Quinta de Santa Barbara

I loved the history and the manager Marcos very friendly. The staff in the restaurant are very friendly too. The food at the restaurant is delicious and the chef was in the masterchef Portugal. They have a tenis court, just take your rackets. They have a gym as well next to the pool, very cool!

We booked just one night with a friend — and ended up staying two. We arrived, wandered around the grounds, had dinner, took a swim in the saltwater pool, and realized one night simply wasn't enough. Luckily, the quinta kindly found us a room for a second night. The grounds are something special. A vine-covered walkway, a fruit orchard, rabbits, and a stunning view over the valley — both from the room and from the pool. The pool itself is large, deep enough at one end (a real plus for adults), and filled with pleasant saltwater. The on-site restaurant is reason enough to come back. They cook meat and fish beautifully, and the wine comes from a small winery you won't easily find elsewhere — which makes the whole experience feel special, almost exclusive. The atmosphere deserves a special mention. We chatted with the owner, who has only been restoring the quinta for a couple of months but has already done an enormous amount of work. You can see the spark in his eyes, the genuine care for the place, and the drive to make it even better. The historic furniture, the paintings, the old walls — it all creates an incredible sense of touching history. And on top of all that, the price per night is surprisingly low for an experience like this. A real quinta with a rich history — at a very accessible price. Definitely not one to miss. It's hard to imagine a cozier place. On our very first night, my friend already booked a return trip for next week — this time with her sister. We wish this place nothing but prosperity. We'll certainly be back.

We absolutely loved our stay at Quinta de Santa Bárbara. We especially appreciated the rustic, traditional décor and the rich history that gave the property so much character and charm. The room was spacious, beautifully maintained, and the beds were incredibly comfortable. The temperature was perfect throughout our stay, and the large bathroom, complete with a generous vanity area, was a great touch. The service was truly exceptional. The receptionist kindly helped carry our bags to the room and took the time to explain everything we needed to know. Marcos, the manager, went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and had everything we needed, making us feel genuinely welcome. We also thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast each morning, which offered a delicious selection of continental options. There was also a small fridge and coffee maker next to the bedrooms which were really handy! We didn't have the opportunity to use the swimming pool, but it looked wonderful, and we would have loved to enjoy it. Maybe next time! Overall, it was a wonderful stay, and we would happily return.

The only minor area for improvement would be the bathtub, as the base felt a little worn. There was also a slight damp smell when we first arrived, likely due to the building's age and the fact that it is still undergoing renovation. It wasn't a major issue for us, as we understand that maintaining the character of a historic property can come with these small quirks. I simply used flip-flops in the bath, and it didn't detract from our overall enjoyment of the stay.

The staff was friendly, the room was big and very classical (the all property was a very good jump back in time), nice views, and very quiet.

The bed wasn't comfortable, the water for the shower took ages to warm up, it was a waste of clean water and the breakfast could be better.