Vermelho Melides - Relais & Châteaux

Overall f&b experience at Vermelho was a big letdown which, sadly, would prevent me from recommending the pace to anyone who values culinary experience as part of their hotel stay. Especially in the area with limited culinary options in a walking distance. the menu is uninspired, the portions are very small (even for a person who notoriously eats very little). There was very little consistency – I ordered the same avocado toast for breakfast and each day it arrived looking differently – first day it was on fresh bread, second day the same bread was toasted (a telltale , that there was no fresh bread that day), on the third day the same avocado toast was served on two small pieces of toasted bread with no curst (likely meaning it was now a 3 day old bread). What needs significant improvement is the service – During my 2nd dinner at the hotel restaurant I had to wait 15min for any of the waiters to notice me when i wanted to ask for the bill, 15 minutes to be noticed when there were 6 tables total in the entire restaurant).Room service was also disappointing, at 9pm a simple crudite was no longer possible to order... a simple assortment of vegetables? I understand working with farm to table and local ingredients only, but for al restaurant in a 5 star hotel not to have any fresh vegetables at 9pm it is truly shocking. Regarding the bar – the place is absolutely stunning and asks to grab a drink. Sadly, my test drink (one that i use to gauge the bartenders skill by) was a full on disappointment. Spicy Margarita should be made with fresh jalapenos or spicy syrup, I was baffled the bartender insisted it was made with tabasco - this is a dive bar, cheap solution which destroys otherwise a lovely sour, spicy drink with a touch of sweetness to it. No professional bartender at a high end cocktail bar would ever use tabasco for this drink. Another poor experience was a "smoothie" I ordered by the pool – it was 50% ice cubes and instead of fresh fruit it tasted like canned fruit juice. Terribly disappointing, and almost offensive when the price is 10€. I was excited to visit and see the hotel for myself, and while I enjoyed my stay (king room with garden entrance was lovely and spacious, pool was lovely too) the culinary experience disappointing enough for me to remove Vermelho from the list of places I wish to visit again.

My family and I spent five nights at Vermelho and had an amazing time! This is a wonderful retreat in Melides that feels like you are in someone's home more than an actual hotel. The team is absolutely stellar and a dream to interact with. During the reservation process, the team was very accommodating, assuring me they were comfortable with my bringing my baby. They also advised which would be a better room for us and were able to make reservations in advance. Upon arrival you are greeted by the team who invited us to a nice drink at the welcome area while they quickly checked us in, and subsequently gave us a tour of the beautiful grounds. This hotel is a maximalist decor dream, with every nook and cranny being a wonder to the eye. We had fun exploring all of the areas! The rooms were very spacious, with a balcony which overlooked the grounds, beautifully decorated, spotlessly clean, with all of the amenities your heart desires. If they don't have it in the room, the team will figure a way to get it for you! While the hotel does not have a spa, i was able to enjoy two marvelous massages in a designated area. Meals are served in the restaurant / outdoor area. We enjoyed a nice dinner the night we arrived and enjoyed the restaurant for breakfast every day which offered a selection of items that were made to order. The two standouts was the staff. Beatriz, Ana, and the rest of the staff completely made us feel like we were home. I love that they came from all walks of life and very relatable. Team members were from Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Italy. They sterilized bottles, they found us the best local restaurant, they prepared us for our daily beach trips, they charged our car, and always approached us with care and kindness. The second standout was the absolute stillness of the place. I loved that even though we were in a town, it felt like we were so far away. If you are looking for stillness, Melides over Comporta anytime. Absolutely highly recommend Vermelho. You will have the most wonderful memories!

My husband and I had a wonderful stay at this charming hotel. Anna helped us plan our itinerary and she went out of her way to help us find my lost luggage! The majority of the staff are cheerful and enthusiastic- which we truly appreciated. The rooms are beautifully appointed. The restaurant food is excellent. Thank you! We hope to come back to your lovely hotel and sweet village again!