Albergaria Do Calvário
The Albergaria Do Calvário was once the home of olive oil production for the Convent of Santa Helena do Monte Calvário. It sits just near one of the city's old gates, within Évora's historic walls, in a quiet neighborhood within walking distance of the main monuments.
Its 22 rooms are decorated with local art and regional furniture. Spend an afternoon relaxing on the terrace at the wine bar with a glass of a regional vintage and homemade tapas. Travelers can opt for specific packages like romance, history, wine, adventure, and more to add an extra element to their stay, whether it's a hot-air balloon ride, a tasting tour, or a tour of the city's monuments.
The Noble House
The Noble House lives up to its name—it's a stellar example of an Alentejo noble lodge. It was once the home of the counts of Lousã, turned into a school, and then has been a hotel since the 1920s. Award-winning architect Fernando Coelho fully renovated the property, which sits in the middle of Évora's historic center.
The 24 bedrooms combine the hotel's traditional past with modern tranquility and thorough attention to detail in accents like glazed tiles and the Roman city wall that's now part of the building. Breakfast with regional specialties is served each morning; later in the day, The Noble Bistrô offers similarly local cuisine in the afternoon and evening in its traditional dining room and out on the terrace. Stop in the bar, once a kitchen and home to an original chimney, in the evening for a nightcap.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Casa do Governador
A little less than 2 miles (3 km) from central Évora, you'll find Casa do Governador, a former rural estate converted to a luxury lodge. In the 19th century, one of the villas was used as an infirmary for the friars of the nearby Convento do Espinheiro, who, according to legend, planted the vineyards and started producing wine.
Stay in a double room, suite, or your own separate villa on the nearly 70-acre (28-hectare) property, which sits inside an ecological reserve. Take a walk through the vineyards or pay a visit to the property's sheep and horses. You can also take a carriage ride or a dip in the garden swimming pool before enjoying local cuisine prepared by the in-house chef.
Convento do Espinheiro
The five-star historic hotel and spa at Convento do Espinheiro was once a convent as well, just a 10-minute drive from central Évora in the plains of the Alentejo, and it is now one of the region's most beautiful hotels. A legend told of a sighting of the Virgin Mary above a thorn bush (espinheiro), and there were so many pilgrims to the site that eventually, a church and convent were built and visited by multiple royal figures over the years. It now has roughly 20 acres of property, spanning gardens, pools, tennis courts, and more.
There are a total of 90 rooms split between the convent, decorated with luxurious historical touches, and a new wing with 1950s-inspired decor. Try regional cuisine at restaurant Divinus, dedicated to the "ninth art" of gastronomy, or opt for Italian at Olive in the monks' former kitchen. The former cloisters are now a lounge and bar, or head to the Cisterna wine bar to sample their collection of vintages where monks once collected rainwater. Book a luxe spa treatment alongside a relaxation room and indoor pool. When the weather is warm, the outdoor pool and poolside bar await.
Pousada Mosteiro do Crato
For a countryside stay to explore the rural Alentejo region, head to the Pousada Mosteiro do Crato in the countryside village of Flor da Rosa, roughly a 90-minute drive from Évora. This well-known former monastery is one of the original Gothic buildings in Portugal, dating back to the 1500s. Some of its 24 rooms can be found inside the halls of the former monastery, even in its castellated towers, while others are in a new wing.
Explore the building with a session in the billiard room or spend some time reading in the fireplace room. Sample Alentejana cuisine in the restaurant and a view of gardens out the vast windows. Sip a cocktail in the bar that was once the monks' mess hall, or head out to the pool bar. Sunbathe before a jump in the outdoor pool, complete with a waterfall, or head to the spa to cap off your stay with maximum relaxation.