Castanheiro Boutique Hotel

This chic boutique hotel is on a romantic cobbled street flanking the Palace of Jesuits, and is made up of five heritage buildings ranging from the 18th to 20th Centuries. The location is second to none, within walking distance of the city’s historical sites, churches, restaurants and museums. The hotel is ruggedly beautiful, with exposed stone arches and wooden rafters, but it also has contemporary bedrooms, modern art and plush extras as standard. The decked rooftop has a heated outdoor pool and solarium with panoramic harbour views, while the Til Spa has a hydrotherapy circuit, indoor pool, sauna and Turkish bath. There’s also a library and coffee and cocktail bar.

You’ll be in a prime spot and will no doubt want to savour the historic town’s wonderful restaurants, but if you’ve spent a day seeing the sights (the hotel offers bike hire), it’s always a pleasure to know you can come back to an intimate little on-site restaurant. Tipografia certainly delivers, with a Mediterranean menu and an enchanting internal courtyard for al fresco dining.

Rooms create a boutique feel with soft furnishings and city or courtyard views. Twin Rooms have double or twin beds. Twin Deluxe Rooms have a balcony with seating and courtyard or city views. Junior Suites are larger and have an adjacent living area, while Suites are even more spacious and have a separate living room.