Back home now, but still dreaming about the luxurious, yet authentic boutique hotels I visited in Portugal in collaboration with the Alentejo tourism board and Check-In PR last month.
I love exploring special regions and consider it a challenge to stay at the most unique accommodations, which are chic, classy but have a special history and heritage as well.
I was happy to find 3 of such boutique hotels in Portugal situated in one of the most authentic regions of the country, called the Alentejo, boasting authenticity, peace, quiet, nature, stunning views, homemade wines, quality food, heritage and class, as did these hotels.
Let me show you these unique accommodations through my own experiences, with over 45 of my personal pics (click on the smaller pics to see the bigger version and description):
Torre de Palma, wine hotel
This historic palace-like family owned boutique hotel, once the property of a king, has its own winery, vineyard, unique restaurant, indoor-and outdoor pool, Spa & Wellness, extensive event space and even a horse riding center with private stables.
Only an hour’s drive from Lisbon airport you will find this home away from home, in the north of the Alentejo at the heart of its historical wine region, set atop a hill with beautiful views over the quiet landscapes.
Although the historical building dates back to 1338, this hotel is now a member of the Design Hotel Group, as it has been tastefully restored and renovated in 6 years up to 2014 by the family, with the help of celebrated architect João Mendes Ribeiro, while keeping the traditional Portuguese style intact and combining simplicity and sophistication, as you can see in the gallery:
With only 19 rooms and suites ranging from 30 to 80 square meters, this small scale boutique hotel offers a large variety of room types. From Family Rooms with 2 bedrooms and a private living space to a 80 m2 Master Suite with a kitchenette, living room, dining room, 2 bathrooms and a balcony or terrace, and several regular rooms with all the amenities you might expect from a 5 star hotel.
Even though I stayed in a ‘’normal room’’, there was nothing normal about it, decorated in way I had never seen before. Every room is spacious and features a unique theme decorated by the talented Rosarinho Gabriel.
And with a historical watch tower, quality restaurant, 7 acres of vineyards, extensive winery and a classy wine tasting facility, explaining the name ‘’wine hotel’’, gourmet- and heritage lovers can not go wrong here: Torre de Palma.com
São Lourenço do Barrocal
Looking for a unique farm stay, surrounded by hundreds of acres farmland with nothing but nature, and all the luxury and facilities you need to totally unwind? Then look no further; São Lourenço do Barrocal has been renovated for 14 years to perfection by the son of the owner, on an estate of 7,8 million square meters.
They produce their own wines and olive oils on 600.00 m2 of olive groves and 150.000 m2 of vineyards with some vegetable gardens as well. What they produce here is served in their unique and tastefully decorated restaurant every night, or sold in the hotel’s farm shop.
I stayed in a farm room of 40 m2 incl.private terrace, which takes tasteful simplicity to the next level, while immersing you into the Portuguese countryside of the Alentejo. São Lourenço do Barrocal also offers several suites and two bedroom cottages which are more spacious, ensuring a complete sense of relaxation.
Here you can enjoy the quiet heritage and authenticity of an old farm building, which has been in the same family for 200 years, with all the comfort you deserve. Visit the winery for an exclusive wine tasting or indulge yourself in the sophisticated Spa with nothing but organic treatments.
The extensive hotel grounds offer plenty walking and cycling routes with private picnic opportunities and even hot air balloon rides are possible here: Barrocal.pt
Nearby Monsaraz Castle is certainly worth a visit as well, situated in a unique and charming village, more about this in my next Alentejo blog.
Sublime Comporta
Again a stunning boutique hotel on a 17 acre estate, but this time situated on the coast, at what is renowned among celebs, artists and even royals as the St.Tropez of Portugal.
This luxurious and prestigious hotel, set amidst impressive pines, cork trees and sand dunes, is located near rice fields and over 60 kms of white-sand beach along the coast of central Portugal. Only one hour from the Portuguese capital this contemporary country retreat is hidden in of one of the most beautiful rural areas of Portugal.
Stunningly decorated with rustic simplicity, surrounded by vegetable gardens, atmospheric fire pits, an immense outdoor pool, luxurious Spa with indoor pool, beautiful restaurant with high quality organic food and all other facilities you might need.
The 14 hotel rooms and suites of Sublime Comporta and the 35 unique cabana villas with either 2, 3 or 5 bedrooms are spread out across the resort grounds offering their guests complete privacy and space.
Each minimalist all-white cabana villa can be rented separately or combined with 2 bedrooms. They have floor to ceiling windows and a stylish spacious bathroom with ceramic bath looking out upon the surrounding cork trees and sand dunes.
I was happy to stay in one of these with my friend and fellow blogger Lieke of Little Wanderbook sharing a living room, kitchen and private pool, but with a separate bed-and bathroom for each of us, supplying us with all the luxury and comfort we could wish for, completely immersed by nature: Sublime Comporta.pt
It’s exactly this understated, yet chic vibe of Comporta and its surroundings in the beautiful rustic Alentejo region, which makes this the holiday destination of choice for Madonna and the likes, see for yourself why in this gallery:
I hope my pictures and description have convinced you of the authenticity, heritage and class of this region of Portugal and gave you enough inspiration for your next stay here, as I can highly recommend each of these hotels.
In my next blog I will show you more of what we did here and the recommendations for exploring more of the beautiful Alentejo region.
Did you know that this region of Portugal was this beautiful and would you consider going to the Alentejo for a gastronomic, luxurious, yet authentic and relaxing holiday?
