Octant Évora

Style

Needle in a haystack

Setting

Plains of Portugal

Flanked by olive trees and fruit orchards, Octant Évora is set on a sun-baked estate that provides tranquillity and grows much of the produce used in the hotel’s restaurant. Families can flock to the outdoor pools, feed the farm animals and take countryside walks together; those looking for some quiet time might follow the boardwalks to the three adults-only plunge pools overlooking the plains. Regroup at dinner time in the À Terra restaurant, feasting on homemade breads dipped in olive oil, hearty couscous salads, baked cod and farm-fresh vegetables – hitting the hay after a nightcap in the sunken, fire-pit-warmed alfresco bar.

Facilities

Rooms

51, plus 16 villas.

Checkout

12 noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

Rates include a pile-your-plate-high breakfast in the restaurant – but those staying in a villa can opt to have a spread delivered to their door.

Also

Octant Évora's communal spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and one fully accessible room is available. The boardwalks make it easy to manoeuvre around the grounds, too.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

11 hectares of farmland with a natural reserve and two main pools; three adults-only plunge pools; a plains-facing relaxation deck; chef's table; spa with heated pool, sauna and steam room; fitness room; kid’s club; alfresco bar; petting farm; parking with electric-vehicle charging points. In rooms: Nespresso machine and capsules; tea-making facilities; terrace or balcony; desk; minibar; TV; WiFi; pool towels; safe.

Our Favourite Rooms

Premium terrace rooms have sunbeds overlooking the gardens; villas are best suited to bigger groups.

Poolside

Two large pools in the heart of the hotel are available to all, but three adults-only pools can be found elsewhere in the grounds, set to a backdrop of only-in-the-countryside silence. The spa has an indoor pool, heated to 30 degrees, which is reserved for adults only from 8am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm.

Spa

The spa is tucked away inside low-lying white-washed walls, but it’s floor-to-ceiling windows let in the blue skies and sunshine from above. It’s open 24/7, and houses a sauna, steam room and small gym with cardio machines and a weights bench. Treatment rooms can be booked for one or two to enjoy – choose from deep-tissue massages or hydrating facials.

Packing Tips

A copy of Navigating the Night Sky to identify constellations among the blanket of stars (the lack of light pollution makes Alentejo a great stargazing spot).

Children

Children are very welcome at Octant Évora. Family rooms can accommodate two adults, two children and a cot; and most other rooms have a sofa-bed, made up on request (€50 for children, €100 for adults).

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

We love the terrace – just sunken enough to avoid any unruly splashes from the pool, but still out in the buzz of the open air.

Dress Code

Go for something informal that allows for maximum enjoyment of the breads, hams and gins on offer.

Hotel Restaurant

Floor-to-ceiling windows balance the dark woods and traditional materials adorning the interiors of the hotel’s restaurant. The seasonal menu takes its roots from traditional Alentejo cuisine, using regional products, local suppliers and the estate’s own fruit trees, organic garden and olive grove. The open kitchen means you can see the chefs serving up your cured salmon salad, baked cod or Lagareiro octopus. At lunchtime, the flames of the pizza oven warm fresh dough topped with pumpkin and asparagus; sun dried tomatoes and smoked pork; or ham and pineapple (if you can face the wrath of your companions). Picnics can also be arranged, with a blanket-friendly menu of salads, sandwiches, fruits and fresh lemonades.

Hotel Bar

The gin list at the sunken, fire-pit warmed hotel bar is extensive, but we loved the caipirinha alentejana cocktail, too – a combination of Aguardente de Medronhos (a Portuguese fruit brandy made with strawberries from the wild Medronho tree), lime and sugar.

Last Orders

Breakfast is available 8–11am; lunch from 12 noon until 3pm; and dinner 7–10pm. The alfresco bar is open from 11am–midnight in the high season.

Room Service

Room service is available around the clock, with some menu limitations between midnight and 8am.

Planes

The closest airport is Lisbon; there are regular flights from other European cities. It takes around 90 minutes to reach the hotel by car, and our in-house team can arrange transfers.

Trains

Évora is the closest station (a 20-minute drive from the hotel), and trains from Lisbon take around one hour and 45 minutes.

Automobiles

The plains of Portugal are best explored by car; especially because this farm hotel is relatively remote. There are plenty of car hire options at Lisbon airport, an hour and a half drive from the hotel. The hotel also has electric-vehicle charging stations.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Although the region of Alentejo occupies more than a third of Portugal’s land space, it’s home to just seven per cent of the population: with much of the area being used for olive orchards, vineyards and farmland. Occasionally, a city appears – such as the walled, Unesco-celebrated city of Évora. The historic town is all whitewash, ochre and granite; dotted with colonnaded squares, Baroque churches and temples. Make a grape escape from the heat to family-run Quinta do Quetzal vineyard, which also has its own art gallery – showcasing the works of emerging contemporary artists across all mediums. If you’ve got the time and the transport, head to the revered beaches of Comporta for a day of breezy sea-blues and seafood. Back at the hotel, explore the footpaths and meadows that wind down to the stream at the Monte Novo Dam – you’ll pass ancient watermills, olive trees and aquatic birds; or take to the skies for a hot air balloon ride over the plains. You can get involved in cooking workshops, picnics and wine tastings, too.

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. .