Nestled in the rolling verdant valleys and mountains of Northern Portugal is a unique spa offering more than just high end rest and relaxation, where laid back fun, wine and gastronomy sits along side treatment rooms in a perfect weekend away pairing.
Covering twenty two lush acres in one of Portugal’s most important wine regions, the Six Senses Douro Valley inhabits an impressive 19th Century villa, which simultaneously manages to combine traditional Portuguese architecture with modernist glass extensions. Decorated by Clodagh Design of New York fame, the hotels sleek, uncluttered interior pairs some of the best elements of the region with an urban chic twist, where smart phones act as room controls, yet the menus are made out of reused timber from neighbouring producers wine and port barrels. All apothecary is locally sourced, and if you like it that much, the hotel offers classes in the spa foyer in how to make your own body scrubs using only natural, organic ingredients. A nod to the Six Senses traditional offering of earthy eco- luxe, it’s this attention to detail that makes the experience all the more gratifying.
Chef Paulo Matos heads the culinary team at the hotel and makes the most out of the kitchen garden, planted restfully next to the outdoor swimming pool. Using fresh, local ingredients, the food is indulgent and varied without frivolous excess, offering traditional dishes such as roasted goat and tender Bacalhao garnished with vegetables picked metres from the restaurant.
Despite the hotel making its name in the spa world, the Wine Library is where the real action happens – located at the heart of the resort, featuring a menu of tapas, cheese and smoked hams and a breathtaking selection of the regions finest wines and ports. Wine coaching is lead by local Vignetters, including the Van Zeller Estate, giving it a unique and personal touch, and with a stone terrace to meander onto overlooking the valley or a fire pit to cosy up to, the hotel felt as appropriate for winter as it did for summer.
The humongous 24,000 sq ft spa comprises 10 treatments and heated in-door swimming pool with water jets, steam room, Sauna and Lanconium. With dozens of treatments utilising local produce and the know how from operating spas globally, the treatment rooms are a destination in and of themselves, some of which sit restfully overlooking the manicured gardens and onto the River. The hotel also offers all sorts of yoga for those interested, allowing, as the hotel boasts, guests to intoxicate at night, and then detox during the day, making their 8.30am outdoor yoga class the perfect way to start the day after an evening wine tasting.
Located an hour and a half from Porto Airport, the hotel is easy to get too, and most importantly has put the north of Portugal firmly on the map, the limelight usually hogged by large holiday compounds and all inclusive resorts on the Algarve. For an indulgent and relaxing European destination, the Six Senses Douro Valley is well worth the visit.
