32 Best Hotels in Northern Portugal, Portugal

This newcomer to the Douro has made a splash with its schist-clad contemporary architecture, an infinity pool overlooking the river, and the Schistó restaurant, the latest showcase (literally: the €180 tasting menu is prepared in full view of diners) for Portugal's chef of the moment, Vitor Matos. He also drew up the menu at the 16 Legoas restaurant, which offers unusual snacks and mains drawing on regional traditions. Guest lodgings in the old house include several duplexes; here and in the new wing, all have valley views, and half have terraces, some with whirlpool tubs (and one with its own pool); inside, wood panels and trim contrast with blocks of mint green and aquamarine, and television screens are concealed as mirrors. Common areas are both stylish and cozy; even in the corridors, aromatherapy machines contribute to the feeling of relaxation.

Dating back to 1551, the wine estate Quinta da Pacheca was one of the first in the Douro to welcome overnight guests; in 2020 it became a fully fledged hotel, with rooms in the old mansion, in a larger new wing, and—for a truly unforgettable stay—in 10 cozy giant barrels, some with their own plunge pool. The estate has a chapel and a beautiful garden with trees that are centuries old, while the main modern building houses a gourmet restaurant (€33) that serves excellent regional dishes; if you have the time, try the tasting menu (€120). Non-guests can also make reservations for wine tastings and to tour the cellars, where some of the grapes are still trodden the old-fashioned way, in a stone tank (note: if you book ahead, you can join in).