Casas Do Coro

This is a very different kind of place in that it is in a relatively remote area with individual cabins as accommodations. Yet it offers many amenities. We found the most outstanding part of our stay here to be the food. Breakfasts offered a large selection of hot and cold items. Everything was very fresh. But the dinners were absolutely outstanding… not just for the food but also for the exceptionally lovely and intimate setting… lit almost entirely by candlelight artfully placed in a traditional Portuguese styled dining room. The vegetable soups were so amazing I finished every drop. The meat and fish choices were also excellent as were the desserts. We especially enjoyed the codfish in a casserole dish. The young lady who served our dinners was absolutely delightful. Gosh, I tried to remember her name. I’m so sorry I can’t right now. But she was very charming and set out the candles in such a way that I wish I could duplicate here at home. The entire staff was very welcoming, courteous and helpful.

The hotel is beautiful. I never found out the history of it but it looks like a big part of the village was abandoned at some point and converted into a hotel. We ate outside on the terrace, on a warm night and my wife thought it was the most romantic setting she had ever had a meal. Food was very good. The pool are was great, however it was a bit difficult getting service. Since we pretty much had the pool to ourselves, i couldn't really expect someone to be standing at the bar waiting to serve me, so that was fine. There was one big negative for us however. My wife had had foot surgery, 2 months earlier and we had now idea how difficult it would be for her to get around the hotel. Everything was on different levels and everywhere was joined by very uneven cobbles and lots of steps.

My husband and I spent a wonderful 3 days at this uniquely beautiful resort. The service was unparalleled - we felt like visiting royalty. We sampled just about every service the resort had to offer, firstly a wine tasting provided by Paulo, the owner. The facility grows its own grapes and produce several different wines for local consumption, all of which were very good. There was a dinner included in our package, created by Paulo's wife Carmen, also delicious. We were provided a jeep tour of the local countryside and the owners' vineyards by Pedro, son of the owners! It really is a family business operated with lots of passion for their craft and the desire to provide exquisite & memorable experiences for their guests. We made good use of both the outdoor pool and the spa, including relaxing massages. We also had their 5 course tasting menu, which was very good. We had a cooking lesson provided, of course, by Carmen and had lunch on the fruits of that labour on our last full day. The most interesting, unique and memorable aspect of this resort is the surroundings. The resort has been built in the hills of northern Portugal on the site of a former medieval village, some of which remains intact below the resort. There is a 12th century castle and citadel which abuts the resort and is definitely worth touring (and especially seeing at night when it is beautifully lit). It is truly otherworldly to stroll through the village, inhabited by residents whose families have been there for many generations! Thank you again to Carmen, Paulo, Pedro, Sofia, Sandy, Christina and our massage therapist whose name escapes me, as well as all the other staff who helped makes our stay so amazing. It was one of our most memorable experiences ever and we hope to come back some day!

What an unexpected treat. Casas do Coro is a gem built with love by the most wonderful proprietors, Paulo and Carmen. They worked with our travel agent to arrange a magical 4 days for us in the Douro Valley. From boat rides to train trips, vineyard visits and tasting to local Portuguese restaurants, we were treated like family and immersed ourselves into an elegantly simple way of life. The rooms were exquisite, reflecting Carmen’s wonderful taste and style. We ate breakfast and dinner on campus every day while there. The food is next level, a true homemade experience. Casas do Coro is not for everyone. This is not a one night stay for those passing thru. This is a destination experience where you will get a flavor for a life well lived at an enviable and graceful pace. Thank you Paulo and Carmen. We will never forget our amazing time with you.

Simply amazing. The most uniquely beautiful, cozy and peaceful place we have been for a very long time. We came with our family and we were upgraded free of charge (thank you for that). The houses were a mixture of old fashioned (the furnitures) and highly modern (bathrooms). All rooms and bathrooms were spacious and in particular the bathrooms had a feeling of luxury. The breakfast was among the best you can get. The dinner was very delightful.

Firstly, a beautiful concept in a remote historical village with premium prices. For the premium prices you expect perfection but there was lots of small niggles that when you spend 500 euros on a night away shouldn’t be there. We travelled with a very small dog so perhaps that is why we were given a house that now needs an upgrade….no hot water, overflowing shower, no hairdryer, standard double bed that for 2 adults was impossible to sleep in…..at 275 euros it needs to be right. All the staff are friendly and polite but the biggest let down was the evening dinner…they sell it as a gourmet experience but it is far from it….sitting out under the trees is beautiful as is the table settings but the food is just a huge let down. There are only 2 main course choices, one which was cod sitting on lots of olive oil, fried egg and chips!!! The problem is that it is so remote, you really need to dine here. The breakfast was very good and tasty. I mentioned all the above to the manager who showed complete disinterest!!