Douro41 Hotel & Spa

Reopening this summer following a dramatic transformation, Douro41 Hotel & Spa is set to be northern Portugal's go-to minimalist retreat. Seated on the banks of the Douro River and located in close proximity to the Douro River Valley's endless vineyards and rolling hillsides, the hotel presents a gateway to one of the country's most compelling regions. Equally as alluring are the property's myriad opportunities for relaxation courtesy of an expansive spa and two outdoor pools, which in totality form a thoroughly modern escape.

Framed and inspired by the Alto Douro region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Douro41 Hotel & Spa fully maximizes its surroundings, with every corner providing a vantage point from which to observe the breathtaking scenery. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, suspended glass walkways and wide terraces put the locale on full display, while the property's very own architecture, conceived by award-winning Portuguese architect João Pedro Serôdio, mirrors the terraces that have come to shape this landscape for centuries. Inside, 52 rooms and 10 suites are home to a warm and contemporary aesthetic courtesy of Lisbon-based architect and interior designer Cristina Jorge de Carvalho. A palette of neutrals, slate and putty grey outfit all guestrooms and are punctuated by clean lines, minimalist furnishings, and the ultimate artwork: clear views to the stunning Douro River.

The same theme is continued in public spaces, where modern and comfortable interiors dress a series of conjoined areas, each with a distinct personality. The À Terra Bar & Canteen is a convivial wine bar that is ideal for gatherings, while the intimate and cozy Porto Club, with its double-sided fireplace and low-key library, is a place for quiet and reflection. The innovative lobby market is a reinvented grocery store offering local products and contemporary crafts in a 'market' setting and provides a fitting balance to the adjacent Eclectic Lounge, which also riffs on a familiar space — the living room — and is comprised of a series of multifunction areas to encourage repose. A panoramic restaurant serving regional cuisine with an outdoor area completes Douro41's exceptional and varied collection of recreational spaces.

With one of the world's oldest wine regions on the hotel's doorstep, a multitude of opportunities for R&R present themselves. Combined tours and wine tastings are available, while an on-site fluvina with capacity for 26 boats offers guests the chance to explore the valley by water. The jewel in the crown, however, is undoubtedly the multifaceted spa — a bona fide temple to relaxation. Equipped with a hydrotherapy circuit, two panoramic outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, a Turkish bath and tepidarium, and four massage rooms, the spa is an extraordinary sanctuary in a hotel where downtime is celebrated.

Hotel website