After countries like France and Greece, Portugal is one of the most recent European countries evaluated by anonymous guests who follow special criteria. Michelin has now decided which hotel facilities deserve one or more Michelin Keys.

What do the keys mean?

In a statement sent to The Portugal News, Michelin explains that the awarding of Keys is similar to the awarding of stars to restaurants. In this context, the number of Michelin Keys will indicate to consumers “the hotels selected by the MICHELIN Guide that offer the most outstanding stays.” They thus become “a new point of reference for travellers”, who will be able to choose where to stay after an evaluation that goes beyond the hotel’s facilities.

A hotel with one Michelin Key is characterised by its “own character and personality.” It offers “something different” and can be considered “one of the best in its category.”

If two Michelin Keys have been awarded, the guest can expect to find “a truly exceptional place in every sense”, in a hotel that has character and “is run with evident pride and considerable care.” In this case, the design and appealing architecture of the space also stand out.

Certain hotels receive three Michelin Keys and are considered the ultimate “in terms of comfort and service, style and elegance.” In the press release, Michelin describes these hotels as “among the most remarkable and extraordinary in the world, and a destination in itself, for the trip of a lifetime.”

Credits: Supplied Image;

Two hotels with three Keys

In Portugal, two hotels received three Michelin Keys, one located in the Algarve and the other in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.

In the Algarve, it was Vila Vita Parc that received Michelin’s highest honour. The well-known luxury retreat in the Algarve stood out for its spa, golf course and beach club. As well as “its six elegant bars and ten excellent restaurants, including Ocean, awarded two MICHELIN Stars”. Architecture and design were also highlighted where “the rooms, suites and villas, nestled behind whitewashed walls, are authentic and elegant”. The decoration, using local handicrafts, gives “a unique charm to each space.” According to Michelin, “Vila Vita Parc represents the best of hotel luxury, while guaranteeing tranquillity and privacy.”

In the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, the 204-room Le Penha Longa Resort “boasts impressive views of the surrounding mountains and a world-renowned golf course”. It has seven restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star, LAB by Sergi Arola, and Midori, which combines Portuguese and Japanese cuisine. The hotel is located in a former residence of the Portuguese royal family, where visitors can also find a spa “and a wide variety of activities, making it the ideal place to relax”.

13 hotels receive two Michelin Keys

With two Michelin Keys, there are 13 hotels in Portugal, such as Villa Joya, in the municipality of Albufeira, in the Algarve, and Les Suites at The Cliff Bay-Portobay, on the island of Madeira. The island of Madeira received even more keys at The Reserve Hotel and Belmond Reid's Palace.

In the Douro, Six Senses Douro Valley also received two keys, as did the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz in Lisbon. In the Alentejo, more specifically in Vidigueira, Quinta do Paral was also awarded two Keys, as was Vermelho Melides in the same region. Also, in the Alentejo, in Monforte, the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel was awarded two Michelin Keys.

Further south in the country, the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa in Praia da Rocha in Portimão also received two Michelin Keys.

To the north, in Vidago, in the district of Vila Real, the Vidago Palace was also honoured. Still to the north, in the Porto Metropolitan Area, The Lince Santa Clara, in Vila do Conde, and the Vinha Boutique Hotel, in Vila Nova de Gaia, also received two Michelin Keys.

A Key awarded to 40 hotels

Still from the north to the south of the country and the Autonomous Regions, a key has been awarded to 40 Portuguese hotels that aim to provide the best stay for all their guests. Among the winners are Quinta de São Bernardo Winery & Farmhouse, in the Douro region, and Santiago de Alfama - Boutique Hotel, located in the Alfama neighbourhood in Lisbon.

Author

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos