Some might think it’s a bit spooky staying in a 12th-century Cistercian monastery turned hotel, but Pousada Mosteiro de Amares is a little slice of luxury. Nestled in the mountains, the Pousada feels a million miles away from civilisation and is the perfect spot to unwind. Designed by award-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, the SLH hotel retains some of the original features with stone arches, ancient statues, open waterways, original 18th-century tiles and a HUGE granite table in the dining room that’s said to have been there since the place was built, and is complimented with modern styling.
Our room was bright and fresh with white decor and a huge feature window set into a thick, stone wall overlooking the National Park of Peneda-Gerês. Each room is modern and comes with everything you need, oh and the mini-bar is hidden behind the mirror! The bathrooms are uber cool too with marble surrounds and a rainforest shower.
[URIS id=91464]The monastery’s old kitchen has been turned into the hotel’s candlelit dining room and is quite the setting with two huge fireplaces and stone-clad arches. When it comes to the food you can expect traditional northern Portuguese recipes with a modern twist and a dessert buffet with everything from Creme Brulee and Pumpkin Cake, to a local cheese selection with fresh figs and pomegranates. The Continental breakfast is also fit for a king with meats, cheeses, bread, pastries and fresh orange juice made from the orange trees in the courtyard.
With an outdoor pool surrounded by mountains, a tennis court and a terrace made for drinking cocktails, Pousada Mosteiro de Amares is everything you could want for a relaxing break, and with the national park only 17 minutes away there’s lots to explore outside the hotel too.
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