Casa Da Calcada Relais & Chateaux

Casa Da Calcada Relais & Chateaux

Amarante's Tâmega river runs past the terrace of Casa da Calçada Relais & Châteaux, and mornings often start there with coffee, watching the current and the old town wake up, with the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Museum, São Pedro Church and Solar dos Magalhães all within walking distance. The house itself is centuries old, restored into 35 rooms, and its real distinction sits in the kitchen: Largo do Paço, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, earned a Michelin star in the 2026 Portugal guide, with 27-year-old chef Francisco Quintas named the guide's Young Chef 2026, something no other Amarante address can claim. A second restaurant, Canto Redondo, and À Margem overlooking the river round out the eating, while the spa runs to sauna, steam room, massage and solarium, and the grounds hold a gym, a golf course nearby, and vineyard tastings by appointment. This suits a couple planning a trip around one serious meal, or anyone happy to spend an afternoon on a guided walk through Amarante's history before dinner. It suits less if you're travelling with a dog, since pets aren't allowed, or landing in autumn: the outdoor pool closes seasonally from 16 September to 14 May, so summer swimmers should check dates before booking. Extra beds run €70 a night, and a €100 deposit applies per stay. What lingers isn't the polish but the sense that the kitchen, not the room, is the reason to come. A centuries-old house on the Tâmega in Amarante, built around a Michelin-starred kitchen led by 2026's Young Chef Francisco Quintas. Better suited to food-driven trips than family pool holidays, since the outdoor pool closes each September to May and pets aren't allowed.