On a hill in southern Portugal not far from Lisbon sits a medieval town surrounded by an imposing…read morestone wall with an ancient castle at one end. That town is Obidos, the castle is called Castelo de Obidos, and part of that castle has been turned into an inn and restaurant called, appropriately enough, Pousada do Castelo or "Inn of the Castle". The castle is one of the "Seven Wonders of Portugal" and it said that Obidos is so beautiful that the King of Portugal has symbolically given Obidos to his wife on their wedding day as a testament to his love. Pousada do Castelo was named Portugal's "Inn of the Year" in 2017. Our table sat in a niche in front of an ornate arched stone window overlooking the sprawling valley, lush vineyards, and neighboring small village. Our server, Jorge, could not have been nicer nor more professional. We found out later that he had left his ill mother at a local hospital in order to work his shift. The restaurant is simple yet luxurious with historic works of art and ancient tapestries adorning the walls and plush, comfortable chairs at each table. The inn's monogram adorns each plate. Jorge immediately brought out the standard Portuguese "couvert" ("cover" - €4/each), which was anything but standard in this case, including fresh breads and butter, local olives, and an EVO dip along with a bit of sea salt. The brown bread was absolutely delicious, crunchy outside with an array of toasted seeds and soft and warm inside. We also ordered a bottle of a robust Portuguese "Alandra" red wine (€16) and a liter of sparkling water (€3.50). I started with the Creme de Ervilhas (€6), a bowl of rich and creamy pea soup topped with a bit of crispy smoked ham that was perfectly seasoned. For my main course, I ordered the Lombinho de Porco (€23), a perfectly cooked, small pork tenderloin sliced into six thick medallions, sitting atop a creamy, savory chestnut sauce and pork reduction. The tenderloin was accompanied by a disc of asparagus risotto that was crunchy outside but still a little creamy on the inside. My wife decided on the Risotto de Cogumelos (€16), a simple yet delicious mushroom risotto with steamed broccoli that was perfectly prepared, not too thick and not too runny. The serving size was just right. Preferring sweets to soup, she followed the risotto with the Brisas do Lis (€8.50), a decadent 15th Century dessert made with eggs, sugar and almonds, similar to flan, and accompanied by a scoop of strawberry ice cream. Our meal was wonderful, made even better by our extraordinary and historic surroundings, an absolutely amazing view, and service that was friendly and attentive without being either overbearing or evasive. It was the best €93 (including tip) I have spent in recent memory, evoking this comment from my wife: "that was the best meal we have had in our three weeks in Portugal". CombatCritic Gives Pousada Do Castelo 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

This hotel offers a wonderful unique experience. It is located in a medieval castle and has been…read moreopened to the public since 1951. Rooms are very comfortable and service is top notch. Right outside the castle and within the city walls are plenty of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. As you walk around the walled city, you get great views of the surrounding areas.

We initially parked in the first spot for check-in and unloading, but were abruptly told we…read morecouldn't park there upon entering. Although we were directed to another spot, there was no apology for the confusion. The carpeted floors in our room were a bit disappointing and made it difficult to move luggage around. However, our twin room was spacious, which was a plus. The view, though more focused on the pool and our building rather than a resort vibe, was still pleasant. During our visit to the bar for the complimentary welcome drink, the bartender seemed a bit disgruntled, and there were some awkward interactions due to language differences. It felt a bit excessive that we had to return to our room to retrieve a card for the free drink. Overall, while I wouldn't go out of my way to stay here again, it did provide a good night's sleep. However, it was a bit noisy due to a busload of teens also staying at the property.

We stopped to MH Peniche just for 1 night, and we wished we had reserved for more days! The place…read moremight look a bit lonely at first, it's located outside of the main city but close to the beaches. Rooms are spacey, full of comforts, they have a very good wifi and a free bottle of water, which I find a great thing for guests in 4+ stars hotels. Breakfast was abundant and good, as well as the staff who were very helpful. They have a sauna place which is brand new (we loved it!), all in all a great place to go!

One night stay at the very affordable Marriott Praia D'el Rey, was drawn here by the amazing beach…read moreviews. First, the hotel is a bit off the beaten road, so it is a nice stop between Lisbon and Porto, but you will spend at least 20 min off the freeway getting there. And there's not many food options along the way so be ready for that. The hotel is basically located near some exclusive communities, so you know it will be swanky, and when you pull up you'll see why. Parking is relatively easy (which is good), there's a small playground in front for kids. The lobby is spacious, with plenty of seating, open views, and was maintained well. There's a nice bar area, beautiful restaurant, very impressive space. I was able to get a nice ocean facing view - however, it's like a 5 min walk to get to your room as I was one of the outermost wing. You don't realize how big this hotel is until you see it in person. The room was enormous, with plenty of seating, nice outdoor sitting area, huge bed, great bathroom. Too bad I was only there one night, could have stayed multiple days here. Also - amazing breakfast. Lots of great pastries, fruit, eggs cooked to order, and pastel de natas. Breakfast is almost better than dinner here.

Great experience on all levels. Stunning!!!…read more We had such service from the bell hop, to taxis, to guest services, etc. We also went in October and it was not busy season which made the resort seem so exclusive and private which was nice. I am not sure why this hotel has 3 stars on google, but simply this is a five star hotel and service.

This property would be a great for IG. However, look beyond the shelves full stack of books. The…read morekitchen contains most interesting books about food and wine. I've also found my favorite Planet Earth book, along with space related books. Dining experience is exceptional. The sommelier is very knowledgeable and we not only had good food, we also learn more about the wine region. This place is a bit short staffed but we never had to wait for anything. Prompt and elegant are the two words came to mind as I think back my experience. This is one place I would return and hopefully such hidden gem hasn't been discovered and overwhelmed by tourist!

This was a delightful experience. It's tucked away immediately outside the castle walls. As an avid…read morereader I loved being surrounded by books. The food was delicious and the service was very good. We had the Alheira croquettes with garlic Mayo and Mushroom & Cheese pastry (awesome) for appetizers. Main course were octopus dish and filet mignon with cheese sauce (both excellent) and for dessert the salted caramel sundae was amazing. The orange meringue was meh. Wine, espresso & Ginga finished out the meal. Must try if your ever in the area.

A Very clean within castle walls hotel that's worth staying. Front desk staff is multi ligual and…read morefriendly. Our Hotel room Bathroom had a wash bidet, was modern, and very well kept. They have a good size continental breakfast and they serve lunch and dinner there as well. This hotel is a very secret romantic get away stay. Highly recommend you stay there for both comfort and it's location. The only negative is that parking is very limited if you arrive late evenings or in the summer months.

From the owner: Small charming hotel, located in the historic town of Óbidos. We offer one bedroom suite, the Tower…read moreroom, and nine double rooms. Our restaurant, Comendador Silva, carefully decorated to welcome you, offers a menu inspired in what the west region of Portugal has best to offer.

A medieval hotel in a medieval town? Why not?…read more Hotel Real D'Obidos sits just outside the wall of the city, but as you step inside its doors, you are transported to another time where the staff are dressed in period wear, the keys are giant and iron and the furnishings look like something out of a fairy tale. But while period places are not usually my thing, the rooms are comfortable ( although the wooden floors are a little squeaky for my taste), and if it was a queen sized bed, it's one of the smallest I've slept on. But the linens were clean and crisp and the room was very clean. The bathroom was well stocked and the towels are huge but know the fixtures are a little dated. Breakfast is included in the price of your room and is very good. There is everything from scrambled eggs and bacon, to meats and cheeses, fruits and sweets. Definitely worth getting up for! There is also a nice pool and indoor lounge area. All in all if you are staying in Obidos, this hotel has a great location as well as all the amenities you need. I'm just not crazy about themed hotels .

We were not guests here, we were staying at an Airbnb in the center of the town. We could not find…read morea single cab or Uber anywhere with our two young kids and stopped in to ask the front desk for help calling a cab, and the woman at reception would not help because we weren't staying there... despite just sitting there with nothing else to do. Amazed by the rudeness everywhere. Especially in a town that survives by tourism. Leaving with a thoroughly underwhelmed feeling from this visit.