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Locke de Santa Joana Lisbon in Lisbon, Portugal, designed by Post Company and Lázaro Rosa-Violán. Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
With its rich history, miles of scenic sandy beaches, and fast-tracked European visas, Portugal is well established as a global hotspot for travelers and digital nomads alike. In 2023, a record 26.5 million international tourists visited the southern European country, and most of these visitors require a place to stay. Whether it’s a once crumbling historic landmark, now tastefully restored, or an avant-garde structure taking advantage of sweeping coastal views, the hospitality market is stepping up to the demand and stylish, design-forward Portugal hotels and short-term housing options continue to emerge.
From a sumptuous villa influenced by a fashion icon to a 17th-century convent and a cliffside surf retreat, here are five Portugal hotels to visit on a future trip.
Take A Fall Holiday In These Stylish Hotels In Portugal
1. Vermelho Melides, Melides, Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
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Photography courtesy of Vermelho Melides.
You can stay in a hotel, or you can stay in a fashionable friend’s stylish villa. Designed by architect Madalena Caiado and illustrious fashion designer Christian Louboutin—the man behind the iconic black pump with its trademark red bottom—boutique hotel Vermelho Melides offers 13 unique rooms chock full of pieces from Louboutin’s own collection as well as eclectic work from local artists.
“Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot created all the ceramic elements on the facade and the sculptures in the garden,” notes Louboutin. “I originally discovered his work in Positano, Italy.” The fashion designer often works on his latest collection nearby, in a restored fisherman’s shack. There are also hand-painted frescoes by Konstantin Kakanias, a chandelier by Nicolas Cesbron inspired by sea urchins, and upholstered furniture by Pierre Yovanovitch. “Vermelho Melides offers all the comforts of the contemporary world as well as the experience of entering an authentic universe by Christian Louboutin,” Caiado adds.
2. Locke de Santa Joana Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
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Photography courtesy of Locke de Santa Joana.
If joining a convent seems a little extreme, how about checking into one for a few nights? In Lisbon, a 200,000-square-foot 17th-century convent now attracts digital nomads as the newest location of hospitality chain Locke de Santa Joana. More comfortably minimalistic than monastery-sparse, 370 serviced apartments have interiors by Post Company. Lázaro Rosa-Violán, head of his namesake architecture firm, designed public areas, carving out restaurants and bars, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Preserving the listed building was essential to the design, but also challenging. The eclectic nature of the project is visible in flooring. “There are pieces and areas from different periods with very diverse shapes and colors,” notes Rosa-Violán.
3. Casa Nossa, Campinho, Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
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Photography courtesy of Grupo José Avillez.
Searching for a weekend getaway, award-winning Portuguese chef José Avillez and his wife Sofia Ulrich discovered a tumble-down 160-acre estate in Portugal’s Alentejo region, just 30 minutes from the border of Spain. While existing buildings were mostly in ruins, the picturesque site was surrounded by centuries-old holm oaks and gardens and on the banks of the scenic Alqueva reservoir.
Designed by Studio Astolfi, the restored and reorientated Casa Nossa now faces the lake, with large glass windows and doors soaking up waterfront views. Expansive public areas include cinema and entertainment room, library, bar, and wine cellar large enough to offer wine tasting. A stay requires renting the entire property, which has up to 11 suites. Avillez serves as private chef, dishing up locally sourced, Portuguese-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on the Alentejo region.
A tapestry by Lisbon-based textile and fiber artist Vasco Águas is among furnishings by Portuguese designers and artists. There’s also a unique mix of artisanal craft from the Alentejo region curated by Felipa Almeida—a curator of art and crafts handmade in Portugal—and a painting by Pedro Batista. “This painting, which I’ve had for a long time, has special meaning to me,” reveals Avillez. “It was just right for the living room.”
4. Pa.te.os, Melides, Portugal
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
Situated on Alentejo’s coastline, Pa.te.os consists of four unique concrete vacation homes designed by Manuel Aires Mateus, founder of architecture firm Aires Mateus, for Sofia and Miguel Charters. Varying in size from a 1,000-square-foot one-bedroom to a 2,200-square-foot three-bedroom, the houses complement each other with striking geometry.
“The structures were designed for the topography of the place, taking into account the existing trees and the sought-after views of the Atlantic ocean,” explains Aires Mateus, who also designed much of the locally produced custom oak furniture inside (the interior is artfully minimal). As co-owner Miguel Charters, founder of real estate firm Primosfera explains, Pa.te.os is designed as a response to a fast world, to “consciously shift the focus towards what is really essential.”
5. Aethos Ericeira, Encarnação, Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Aethos Ericeira.
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Photography copyright Pion Studio.
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Photography copyright Pion Studio.
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Photography copyright Pion Studio.
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Photography copyright Francisco Nogueira.
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Photography copyright Francisco Nogueira.
In an appeal to nomads who love surfing but also appreciate effortless luxury, Pedra Silva Arquitectos and Spanish design studio Astet conceived sophisticated surf retreat Aethos Ericeira. With facilities including a meditation and yoga platform, gym, heated saltwater pool, spa with hammam, restaurant, and coworking space, the 50-room hotel is perched on a 130-foot cliff, just a 15 minute drive from the popular surf town of Ericeira.
The design team selected stucco walls, whitewashed wood flooring, and recycled synthetic flooring to provide a neutral backdrop to sand, green, and blue-toned hues reflecting those of the beach, cliffs, sea, and sky. Portugal’s climate consists of hot summers and often wet, windy, and gray winters. In response, warm-toned wood, velvet, and leather are juxtaposed with marble and stone “to make the property comfortable for every season,” explains Ala Zreigat, co-founder of Astet.