São Lourenço do Barrocal

São Lourenço do Barrocal sits in the foothills of Monsaraz, in the Alentejo. It is a productive farm estate of 780 hectares with organic certification, among ancient holm oaks, olive groves and vineyards. The land has belonged to the same family for more than 200 years, across eight generations. The estate was originally a monte, a farming village. It reopened as a hotel ten years ago, with the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura leading the restoration of the old buildings. Guests stay in rooms or in cottages, with views towards Monsaraz. Farming and hospitality share the same ground. The estate has its own winery, which makes wines under the estate label with the oenologist Susana Esteban. There are two farm-to-table restaurants, serving Alentejo food made with ingredients from the estate and from other local family producers. An orchard and a vegetable garden supply the kitchens. A shop sells contemporary Portuguese crafts and regional products, some of them from the estate itself. The estate also has stables with a riding ring, two outdoor pools and a spa that uses organic cosmetics from the Austrian brand Susanne Kaufmann. Guests can ride in the morning, visit Monsaraz, taste what the land produces and stargaze at night. The estate also looks closely at its own wildlife. Its in-house biologist, Nuno Guégués, spent more than a year walking the land and logging the birds, plants and seasonal visitors he found. Henriette Arcelin turned his notes into drawings, and the result is the Natural Atlas of São Lourenço do Barrocal, a pocket field guide to the species a visitor is most likely to meet. The hotel has won a place in several international rankings and guides, including the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and a Michelin Key for 2026.