São Lourenço do Barrocal: Best hotel in the Alentejo!

View from my room. A gorgeous moon and lots of stars.

Why I Keep Returning to São Lourenço do Barrocal

Tucked away in the wide, golden landscape of the Alentejo is a place I always want to return to: São Lourenço do Barrocal. It’s not just a hotel—it’s a working farm, a slice of Portuguese history, and a breath of fresh air all rolled into one.

This isn’t a place for everyone. If you need to be in the center of it all, surrounded by shops and nightlife, this probably isn’t your spot. But if you crave open skies, starlit nights, and quiet mornings filled with birdsong and the scent of olive trees—keep reading.

What Makes It Special?

São Lourenço do Barrocal is family-owned, and you can feel it. There’s care in every corner. From the way the staff welcomes you, to the meals, to the gentle rhythm of the day, it all feels grounded and real.

You can spend your time here however you like. That might mean swimming in their stunning pool, biking between the vineyards, or simply sitting under an olive tree doing absolutely nothing.

But if you’re curious, here’s a taste of what makes Barrocal so unforgettable:

• Wine from their own vineyards – Dry, fresh, and made on-site. Take a tasting tour or just sip slowly as the sun goes down.

• Olive oil – Made from trees that have been here longer than most of us have been alive.

  

• Bike riding in between the vines and all over the property.

• Beekeeping and honey – You can visit the hives or just enjoy the honey at breakfast.

• Horseback riding – Through the countryside, past ancient stones and wide fields.

• Megalithic stones!

• Stargazing – No light pollution here. The sky is enormous and clear.

• A gigantic rock by the pool – Yes, it sounds random, but it’s oddly magical. Kids climb it. Adults lean against it. Everyone photographs it.

• Roaming cows – Just another part of life here. They move slowly, like the days.

São Lourenço do Barrocal: A Place Steeped in Time

This land has been lived on for thousands of years. The megalithic stones scattered around the area are a reminder of that. The estate itself was once a self-sufficient farming village—livestock, grains, vegetables, and wine sustained fifty families. It even had its own bullring and schoolroom.

Now, it’s been lovingly restored, blending old stone and modern comfort. You still feel the past here, but you’re not roughing it.

When to Go to São Lourenço do Barrocal?

The easy answer: anytime.
I’ve visited in summer, fall, and winter.

Each season brings something different—sun-soaked afternoons in July, cozy fires and clear skies in January, golden leaves and crisp walks in October. It’s always beautiful.

They offer different activities year-round, so you can return and still find something new.

Should You Go?

Only if this sounds like your kind of paradise:

• You love good food made with care.

• You enjoy walking, biking, or riding through nature.

• You’re happy with peace and quiet.

• You like the idea of a sky full of stars instead of city lights.

São Lourenço do Barrocal is where I go to reset. To breathe deeper. To reconnect—with the land, with time, with myself.

Winter days can be foggy or sunny

I loved the foggy evenings and mornings during the winter. It looked so mysterious and cozy!

Foggy morning

The hotel is welcoming and you will find a lot of information in your room.

A few “must visit” places: Monsaraz, the medieval city up on the hill and

São Pedro do Corval for beautiful ceramic pieces, megaliths stones inside the hotel property and around Monsaraz.

I love the interiors. Everything is so well thought out!

And guess where I spent one of my birthdays in Portugal?

NOTE:

I am not affiliated with the hotel. I just really, really love going there!

Links for you

Sao Lourenco do Barrocal

Monsaraz

Observatory OLA They offer many activities.

Almendres Cromlech in Evora

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Updated April 2025