Vermelho Melides - Relais & Châteaux

Vermelho Melides was absolutely gorgeous, with every detail thoughtfully designed and beautifully executed. The staff were incredibly attentive, warm, and always happy to help, making the entire stay feel effortless. The hotel itself is a true retreat, and combined with the charming town of Melides, offers a wonderfully quiet and tranquil experience. If you’re looking to slow down, relax, and enjoy a peaceful escape, this is the perfect place.

We had the most wonderful two day getaway at this stunning hotel! It is absolutely gorgeous, and the staff are warm and friendly and courteous. We dined in the restaurants several times and we’re never disappointed! Everything was delicious! We rented a car so we were able to visit nearby beaches. It’s truly a one of a kind experience and we would highly recommend!!

The most beautiful hotel with stunning service. We stayed in the beautiful Matinha Suite with our nanny in the connecting room. The staff doted on our needs. Resizing the crib for us, setting our seating arrangement and table for us before we arrived, coordinate our trips even though we did not rent a car. The massage was also excellent!

The attention to detail is insane. Everything is so thoughtful, intentional, and welcoming. It’s like a museum filled with art and heart. The staff were beyond accommodating and kind, every single time we interacted - before, during, and after my stay. I cannot wait to come back.

Our stay at the hotel was nothing short of exceptional. The décor is exquisite, with every detail thoughtfully considered, and the setting is tranquil and beautifully composed — the very essence of a boutique experience. It is clear that no expense was spared in creating a space that feels both refined and deeply comfortable. What truly set the experience apart, however, was the staff. They were outstanding — warm, knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in ensuring every moment of our stay was seamless. Their professionalism and care elevated an already beautiful hotel into something truly memorable.

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.

Quiet honestly one of the most beautiful hotel's I have even stayed in ever. The hotel is a piece of art, curated to perfection. There is a perfect mix of home comfort (if only I had a world renowned designer design my home) and relaxation throughout. The staff are wonderful and took the time to show us around the hotel with pride. Do not miss dinner, the food was exceptionally delicious. The village is remarkable and a small treasure here in Portugal. Currently there are repaving the street and have installed an art installation of stone books. I look forward to the opportunity to return.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at Vermelho Melides The staff were warm and welcoming, and our accommodations were both comfortable and beautifully appointed. The entire property is stunning, and I especially loved learning about Christian Louboutin’s inspiration—the red flower and its influence throughout the hotel’s design. That said, we were disappointed with our experience at the pool. When we arrived in the afternoon, every chair was covered with used towels and dirty drink glasses were left behind. There were no fresh pool towels available, so we had to return to our room and bring the ones provided there. When we mentioned this to a waiter who came by, he explained that “the rest of the staff must be busy right now,” and while he kindly took our drink order, the pool area was never attended to. Unfortunately, this left us sitting in an untidy, unwelcoming environment. What was most surprising was that he did not take the initiative to clear the towels and glasses himself, even though it would have improved the experience for all guests. Another couple who arrived after us encountered the same issue—they too had to return to their room for towels and clean off chairs on their own. For a hotel of this caliber, we expected higher standards of attentiveness and care. Additionally, we found it inconvenient that there were no outlet converters available in the room for American plugs, and there were very few outlets overall. Overall, we enjoyed many aspects of our stay, but improvements in attention to detail—particularly at the pool and with room amenities—would greatly enhance the guest experience.

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!