“A contemporary country retreat with a spa and family villas, hidden among pine trees a short drive from excellent beaches”
Sublime Comporta adds to the area’s allure. A few kilometres outside town, the main building houses a modern yet natural reception, restaurant and bar - a mix of ethnic pieces are a nod to the owners’ international travels. Spread out around it are minimalist all-white rooms and suites, plus a growing collection of 2- to 5-bedroom 'cabana' villas and sustainable suites built on stilts over a biological pool. Sleek as they are, they don’t steal the limelight from their natural surroundings - 17 hectares of fragrant pine forest, visible through floor-to-ceiling windows. And that’s not all - there’s a rim-flow pool, a small spa with an indoor pool, a summer beach diner and bar, as well as a restaurant that provides healthy competition to the local gourmet eateries.
Information provided by Sublime Comporta on 07/07/2020.
Cleaning and hygiene
Clean & Safe certified by the Portuguese Tourist Board. Housekeeping staff equipped with PPE, room servicing conducted without guest in the room. Employees equipped with gloves and mask or visor. Daily temperature checks on employees daily; offered to guests on request. Guests provided with masks in their in-room sanitary kit, requested to use them in the restaurant and indoors. High touch areas in public areas cleaned with antiviral products. Ozone generator assists in end of stay room cleaning. Longer gap between room occupancies. Isolation room available should a guest develop symptoms. On-call medical service (24 hrs, additional charge).
Common areas
Signage indicating social distancing in place. Hand gel provided in common areas. Front Desk service socially distanced.
Food and drink
Maximum capacity in bars and restaurants reduced by 50%. All meal times require pre-booking with the front office (choose between 3 different shifts for breakfast, max 50 people per shift, both a la carte and buffet options available). Tables and chairs cleaned between each use. Minibar disinfected between each booking. No charge for snacks and drinks room service in the villas. Groceries can be delivered to the villas with no service charge.
Facilities
Spa, sauna, Turkish bath, indoor pool and kids play area are not available. Gym has a limited capacity of 4 people; equipment sanitised between uses. Weekly programme of outdoor activities eg yoga. 3 metre distances between sun loungers.
Other
Pre-arrival check-in procedures and information including menus, services directory and activity guide; activities and meals can be booked prior to arrival. Room check-in and out on request. Communication with guests via WhatsApp (24 hours).
Highs
- Romantic, relaxing rooms with swish bathrooms - perfect for couples
- The outdoor pool terrace, with a firepit for evening drinks and the hotel’s forest as a backdrop
- Carvalhal and Pego beaches are among Portugal’s most beautiful and they’re within a 10-minute drive; the hotel has its own beach restaurant and bar on Carvalhal (June-October)
- All villas have a private pool - if its peace and quiet you crave this is ideal
Lows
- Dinner is pricey
- You’ll need a car to get here, to get around and to visit other restaurants
- Some rooms have open-plan bathrooms behind a curtain - not to everyone’s taste
- The hotel now welcomes families in the villas but the aim is still to offer a peaceful retreat
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Boutique Hotel
- 23 rooms/suites + 22 villas
- Restaurant & bar (open daily)
- Children welcome, esp. in the villas
- Open all year
- Pools
- Spa
- WiFi
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Beach Nearby
- Off-street Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
There are 23 rooms and suites spread across two terracotta-hued buildings. The remaining 22 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom villas are dotted around the grounds. All-white minimalism is consistent, complemented by statement pieces such as gnarled wooden tables or Oriental porcelain urns. Grey concrete headboards and floors add to the contemporary feel and windows look out over private terraces to the trees.
The rooms and suites range from 25 to 50 sq.m., but all share the same airy style. Entry-level Friend’s Rooms are the smallest, some with kingsize beds, others queensize and all have their own private terrace. We liked the spacious 2-storey Guest's Suites: all have an open bathroom on a mezzanine level, and a kingsize bed and sitting area (plus a separate toilet) downstairs. The Owner’s Suite, on the top floor of the spa building, has 2 private terraces (one with a Jacuzzi tub) overlooking the infinity pool, and a wood-burning fireplace for cosy winter stays. Saunter downstairs to use the spa facilities. Bio Pool Suites are a recent addition, constructed on stilts over a biological pool using traditional, natural materials.
Dotted around the pine forest is a growing collection of so-called Cabana Villas with 2 or more bedrooms. These are very spacious and cool, in a Scandi-chic way. Each consists of mini wooden chalets linked by open walkways, the central one in 2-bed villas being the living-dining area (with access to its private pool), while the others each contain a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. You can also book just one bedroom plus the living area: this is known as a Cabana Suite and includes use of the private pool.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Coffee maker
- Extra beds
- Hairdryer
- Phone
- Terrace
- Toiletries
- TV
- Underfloor heating
- WiFi
Eating
We loved the modern, open-plan restaurant with olive trees and vast floor to ceiling windows and a clear view of the chefs in the kitchen. The incredible breakfast is a tasty buffet featuring regional cheeses, rustic country breads, plentiful fresh fruit platters, yoghurts and cured hams and multiple fresh pastries and pastel de nata. There is also a choice of help yourself hot options including tortilla and scrambled eggs.
The Sem Porta restaurant is a welcome addition to Comporta’s growing culinary scene. The elegantly simple dining space is surrounded by windows overlooking the pool and pine forest; on balmier nights sit outside beneath a canopy of stars. What the staff may lack in efficiency the make up for in enthusiasm. Expect elegant authentic Portuguese fare from Chef Hélio Gonçalves. On our visit we enjoyed snapper with green rice, there was also a memorable bread basket with divine olive oil. Lunch is a lighter affair, with a simple menu of salads, soups and sandwiches.
From June to October you can also lunch on fresh fish and seafood, grilled meats and crowd pleasers including spaghetti vongole at the Sublime Comporta Beach Club (open 1230-1730) right on Carvalhal beach. Choose from selected international and local wines from rose to chablis.
Local restaurant recommendations include Dona bia, Museu do Arroz, Sal and Comporta Café.
Features include:
- Bar
- Children's meals
- Coffee maker
- Organic produce
- Picnics on request
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- Get scrubbed and rubbed in the spa, after a dip in the indoor pool or outdoor rim-flow pool. There’s also a steam room, a sauna and semi-private sleeping pods
- Zen out with a yoga class in the yoga pavillion (book in advance) or get a rally going on the tennis courts
- Borrow a bike and cycle to Lake Açude, or one of the local beaches if you are feeling really energetic
- Learn to surf at Carvalhal’s surf school (the best time is autumn), or ask staff to arrange horse riding along the sand or through local rice fields
- Hang out for the day at dedicated beach area at the Sublime Comporta Beach Club on Carvalhal beach (June-October)
- Head to the Estuário nature reserve, north of Comporta, for a spot of birdwatching accompanied by a specialist guide
- Golf enthusiasts should head to Troia’s golf course, 28km from the hotel
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Cycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Well being
- Wine tasting
- Yoga
Kids
Children are very welcome in the villas. They are also accepted in the main hotel rooms, but the atmosphere is more tranquil and couple-oriented. The resort has a small children's swimming pool.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Villas range from 2-bed to 5-bed; guest Suites have a double sofabed that can accommodate up to 2 children under 13 (or one extra guest over 13).
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available on request.
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
A limited kids menu is available
Families Should Know:
Children must have parental supervision at all times when using the kids pool.
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour 15 minutes (Lisbon)
- Shops: 7 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Sublime Comporta is 13km from the tranquil fishing village of Comporta, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It’s an hour south of Lisbon.
By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport (128km) is served by regular flights from across Europe and beyond. The hotel can arrange airport transfers, but we recommend hiring a car so that you can explore the area.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Portugal and getting around
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela 128.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 9.0 km
- Shops 6.0 km
- Restaurant 6.0 km
