The Vibe: Wine and design.

The Area: On the Quinta da Lixa estate, Telões, near the city of Amarante – under an hour’s drive from Porto. The 30 hectares estate, of which 22 are vineyards, are dedicated to the production of grapes for green and sparkling wines.

The DNA: Quinta da Lixa’s owners weren’t initially planning to open a hotel. They were merely thinking that the two dilapidated outbuildings a stone’s throw away from the main house might make great guesthouses for friends. Ultimately, however, an impressive proposal convinced the owners to hire FCC’s Fernando Castro Coelho and Paulo Lobo, frequent collaborators, to design a luxury hotel. At Monverde, “the essence, the tranquillity, inspires us to live, contemplate and value what is around us”. The central structure includes the majority of the activities and facilities available: 24-hour reception and concierge service, restaurants, bars (Wine Bar), wine cellar, regional craft store, conference room, and an extensive spa.

Suite-Me-Up: The stylish, minimalist decorated rooms are located in two “outbuildings” with facades made of stacked granite and schist with pine. They come with luxury amenities, and include air conditioning, a flat-screen cable TV with cable channels, a minibar, a safe and coffee and tea making facilities. The private bathroom has a shower or tub, slippers, robes, a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Some rooms feature a terrace or balcony with views over the surrounding vineyards and hills.

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 30 rooms & suites (24-54m2) (258-581 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2015 • architecture: FCC Arquitectura • interior design: Paulo Lobo ✅ free on-site parking • pets allowed • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible