A patchwork of emerald-green paddy fields stretches as far as the eye can see from Quinta da Comporta — Wellness Boutique Resort, which shares its wildly beautiful home with storks wading through the shallows, and swallows nesting in the thatched roofs of each sun-bleached building. The rustic rooms, suites, and three-bedroom pool villas were carefully constructed from natural materials salvaged from across Comporta, where renowned Portuguese architect and the resort’s owner, Miguel Câncio Martins, holidayed as a child.
.JPG)
The property stands on the site of an ancient rice farm, and hints towards its agricultural heritage can be seen throughout. Most striking of all is the Oryza Spa, which was a barn in its former life—the owners fell in love with the soaring structure on a trip to Canada, then had it shipped over and reassembled to blend with the traditional wooden cabanas dotted across the rice fields. It’s to this verdant landscape, and Comporta crop in particular, that Martins and French cosmetic expert, Marianne Brass, looked to when creating Oryza Lab. The holistic, rice-based skincare line is the only brand in Europe to use rice as its core ingredient, and its ‘rizotherapists’ are currently working on a patent for Comporta’s rice. Harvesting and harnessing the versatile benefits of rice—the grain is packed with over a hundred antioxidants—the thoughtfully packaged products cover face, body, and hair care, as well as natural beauty supplements.
.JPG)
Rice is the star of the Oryza Spa menu, featuring in everything from relaxing, reinvigorating massages which use rice pindas to target energy points and restore hydration, to herbal body scrubs infused with rice for maximum nourishment. Local sea salt and aromatic herbs like rosemary and lavender picked from the resort’s organic garden complement the rice-centric treatments (which begin with a soothing glass of rice water), bringing yet more sensory elements into the spa from the surrounding fields—which are overlooked by the glass-fronted hydrotherapy pool, sauna, hammam, and fitness studio on the upper level (with some tough-to-beat treadmill and TRX views). Yoga, Pilates, guided meditation, and personal training sessions are held in a thatched shala in a quiet corner of the grounds, and an infinity pool lined with palapa-style umbrellas melts into the fields, especially when they’re flooded between April and May to plant the rice seedlings.
Along with the onsite vegetable garden, this bountiful ‘green sea’ of rice supplies the hotel’s Inari Restaurant, which takes its name from Japan’s patron deity of rice, agriculture, and prosperity. Celebrated chefs Vítor Sobral and Luís Espadana both hail from this stretch of the Alentejo coast, and enjoy making use of their native produce in addition to preparing an inventive sushi and sashimi menu. For a taste of the shoreline, try the uni gunkan, sea urchin on rice delicately wrapped in Nori seaweed, or the grilled eel nigiri on lemon-seasoned rice served with Kizami wasabi. Before dinner, take a well-zested Comporta mule cocktail out onto the decking, sink into one of the outdoor sofas, and watch the sky turn all shades of orange and pink as frogs start their evening chorus of low croaking.
.JPG)
When you’re not lounging by the pool—guests visiting from this July can dry off and look cool in limited edition, hand-loomed robes and towels made especially for Quinta da Comporta by Ulla Johnson, as part of the New York designer’s takeover of the resort’s Boutik—the region’s pine forests, paddy fields, and deserted dunes can be explored by bicycle, Polaris buggy, on horseback, or on sailing excursions along the Arrábida Coast to spot dolphins in the wild. There are Sétubal vineyards and wine cellars to tour and taste, nature-immersed golf courses to play across, and flamingos to observe in the Sado Estuary. Return, sun-kissed and salty, to your pillowy, Portuguese linen sheets and reflect on a wellness experience that both makes the most of—and goes against—the grain.
Top Takeaways
Location: Carvalhal, Portugal
Address: Rua Alto do Pina, 2, 7570-779 Carvalhal, Portugal
Rating: Five-star and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World
The vibe: A short snoop in the resort’s stylishly curated Boutik will give you a good sense of the barefoot, beachy dress code (with a hint of modern cowboy). Precedence is given to cult Mediterranean brands like Alhaja jewellery, Maison Michel straw hats, and Amotea swimwear.
Food + drink: The menu might change with the seasons, but always stays true to Portuguese ingredients and classic dishes, such as the traditional codfish à brás, a creamy staple made from shredded, salted cod and thinly sliced potatoes. The wine list favours local labels, and the restaurant was built from reclaimed wooden beams to recreate Comporta’s old farmhouses where harvested rice was stored.
Amenities: Outdoor infinity pool, yoga shala, spa with sauna and indoor pool, gym, room service, free WiFi, boutique, breakfast buffet (with à la carte options), restaurant, pool bar, bikes to rent.
Our favourite part of the hotel: The fact that the entire property is oriented to face the sunset, so you’ll never miss golden hour over the paddy fields, wherever you are.
What’s nearby? Most of the surrounding land is protected, which means you’re more likely to come across storks than see a single soul on your morning walk—even in high season. There are a handful of chic shops and restaurants in the sleepy village of Carvalhal on the hotel’s doorstep, too.
Any personal neighbourhood recs? Unearth the region’s agricultural past at Comporta’s Rice Museum, housed within a restored rice-husking factory, and take a picnic for an off-grid beach day at Melides lagoon.
Rooms: 65, including four standalone three-bedroom pool villas.
Pricing: Rates start at €290 per night.
Closest airport: Lisbon is just over an hour away by road, but you can also fly into Faro and take a scenic two-hour drive along the Atlantic coast.
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
