"This hotel is among the best we have experienced. Little details make it stand out - a cover over the thermostat to keep the room dark, all-inclusive mini bar, separately sized robes and slippers (my wife is petite and one of her pet peeves are two sets of large-sized robes and slippers). The expansive estate provides ample room for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and two pools and a full bar and restaurant at the pool in addition to the main restaurant. Staffing is ample so the service is outstanding. The estate-grown wines are very good. We stayed in one of the courtyard rooms and it is very large even by US standards. We noticed several families with small children staying in a different set of buildings that appear to have cottages with multiple bedrooms, so this hotel seems great for families as well as couples like us. Really a world class experience all-around from reception until checkout."

"The drive up to the estate is long and along a cobbled path, and you know straight away you're arriving somewhere special. The grounds are vast, rustic and genuinely stunning. We were in Room 17, just off the main area; a large room with a table outside, simple and lovely. The welcome was incredibly warm, and we were straight into a wine blending experience that ran about 2.5 hours. As an ex-chemist myself, I loved it — mixing different wines to build different flavour profiles is genuinely fascinating, and by the end we were both a little merry and had two custom-blended bottles to take home and age, ready to open in a few years. A brilliant, memorable touch. The food here is fantastic; Hortelão and the estate's own BBQ were both incredible, with standout steak, BBQ'd veal and lamb chops, all paired with excellent wine from the estate. Two members of staff made the whole trip: Tatiana, who served us a few times and was without question the best server of the entire trip; professional, relaxed, funny and great company — and Duarte, who looked after us at breakfast and was thoroughly charming. Nothing fell short here at all — the whole vibe is relaxed and unhurried. It's an expensive stay, but it's genuinely good value for what you get. Compared with Spatia Comporta (where we stayed earlier in the trip), this felt more rustic, more remote, more authentic, with even more space and even more stunning scenery. We also took a short 10-minute drive to Monsaraz, which is well worth the trip. A truly special place, rustic luxury with real soul."

"I cannot recommend this lovely resort more highly if you are in search of a haven of relaxation. The facilities, staff, food and beverage were all top notch. They went above and beyond when we arrived in the middle of the night without our luggage making it with us. A must stay if you ever find yourself in the region."

"Our stay at São Lourenço do Barrocal exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with genuine warmth and exceptional hospitality. Every member of the staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home, and their attention to detail truly set this property apart. Exceptional good Every meal was beautifully prepared with fresh, local ingredients, and dining was one of the highlights of our stay. The amenities were equally outstanding"