveira 136A, 800-129 Faro

Instagram: theflowerbar_healthykitchen