Casa Fortunato

What a house! Casa Fortunato in the pretty little town of Alcácer do Sal is a real gem for anyone who loves good design. Behind this small boutique hotel are the architects Filipa Fortunato and António Falcão Costa Lopes, who already caused quite a stir with their first Casa Fortunato in Lisbon. In a lovingly restored townhouse, the pair have brought their very own vision of living to life. Old wooden floors, historic tiles and beautiful doors are combined with design classics by Mario Bellini, Patricia Urquiola and Marc Newson, alongside vintage finds, art and wonderfully unconventional colour combinations. What’s particularly brilliant is how effortlessly everything fits together here. Each of the individually furnished rooms has its own character, sometimes featuring bright rugs, sometimes exposed ceiling beams or a sculptural sofa. In the leafy courtyard with its citrus trees, there’s a small pool, and breakfast – and, on request, dinner – is served at the large dining table using locally sourced ingredients. The whole experience is wonderfully personal; it feels more like an exceptionally beautiful private home than a traditional hotel. And Alcácer do Sal is a real gem in its own right, with its old alleyways, the River Sado and the beaches of Comporta just half an hour away. A pretty much perfect spot for a few relaxing days in the Alentejo.