El-Rei Dom Manuel Hotel

Location: Frequently praised for being in a scenic, historic hilltop town or medieval city, ideal for car-based travelers.

Lovely boutique hotel within the walled hilltop town of Marvao. Special lamb dishes for Easter were delicious.

We stayed in a "Superior Double Room, Terrace, Mountain View". This was a cozy attic room, with modern windows w/shutters, a comfortable king bed, and a gentle/quiet heating system (needed in February). There was also a separate heat pump system, which we did not use. Nicely equipped room, quiet and comfortable. But the shower ran out of water (not just hot water, but all water) on our final morning, probably due to other guests on the lower floors(?). This is why our overall score is only 4/5, as otherwise the property would have deserved a rare 5/5 rating. Breakfasts were a good buffet, average for our stays across Portugal. Hot water, juice, and coffee provided, with espresso and cappuccino on request. The on-site restaurant was top-notch (!!) for dinners, with a great menu selection, excellent cooking/service, and good local wines. The Sea Bass was heavenly, and the other entrés we tried were also good enough to keep us from bothering with any other restaurants in the village. On-site parking was easy and right outside the front door. Staff were excellent in every role. We can highly recommend this establishment, despite the single problem with shower water on the final morning.