It was a friend who originally brought Gonçalo Pessoa to Comporta, a sleepy holiday destination for the Portuguese about an hour south of Lisbon. The pal had a place in the beach town for quite some time and had long been pestering the former TAP Air pilot to stop by and see the area’s unparallelled beauty and tranquility for himself. Pessoa and his now-wife eventually ventured to Comporta in 2001, and that one visit was all it took for him to be hooked.

“It was the anti-Algarve,” he tells Robb Report. “It really was the opposite; it was untouched. It was nature at its best, simplicity, authenticity. It had it all.”

So he and his family, at first, set out to build their own personal villa in the area, snatching up 42 acres of land amid the peaceful dunes, forests and rice fields that form a truly unique environment. The idea quickly turned into a hospitality venture, though, when Pessoa realized “there were beautiful people coming to, you know, discover the region . . . but they didn’t have any place to stay.” And so Sublime was born in 2014 as a boutique hotel with just 14 rooms, eventually turning into a five-star mainstay that took Comporta from an under-the-radar destination to a tony Portuguese hot spot for the international jet-set. The venture has grown to include striking villas inspired by the landscape, suites with biological pools (sans chemicals), and restaurants galore—and even a sister property in Lisbon. Now the brand is expanding yet again, Robb Report can exclusively report, with a new arm: Sublime Sand, which officially opens its doors today.

At the new piece of the property, you can expect to find 43 striking villas (with rates starting from around $1,400 per night), each with their own private pool and indoor-outdoor fireplaces to help you make the most of the stunning surroundings. The landscape-inspired design of the original hotel, which gives a modern twist to traditional Comporta architecture, extends here, done up by Lisbon-based firm Fragmentos in partnership with Sublime’s original architect, José Charrua. Inside, meanwhile, you can expect minimalist textures and designs, neutral hues, and a focus on indoor-outdoor living courtesy of Andringa Studio, alongside durable, high-quality furniture sourced from Indonesia. And the difference between the old and new guard? Sublime Terracotta, Sand’s predecessor, is focused more on couples, offering up an elegant, mature retreat. The new hotel, meanwhile, will be a vibrant hub for families, perfect for a multi-generational vacation, as well for larger group travels, whether it be for business or pleasure.

“And this is why we say that now we have the best of three worlds, because we can accommodate three different worlds that sometimes would have difficulty being together” otherwise, Pessoa says.

In an unusual move for a boutique property, Sublime is home to nine restaurants across its portfolio, with a Japanese number on the way next year; Pessoa is personally inclined to all things culinary, hence the emphasis. “We want our guests that stay in our property to have multiple options and to keep them as much as possible inside our universe,” he says. New to the dining roster with Sublime Sand’s opening are Beefbar, an acclaimed mean eatery that started in Monte Carlo and has since spread across the globe, and Davvero, an elegant import from Sublime Lisbon that is known for its Italian cuisine. Among its other food spots, you can find Sadu, a Portuguese culinary hub full of traditional dishes that’s named for the river upon which it sits; the Food Circle, a 14-seat ode to live fire cooking where you’ll dine among over 200 species of herbs and vegetables grown right on the property; and Sem Porta, which serves classic dishes from around the globe.

In terms of activities, Sublime has its own beach club perched right on the sea, located about four miles from the hotel itself (with the property providing transportation to and from, of course.)  Elsewhere, you’ll find a dedicated Kid’s Club with its own pool, a spa, multiple gyms, and new tennis and padel courts. And to cater to those larger groups, whether it be a wedding or a business trip, Sublime Sand has room for 450 people to mill about at its event space.

Most of all, Pessoa hopes within the vibrant, lively hotel, guests will be able to bond with themselves and their fellow travelers and find in a true sanctuary.

“During our crazy days, we don’t have time to be among the ones we treasure most, and for the ones traveling in groups, to connect with their business partners or to their associates,” he says. “This can be a place of connection and also of enjoyment.”