Secrets Tips: The Top 10 Boutique Hotels In Portugal ♦ There’s been a recent upsurge of boutique hotel openings in Portugal: these amazing hotels are small yet stylish, luxurious and FABULOUS! Making every single urban location fashionable, these boutique hotels are making its way all through Portugal. Today Secrets From Portugal will let you know the top 10 boutique hotels you should get to know.
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Torel 1884 – Porto
This amazing boutique hotel in Porto has 12 luxury rooms and suites in an old palace in the heart of the city. You can either sleep in the Suites or in the 11 Apartments located in Rua das Flores, the downtown Porto’s trendiest street. The stunning Palace dates back to 1884 and is filled with the spirit of the Portuguese explorers: here you can choose to travel the world by visiting Africa, America and Asia, and discover a different exotic theme in each room – from spices and silk to coffee, tea, porcelain and tapestry. Let yourself be whisked away into the world of the Portuguese navigators as they travelled the world, discovering not only foreign lands but also exotic spices, new foods and superb materials within them. Embark on your own exotic journey and breathe in the spirit of the adventurers through our lavish materials, natural colours and exotic plants. In Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine, an intimate and elegant yet relaxed space, we offer the perfect atmosphere to linger and sip a glass of fine Portuguese wine, accompanied by samples of typical Portuguese specialities.
The theme of “Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments” is that of the Portuguese discoveries and the exotic things, such as fabrics, materials, spices and animals that the explorers came across and brought back from their journeys to faraway lands. Hence, each of our 23 Suites and Apartments is named after one of them, such as porcelain, tea, or exotic birds. The idea was to showcase their origins through colours, fabrics, materials and light. With the focus on the roots of the discoveries, nature and earthly colours play an important part, using natural fabrics/materials such as linen, cotton, or silk and earth colours such as /ochre/sienna, green and brown to set the scene. The design team responsible for the project was Nano Design from Porto, with whom we had already worked for our award-winning five-star art boutique hotel Torel Avantgarde. In this project, Nano Design was responsible for the design of the 47 individual rooms. For Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments, Nano Design came up with the ideas and also brought them to life, using only the very best materials. The artist Jorge Curval, who also worked with us for Torel Avantgarde, completed the design of the rooms and public spaces with his own interpretations of the discoveries in his works.
Campo de Arroz, Comporta
Regulars will tell you that the best way to experience Comporta is to rent a house. And this one, a family-friendly project that sleeps 10, makes the most of its views over rice fields that flick from water-logged to luminous green as the seasons change. From the stripped-down main bedroom, which has poured-concrete floors, wooden ladders and shaggy, palm-fibre lampshades, there’s a view of the sunrise over the fields, punctuated only by the orange trees in the garden. Outside is a huge barbecue with a pergola-sheltered table, and a swimming pool to leap into. The other way, the dense forest backdrop is filled with umbrella pines and gnarled cork trees. Without this place’s sandy, wooden decking, it would be easy to forget it’s so close to the beach. But just behind the treeline are miles of unspoilt caster-sugar dunes. From Carvalhal it’s walking distance to Pego for lunch at Restaurante Sal, where locals pull on their Sunday best to feast on grilled fish, octopus-ink rice and endless rosé. This is a great spot to go off-grid in the same way the savvy crowd have been doing for decades.
Campo de Arroz offers a laid-back, elegant and authentic holiday experience in Comporta, at the heart of the magnificent region of Alentejo. Facing the rice fields, Campo de Arroz is designed to provide a close interaction with nature, whilst offering a relaxed pace of life and a stylish environment. Alentejo is the biggest region in Portugal and is both rural and sparsely populated. The grain fields, olive groves and vineyards offer magnificent landscapes as far as the eye can see. Golden plains and rolling green hills stand alongside the wild and unspoiled coastline, whitewashed villages and majestic medieval towns. During your walks, you will be able to immerse yourself in the rich history of the region, go on one of the most beautiful hikes in Portugal, or sunbathe on the sublime beaches of the coast. The region’s ‘must-sees’ include the medieval city of Évora, the fortified town of Marvão, the small and picturesque town of Castelo de Vide, and the authentic coastal fishing villages. At just over an hour away from Lisbon, the Comporta peninsula is nature at its wildest. Rice paddies, unspoiled coastline and exceptional wildlife… It’s the ideal spot to go walking as a family, go swimming, go horse riding, have a drink on the beach as the sun sets, or go bird watching in the natural reserve.
DA LICENCA, ALENTEJO – Estremoz
The Herdade das Freiras emerged in 1830, as one of the important olive oil production. Dá Licença embraces three hundred acres and magnificent hills, including more than thirteen thousand olive trees, emerging on pure, white and pink marble rocks. The location is unique, with its wonderful 360º view into the Serra d’Ossa forest and into the beautiful castles of Evoramonte and Estremoz, in Medieval and Manueline style. When Vitor Borges and Franck Laigneau first discovered the Alentejo region in the 2000s, they were overcome with a sense of déja-Vu. This landscape felt somehow deeply familiar, the colours vibrant and clear, the smells around them like memories. Here they found their spiritual homeland. Four luxury suites between 50 and 180 sqm each, decorated with refining and elegance. Large and spectacular bathrooms, two of them with a bath in a local marble block. All the washbasins are individually sculpted by a local artist. Large patios or terraces for more privacy and incredible views over the natural landscape. Two suites with private pool in marble finish and saltwater treatment. The interior of the suites has private and unique Art pieces. Three spacious rooms with private pergola and patio, large panoramic windows into the natural and organic landscape. Marble bathrooms. Each one is furnished with unique pieces from our art collection.
For an extra dose of romance, be sure to dine in one of the three private period rooms located in the main house. The ever-changing menu features recipes made with the finest ingredients from the farm is complemented by our wine selection. The decor is unique and features with our private art collection. The gallery is located in the original olive press from 1904 and also welcomes a restaurant. The purpose of an art concept as part of Dá Licença is to go on with a project Franck Laigneau initiated in 1998 with the opening of its gallery in Paris nearby the Orsay museum. His vision was to promote historical design from Norway and Finland. The first entities to react were international museums and private collectors followed by interior decorators. He then developed another avant-garde design field with the anthroposophical art movement. Today design and architecture have been very focused on technology, removed from spiritual and soul.
CASA DA SAO LOURENCO, SERRA DA ESTRELA
The only five-star hotel in the Serra da Estrela region and the only one with a panoramic view over the Glacier Valley. Conceived in 1940 by the architect Rogério de Azevedo, reborn now with a new life turned into the beauty of the landscape. The hotel has burel as one of the main focus-points, pays homage to Maria Keil’s beautiful artwork in the interior, while providing space to the contemporaneity of Portuguese designers, and introducing the comfort of a Mountain SPA where the pure air of the high-altitude and the beauty of the panorama are fundamental blessings. Rest comforted by the panorama of the Serra da Estrela mountain range while being cradle by the history that lines the walls. The rooms are all different and truly special. With a decor that opposes the new and the old, concrete and wood, wool and burel, separate rest areas, balconies and access to a private garden. Rooms that praise the landscape, the mountain and all its culture, without giving up comfort and silence. At 1200 meters of altitude.
You are invited to discover the flavours of our trip through the gastronomy of the Beiras region, the seasonality of the Mountain ingredients, the ancestral recipes we reinterpreted. You are invited to sit at the table with panoramic views to the Glacial Valley, under a ceiling of golden burel stars anticipating the visions of autumn. The São Lourenço Restaurant takes you into a gastronomic journey of discovery and creativity. With a diversified menu and options to suit everyone. The ingredients are fresh, local and in tune with the seasons. The view is panoramic over the Glacier Valley, the Village of Manteigas and a sea of mountains extended by the horizon. A Restaurant on the top of the Mountain where the landscape is the main ingredient.
Quinta da Comporta
Located in the heart of Comporta’s idyllic natural reserve, Quinta da Comporta is the new sustainable signature project envisioned and designed by renowned Portuguese architect, Miguel Câncio Martins. As an undeniable tribute to the sublime cultural heritage of Comporta, built from the love and respect its author feels for the location, Quinta da Comporta offers the perfect translation of its inspiring lifestyle through the integration of traditional architectural lines, connection to its natural environment, proximity to the locals and inherent history. Providing exclusivity, an authentic local experience and high-quality service, Quinta da Comporta’s seventy-three spacious Double, Deluxe and Duplex Rooms, Suites and Pool Villas, create the perfect resort for a genuine journey inwards. Infused with a contemporary feel, simplicity unveils elegance in every detail and invites you into a deep retreat, where wellness and tranquillity play a leading role. Discover a new sense of belonging creating authentic memories at Quinta da Comporta.
Nestled in a privileged location within the property, Quinta da Comporta’s four exclusive Pool Villa – 3 Bedrooms are perfect for families and friends looking for a private home whilst benefiting from all the exclusive services the Resort has to offer. Being located at the heart of the property, perched on the rooftop and facing the Rice Fields’ and Heated Infinity Pool views, the one of a kind Rooftop Junior Suite at Quinta da Comporta allows guests to enjoy Comporta’s most relaxing natural setting. Evoking a sense of quietness, the overall soft colours and earthy textures recreate nature’s landscape throughout the Junior Suite featuring a spacious lounge seating area and bedroom with bathroom and two exclusive balconies with privileged views.
AREIAS DO SEIXO, COSTA DE PRATA
A magical place in a magical setting, Areias do Seixo is a natural haven less than one hour from Lisbon. This is a special place where pine trees, dunes and sea murmur their secrets. Experience originality, sublime comfort and an unerringly sense of style that seamlessly blends in with the natural surroundings of the land, the sea and the shore. Each room tells its own intriguing story. Our restaurant transports you to a place where aroma, taste and colour come together, using raw materials sourced from a bountiful Mother Nature. Concealed behind the enigmatic wooden doors that lead into our SPA, a world of unique sensations awaits you. Leave the daily grind and the stresses of life behind you. Let yourself be transported back to an almost forgotten time when “to feel” was activity enough.
Areias do Seixo Charm Hotel is the realisation of the dream of owners Marta and Gonçalo. They had a compelling desire to create a unique place where they could welcome people from the four corners of the globe in a magical yet familiar setting. They encountered many obstacles along their journey to turn this dream into a physical reality. And the result? A place of enchantment crafted from a range of resources that have been thoughtfully and painstakingly assembled to equal so much more than a simple sum of their parts. Awe-inspiring originality combined with sublime comfort. A place where time stands still. A place to pause and savour every moment, cradled by sea, dunes, and pine trees and washed by natural marine light.
LX Boutique Hotel
Welcome to the lx boutique hotel, an establishment in the heart of historic Lisbon. We have renovated an atmospheric century-old hotel overlooking the River Tagus (Rio Tejo in Portuguese) with elegance and contemporary style to bring you a unique Lisbon experience. There has been a lot of buzz about this hotel since it opened last year and then expanded to add a further 16 rooms with views across the River Tejo to the Christ the King statue. LX stands for ‘Lisbon Xperience’, and the hotel provides a highly original take on the city. Young in feel, with an informal atmosphere, it has five floors named after elements unique to Lisbon: Tejo (the river), Pessoa (the early-20th-century poet who used to stay in the building), Fado (the city’s mournful music), Seven Hills (on which the city is built) and Bairro Alto (the district). The decor on each floor reflects its name: on the Fado floor, there is guitar wallpaper; on the Pessoa floor you’ll find many of his books. All the rooms have iPod docks, white shutters and heavenly pillows. The restaurant is always humming, and when you taste the sushi you will understand why.
The LX boutique hotel was reborn like a phoenix from the ashes of the Hotel Bragança, a century-old building in central Lisbon near the river Tagus. This hotel arose from the desire to restore the ruins of a historical building and rather than build a simple hotel the idea was to create a unique environment that spoke the language of the city: Lisbon.
ONYRIA MARINHA EDITION HOTEL & THALASSO, CASCAIS
The Onyria Golf Resorts Group is part of the natural evolution of a project that began around 20 years ago. The group was created to undertake the integrated management of resorts, villas, hotels, golf courses and restaurants. It is a group that involves a whole family, spanning various generations and its aim is to offer the very best and create enduring moments. The Onyria Golf Resorts is a family enterprise, and its story is always recounted as such. Our past is today’s heritage, the here and now to be lived and worked to the full. And in the future, it will fulfil through dreams and challenges. It all began in 1988, with the acquisition of a plot of land in the Quinta da Marinha, Cascais. As it was our first project in the field of hotel management, the Hotel Quinta da Marinha Resort is a very important landmark in our history, symbolizing an excellent beginning.
Our current and future touristic investments include various projects which are always situated in the most privileged locales: exquisite locations devoted to relaxation, but with the added advantage of always being close by to urban centres. This is how we offer our guests truly unforgettable experiences. The T1 and T2 Golf Villas in townhouse format in Quinta da Marinha is the best solution if you are looking for a real estate investment combined with a lifestyle solution. Situated adjacent to the golf course, the location is excellent and satisfies the requirements of all golf fans or anyone who is just looking for contact with the beautiful natural environment. The T3 Detached Golf Villas offers a private landscaped garden and pool. Perfect for the family, this unit is designed with the most traditional Portuguese architecture and are located very close to the golf course.
QUINTA DA CORTE, DOURO VALLEY
Located in the golden triangle which contains the world’s most prestigious Quintas, the Quinta da Côrte takes pride in its unique personality. By treating its great terroir with the respect it deserves, and by the use of traditional methods updated in the light of the latest advances, it produces wines with great depth of character. Their authentic style bears eloquent testimony to a combination of great native varieties and schist soils. The Quinta da Côrte has been the object of a substantial programme of investment aimed at achieving the level of excellence which this superb terroir is capable of producing. To develop its full potential, Philippe Austruy called on the services of Philippe Derenoncourt and his team, who had already worked their magic on his other wine-growing properties.
Highly varied in structure, and with little or no mechanisation, the plots are categorised according to their soil type, elevation and plantings: a “mosaic” vineyard of great complexity where no plot is really like any of the others. Although the reputation of the Douro wines was built on Port, the famous “gentleman’s wine”, which still reigns supreme, unfortified wines have been growing in stature over the past twenty years.
CASA FORTUNATO, LISBON
When you have sweeping views of the streets of golden Lisbon from your floor-to-ceiling windows, when each individually designed room is a vibrant world of its own, bathed in natural light and buzzing with energy – when the bright, hand-painted wallpaper sings its own story – complimenting the deep tones of the bold paint that covers the walls – when you sink on to your huge bed, made up with Italian sheets and look out over your very own sitting/work area, when you stand under the powerful rain shower and feel your worries washing away – what more could you want? Healthy, wholesome and delicious – Casa Fortunato’s open kitchen takes its inspiration from a traditional Mediterranean diet and lifestyle while delicately incorporating the Japanese philosophy of ‘shibui’ (beauty in simplicity) into every meal…
This amazing hotel has the looks of an informal design museum, with nine rooms (a number they consider to be lucky) individually styled with objects amassed over the decades and details that need Googling. There’s graphic, modernist wallpaper by London-based Jupiter 10 and curvy, matte-black taps from Italian brand Fantini Rubinetti.
