Santiago Hotel

Style

Apron escapades

Setting

Between serra and sea

Culture and nature take centre stage at Santiago Hotel, a gastronomic getaway that combines contemporary architecture with agrarian surroundings in Portugal’s Alentejo region. As well as being easy on the eyes – the contemporary white building is surrounded by lush green gardens and evergreen trees – it’s easy on the wallet, too. Tapping effortlessly into the experiential travel trend, the hotel can arrange for you to get muddy on local farms (but won’t mind a bit if you opt for just getting lightly bronzed by the pool).

Facilities

Rooms

32, including one suite.

Checkout

Noon. Earliest check-in, 3pm. Both can be flexible, subject to availability.

More Details

Rates include a daily buffet breakfast of cheese, cold cuts, jams, fruits and cakes – almost all the items you’ll see are home-made or sourced from within a 20-mile radius.

Also

There’s a boutique grocery on-site selling regional delicacies, so you can recreate your favourite Alentejan dishes at home.

Hotel Closed

Santiago Hotel closes annually from 2 to 31 January.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

At the Hotel

Food market, gym, chef’s garden, on-site parking. In rooms: canvas bags, sun hats and free WiFi.

Our Favourite Rooms

All the rooms look out over the castle-crowned hilltop town of Santiago do Cacém and are decorated in bright whites and light blues for a breezy, beachy feel. We have a soft spot for the Sunset Rooms – their grassy private terraces have chairs and a parasol, perfect for soaking up the last of the evening light, local wine in hand.

Poolside

You’ll find cool breezes out by the unheated, family-friendly pool in the toasty summer months. The pool is closed during the winter (from November to early April).

Spa

There’s no spa on-site, but massages are available in your room on request.

Packing Tips

Bring your sportiest wardrobe and things to get muddy in, so you’re ready for visits to nearby farms, sublime surf spots and twisty trails.

Also

The petite gym has a little of everything you need – TRX ropes, a treadmill, a stationary bike and free weights – so you can squeeze in an effective workout between meals.

Children

All ages are welcome; cots are available on request, meals can be adapted for little Smiths’ tastebuds and adventures can be tailored to suit the whole family.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Grab a spot on the long communal dining table, the best seat in the house for chef watching.

Dress Code

From Lycra to pressed linens, anything goes – though you won’t regret a forgiving waistband.

Hotel Restaurant

The chefs at Semente, the hotel’s sprawling open-plan restaurant and main gathering hub, work in the open kitchen – there are even TV screens showing a close-up of their handiwork, so each meal is also a live demonstration. The thoughtful Mediterranean menu is a celebration of the slow cooking methods, ingredients and history of the region – many of the flavour-packed dishes are authentically cooked in a wood oven or over a barbecue. Though the dishes change constantly according to the harvest, you can count on plenty of locally produced cheese and pork, variations on Açorda (an Alentejan stew), fresh fish, clams and oysters from the nearby Atlantic shores and aromatic herbs from the chef’s garden just outside.

Hotel Bar

There’s no separate bar, but the restaurant does a fine line in local wines – be sure to order a glass of Castelão Branco, a white wine made by the Herdade do Cebolal estate half an hour away. For something stronger, try one of the signature or classic cocktails. We loved the Cheirinho, made with local brandy, coconut, orange, honey and home-made bitters.

Last Orders

Breakfast is from 8am to 11am; lunch is from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and dinner is from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

Room Service

A limited room-service menu of wood-oven-cooked pizzas, hamburgers, soups and salads is available during restaurant opening hours.

Planes

Lisbon Airport is the closest, an hour and a half’s drive from the hotel; hotel transfers are available for €150 each way. Faro Airport is slightly further, two hours’ drive away.

Automobiles

With so much to explore, hiring a car makes a lot of sense. Most of the major rental firms are available at Lisbon Airport. When you arrive, the hotel has free parking on-site.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Up and at ’em – Santiago Hotel is all about getting out of your room and plugged into the local experiences. Silvestre, the canny concierge, can match you with your perfect Alentejan activity. You’ll be pleased to hear that food is never far away, though – whether it’s a hardy hike, horseback ride, jeep tour or electric-bike excursion, they all have obligatory snack stops built in. Water babies will find lots to do on the wild Atlantic coast, just 20 kilometres from the hotel – surfing, paddleboarding and scuba diving are all on tap.

You can also learn the fascinating stories behind the sustainable farms, distilleries and vineyards that surround the hotel on tours, picnics and tastings.

And when you’re tuckered out, find your Zen in one of the cabanas by the outdoor pool, lapping and napping till your next meal.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .