The French luxury hotel chain, Maison Albar Hotels (MAH) is opening a second property in Portugal. This July, the small village of Moure, located one hour away from Porto, will see its former parish in Vila Verde converted into a country estate-inspired luxury hotel.
The land was once owned by noble families and a site of olive oil production in the 17th century, but for many years it has been in an “irrecoverable” condition, as stated by locals. Thus, the hotel conglomerate, in partnership with IBG Group, took it upon themselves to transform the property into an opulent paradise.
“Everything started with a very successful businessman who wanted a way to give back to the region where he grew up, thus creating a hotel”, the director-general of the six-hectare property told a local news outlet. The retreat, named Maison Albar – Amoure, is a fusion of the village Moure and “amor” , the word for love in Portuguese.
The managing partners teamed up with Lisbon-based architecture group, Domus Concept, to completely reconstruct the space. Aimed to create a retreat experience in this rural location to the north of the city of Braga, Amoure features luminous and significantly sized rooms such as salons and a ballroom which can double as venue spaces for large-scale events of up to 300 people. The vision is that the hotel will host major exhibitions and openings, catering to enthusiasts and collectors of the arts and the automotive world. Guests can then step out onto landscaped gardens which stretch out towards the estate’s vast green surroundings.
Home to six suites and twenty rooms, each designed to provide a unique feel in the Art Deco style, the accommodations are equipped with modern furnishings, panoramic views and an average size of 43 m2. Some of the larger suites increase to over 100 m2 and come with a private jacuzzi and terrace.
The “L’Amoure” restaurant is the hotel’s main dining facility, headed by Michelin-starred chef Julian Montbabut who also leads the main kitchen in Maison Albar’s first Portuguese property, Le Monumental, in Porto. Staying true to Parisian haute-bistronomy, the cuisine revolves around a “farm-to-table” concept, creating dishes from local produce.
Three further eating establishments are present in the estate. Guests can dine for breakfast in the Salon Aurora, receiving its name from the “dewy dawn that precedes sunrise”. La Biblioteca is an evening lounge and tearoom which also serves reworked regional dishes. Lastly, the RPM Bar is open from the late morning into the night, offering a selection of cocktails crafted by in-house mixologists taking inspiration from the world of luxury cars, where guests can enjoy views of an exhibited vehicle that changes month to month.
The hotel also features a wellness area with six treatment cabins, a sauna, hammam, fitness room and both in-door and outdoor swimming pools. The spa’s face and body care products are from partnering skin care brand, Ignae.
