"Tranquillity is easy to find in Portugal’s Alentejo countryside, but nowhere feels quite as special as this little rural escape. More than just a luxury hotel, São Lourenço is also a working winery, olive grove, and farm in Portugal's wild, sun-bleached Alentejo region. All of the rooms are accessed from the cobbled courtyard and have been converted from former stables. The low-lying exterior is beautifully photogenic, and it would surely be impossible to wander through here in the late afternoon sun without feeling inspired. There are two restaurants—one indoor and one outdoor. Understandably, there’s a strong farm-to-table ethos when it comes to dining in both. For the past 200 years, the estate has been producing its own food and goods—including cereals, olive oil, wine, and meat—and little has changed now (in fact, the olive oil in particular is memorable for its buttery, smooth texture—and yes, you can pick up a bottle to take home). While this is an escape that’s made for relaxation, the hotel has ensured there’s plenty to do; whether that’s a horseback ride through the 780 hectares of land, a morning spent with the property’s beekeeper, Fabio, who gently introduces guests to his five hives with utter care, or simply a bicycle ride on one of the free-to-use bikes. There are two swimming pools (one of which is a smaller, toddler-friendly option) and seemingly endless space for young ones to run around with abandon while adults watch happily from the sidelines."
