Amares, Portugal
Opened
1997
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
PestanaMinimalist Cistercian monastery
The ruined abbey was rebuilt as a study in monastic restraint. Mountain stream water runs through channels in the stone cloisters.
“Swap today’s stressors for tranquility in a remodeled 12th-century Cistercian monastery… the minimalist decor fits the historic setting.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Twelfth-century Cistercian abbey ruins preserved across vaulted cloisters and granite walls.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in AFAR.
Built on the ruins of a Benedictine monastery… the interior décor has tried to maintain the plain elegance of the past, by means of avant-garde furnishings.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
On monastic grounds in Santa Maria do Bouro, beneath the peaks of Peneda-Geres National Park.
1 of 5
The rooms
Former monks' cells keep their thick granite walls, updated with pale timber and white marble bathrooms.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
White marble lines the outdoor pool, and a stone staircase descends into the water on the terraced lawn.
Restaurant
Antiga Cozinha do Mosteiro de Amares
Tables fill the vaulted former kitchen, where buffets rest on an enormous granite slab beside two historic stone ovens.
At the table
Leather armchairs sit before a monumental fireplace in the vaulted bar, and parasols shade tables on the stone terrace.
How it began
Monks were expelled during Portugal's 1834 dissolution of religious orders, leaving the monastery in ruins for over a century.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.