São Lourenço do Barrocal

"Tranquillity is easy to find in Portugal’s Alentejo countryside, but nowhere feels quite as special as this little rural escape. More than just a luxury hotel, São Lourenço is also a working winery, olive grove, and farm in Portugal's wild, sun-bleached Alentejo region. All of the rooms are accessed from the cobbled courtyard and have been converted from former stables. The low-lying exterior is beautifully photogenic, and it would surely be impossible to wander through here in the late afternoon sun without feeling inspired. There are two restaurants—one indoor and one outdoor. Understandably, there’s a strong farm-to-table ethos when it comes to dining in both. For the past 200 years, the estate has been producing its own food and goods—including cereals, olive oil, wine, and meat—and little has changed now (in fact, the olive oil in particular is memorable for its buttery, smooth texture—and yes, you can pick up a bottle to take home). While this is an escape that’s made for relaxation, the hotel has ensured there’s plenty to do; whether that’s a horseback ride through the 780 hectares of land, a morning spent with the property’s beekeeper, Fabio, who gently introduces guests to his five hives with utter care, or simply a bicycle ride on one of the free-to-use bikes. There are two swimming pools (one of which is a smaller, toddler-friendly option) and seemingly endless space for young ones to run around with abandon while adults watch happily from the sidelines."

"Set in Portugal's spectacular Alentejo countryside, this 200-year-old farming estate extends over 810 hectares." - The MICHELIN Guide

"Sometimes, the best view is just nothing. Well, not nothing necessarily, but miles and miles of countryside, where wildflowers bloom and horses wander. For me, there are few places as beautiful as the Alentejo; the Portuguese interior where space feels bigger, sunsets are more colorful ,and people are just happier. São Lourenço do Barrocal is a special place that captures this laid-back beauty perfectly. The terraces outside the farmhouse rooms are a place of perfect calm, where sitting with a morning coffee is as rejuvenating as a 60-minute massage. I’m a city lover, but there’s really nothing like looking out onto the rolling hills, hearing every single sound of nature and breathing in the warm country air. It’s a place I return to in my head often when I crave peace, and I know I’ll cherish that view forever."

"São Lourenço do Barrocal is a 200-year-old, 2,000-acre agricultural estate in Portugal’s spectacular Alentejo countryside. Today, the estate is still an organic farm, producing wine, fruits, and other foodstuffs, but much of its infrastructure has been put to new use as a tranquil and quietly stylish luxury boutique hotel — barns, outbuildings, even an olive press have been transformed for use as hotel rooms, suites, cottages, and a spa." - Mark Fedeli

"São Lourenço do Barrocal is a 200-year-old, 2,000-acre agricultural estate in Portugal’s spectacular Alentejo countryside. Today, the estate is still an organic farm, producing wine, fruits, and other foodstuffs, but much of its infrastructure has been put to new use as a tranquil and quietly stylish luxury boutique hotel — barns, outbuildings, even an olive press have been transformed for use as hotel rooms, suites, cottages, and a spa." - Mark Fedeli