Herdade Dos Grous

Stopped between evora and Algarve for a special lunch. Don’t bother. The restaurant was cafeteria in feel especially with families and kids. Noise accentuated by the tile floors and large open room. The winery was not open for tours or tastings and the bar area had dirty tables and no bartender. The grounds where we (were allowed to) walk were meh. The food was good. Ordered the black pork which was cooked nicely. Came will grilled Vegs and French fries. Certainly not fine dining but perfectly acceptable.

We stayed in a junior suite. It was a very large space, functionally furnished. Nothing luxurious or stylish about the decor, but the bed was comfortable and the room adequate. We were about a mile from the main hotel building, which meant a drive for breakfast each morning (we could have cycled on the bikes that are provided). As birders, we were delighted by the mix of habitats and variety of bird life. We appreciated the marked trails around this extensive estate. We also enjoyed dinner one evening in the hotel restaurant, authentic Alentejo cuisine, prepared simply and tastily. The staff were friendly and helpful. So, why only three stars? Well, it felt as though we had intruded on a German holiday camp. The pool area near our accommodation was a no go zone for the first 24 hours. A large group of holidaymakers, clearly all travelling together, had taken it over, were drunk by late afternoon and absolutely plastered by 11pm. We were kept awake until midnight by their drunken singing along to loud pop music. The huge number of empty beer bottles on show at dawn the next morning, as we went for a walk to spot bird life, bore testimony to their partying. It was a great shame, because the pool was attractive and as my photo shows, when empty, it’s a lovely view onto the lake. Thankfully for us the drunks left the following day. They were replaced by what seemed to be a new coach load on some sort of corporate away trip. It seemed as though we alone were there on holiday and had intruded on some German corporate bonding trip. We navigated the phalanxes of cyclists and watched them all troop into a building with their notes and clipboards. We stayed away from the estate, returning for bed and breakfast. If you like German corporation team bonding venues, you should book here. If you are in search of peace and quiet or a bit of luxury, steer well clear!

We stayed at another hotel, but we drove here for dinner one evening. The service was spectacular, as was the food. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening, and all of the items that were recommended by our server. We even came back the next day to buy olive oil and wine from the wine shop. The ambiance is a little more family-friendly than couples/romantic, but that was ok for us.

Estadia excelente! Muita diversão em família. Desde os passeios de bicicleta, os animais da herdade, as tardes de preguiça na piscina… tudo com uma envolvência tipicamente alentejana. Calma e sossego com vistas deslumbrantes. Ficamos encantados com a nossa suite. Confortável e eximiamente limpa. O restaurante não desilude e o pequeno almoço é simples mas saboroso. O staff foi muito prestável e simpático. Uma menção especial à equipa do centro equestre. Não há palavras para explicar o excelente trabalho que fazem. As nossas filhas aprenderam muito mais convosco e iremos com certeza voltar para mais umas aulas, assim que possível.

Visitámos a Herdade dos Grous para jantar. A envolvência, à chegada, é muito natural e convidativa. O restaurante em si é requintado e cuidadosamente decorado. Pedimos, para entrada, a degustação de azeites e um conjunto de manteiga de cabra, pasta de azeitona e uma tiborna (tigela com pedacinhos de pão torrados em azeite e flor de sal), uma delícia. Os pratos principais, ensopado de cação e bife de novilho maturado. O ensopado estava bom, o novilho desiludiu. Para sobremesa uma torta de laranja, que estava boa também. Pela experiência, foi um jantar positivo.

Hotel rural em local tranquilo, junto de uma albufeira. Tem percursos de caminhada e disponibilizam bicicleta gratuitas para os hóspedes. Restaurante agradável, com uma boa esplanada. Pequeno almoço ok. A prova de vinhos foi fraca em comparação com locais semelhantes.

Tudo impecável e que superou as expectativas: ambiente acolhedor, cama confortável, decoração rústica luxuosa com muito bom gosto, pessoal disponível e simpático, excelente limpeza, restaurante de guia Michelin, animais de quinta para visitar (cavalos, cabrinhas), 2 piscinas infinitas com vista para o lago e imensas actividades incluídas (tenis, mini.golf, canoagem, bicicletas, ping.pong). Recomendado para uma escapadinha romântica ou para visitar em família.

A herdade é maravilhosa. Os funcionários de uma simpatia imensa. Tudo bom menos o pequeno almoço que para um hotel de 3 estrelas aceita se mas para 4 já não e para 5 nunca. O meu filho descreveu o como sendo miserável. Era composto por pão, croissants mini, ovos bacon e o resto de produtos embalados.. Queijo flamengo, fiambre, chouriçao sem graça, doces em pacote e baratos. Uma decepção. Nem queijo da zona ou doce caseiro. Nem bolo caseiro. Nada. Há muito muito tempo que não tínhamos um pequeno almoço de hotel ou turismo rural tão pobre