Vinte-Quinta da Boavista

Rooms

The six cottages & apartments are unique in size and decor, but they share a few key elements: supremely comfy queensize beds, modern kitchenettes, powerful showers, big, beautiful windows and even better views. Artwork adorns the walls, from whimsical drawings by the artist who also designed the winery's bottle labels to sentimental murals that reflect people (and pooches) influential to the estate. 

There are four 1-bedroom apartments, known as the Mountain Houses. Lavanda and Oliveira sit above the library and massage studio. They're the most similar in terms of layout and both have wrap-around balconies; Oliveira is south-facing so gets the most sun.

Sobre a Vinha and Julieta are both split over two floors, with an open-plan living space on the upper level and a spacious bedroom occupying the lower level. Julieta is the most romantic; it has a daybed on the terrace and an in-room bathtub big enough for honeymooners.

We stayed in the largest house, Casa de Familia. This is where the owners' family stays when they visit, perhaps why it felt so welcoming. We loved the farmhouse feel and the fresh scent wafting through the rooms. Those with little ones in tow should book this, as it has a generous master bedroom (complete with dressing room), 2-3 single bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We also loved 2-bedroom Casa do Caseiro, with its covered verandah and surrounding gardens. There's a cosy woodburner in the corner of the kitchen and two stylish double bedrooms. These two houses share a patio with a barbecue, so would work well for families travelling together.

Bathrooms across the board are sleek and gleaming, with high-gloss tiles and rainfall showers (in most). If a bath is a must, choose Casa de Familia, which has a tub in both bathrooms, or Casa Julieta.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

All casas come with kitchenettes well-equipped for self-catering. Some are larger than others, but each one comes with a fridge, hob, microwave, kettle and Nespresso machine, and all except Casa de Familia have an oven. In the grounds, there's a communal barbecue and picnic benches for alfresco dinners.

A generous breakfast buffet is laid out each morning in the main house (or you can order it to your cottage), made up largely of ingredients from the farm. We feasted on freshly baked bread from the village, homemade pastries, cereals, seasonal fruit, cold cuts and cheese, homemade jams and marmalade, and tomatoes with salty feta. There's also a small selection of hot dishes to choose from, such as omelettes, French toast and pancakes.

If you don't fancy cooking, dinner can be enjoyed in the light and airy terrace restaurant (closed on Wednesdays), accompanied by stunning mountain views. The chef's menu is packed with delicious dishes made with homegrown produce. Expect the likes of filet mignon, octopus served à lagareiro, wild mushroom risotto, and lavender panna cotta.

During the day, you can also order light meals and snacks from the room service menu. As you might expect, there's also a long list of wines available to order by the glass or bottle at any time, including the estate's own pinot noir and Alvarinho Vinho Verde.

If you prefer to venture out for food, ask the staff for their local recommendations.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Lunch by arrangement
• Microwave
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Toaster

Activities

• Roam around the beautiful grounds, getting lost within its orchards and woodland, before flopping beside the pool
• There are lots of walking trails mapped out to suit all abilities, including to Lagoas de Bertiandos nature reserve
• Go on a wine tour or three: learn about - and sample - the estate's own wines, or try the renowned vinho verde at nearby vineyards including Quinta da Soalheiro and Palacio da Brejoeira
• For a dose of history, visit the Bom Jesus do Monte temple in Braga, and admire the medieval architecture of Guimarães; nearby Ponte de Lima is the oldest village in Portugal
• On a sunny day, beautiful beaches are in reach: Praia de Cabedelo is a 30min drive away, Praia do Rodarto a little further down the coast
• Porto is only an hour away, so we'd recommend spending a day in the city (if you're not tagging on a stay there at either end of your trip)
• Back at the hotel, there's a sports court and bikes to borrow, plus a range of workshops for kids
• The concierge can organise pretty much anything: horse-riding, river kayaking, picnics, private tours... you name it, they can make it happen
• A range of spoiling massages and yoga classes are available twice a week; private yoga sessions can also be arranged

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Badminton
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Sauna
• Spa treatments
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Well being
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Families are very welcome at Vinte-Quinta da Boavista, and the facilities for kids are top notch: an awesome play room, sports court, a climbing frame, workshops and more. Teens can get involved but may find the area too quiet.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Casa de Familia comfortably sleeps a family of 5 in 1 double room and 3 single bedrooms (1 is a study that can be converted to a bedroom), plus it has two bathrooms that both have tubs and showers. However, it's the only one without an oven. Casa do Caseiro has two double bedrooms and a double sofabed for 2 children; it opens onto lovely lawns that kids can play in. A few other apartments have sofabeds and all can fit a baby cot.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 55 minutes
• Hospital: 12 minutes
• Shops: 6 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Vinte-Quinta da Boavista is located in the countryside close to the riverside town of Ponte de Lima (7km), an hour's drive north of Porto (85km).

By Air
Fly into Porto (85km / 50 mins' drive).

From the Airport
Airport transfers are available, but we'd recommend hiring a car, for ease of getting here and so you can explore the region once you've arrived.

By Car
See our car rental recommendations. There's free parking onsite, as well as electric car charging.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.