Pousada in Mesao Frio
Pousada in Mesao Frio - Hotel Solar da Rede
In the middle of the Douro demarcated wine region, on the road from Mesao Frio to Regua, is the Pousada Solar da Rede, with its breathtaking views over the River Douro.
Ideally located within a 27-hectare vineyard, this 18th century manor house offers visitors the chance to sample the reality of local vineyard life, whilst reliving the ways of Port savouring.
The Solar was built in the 18th Century on the terraced vineyards leading down to the River Douro.
At that time the view would have been to the fast flowing river but now it is a long lake with hotel boats making a tranquil cruise across the breadth of Portugal to the Spanish border.
The perfect way to arrive at this hotel must be to take one of the boats going up river from Porto and see the magnificent scenery with the terraced vineyards and the white Quintas and Solares standing proudly in the middle of their estates.
4 of us stayed in the start of September. The weather was great! Had a lovely time we stayed in the houses on the grounds which I much prefer to the hotel. The room was nice.Views are excellent. the staff very efficient and pleasant. The food is good was great, and on the Sunday night they have local cuisine. Lovely to have breakfast on the terrace. There was a local festival on when we were there was a bit loud but you got used to it! We did not visit any places about the area this year as we had done so the year before. It was nice to just relax there. Will be back next year!
A beautiful old building with bags of character and charm. It has stunning views over vineyards down to the river Douro. Our room in the main building had loads of character and space. The pool is a huge plus. Food very acceptable and staff all very friendly. Will stay again, but for longer next time!
Super local wine and port bought in a very novel “cellar” where we enjoyed a quaint game of pool!
All in all :- “A 1″
We stayed for three nights in early July and thoroughly enjoyed our stay in these magnificent surroundings. Having said that, on arrival the Reception staff were efficient if a little “straight-laced”, but we had been driving for several hours and probably weren’t at our best either!
Although not booked into the main building we had the closest of the semi-detached bungalows which are built into the hillside on different levels of the vine terraces. Anyone with walking difficulties would not be suited to the ones furthest away.
The swimming pool perched on the edge of the superb view up the Douro was very clean with towels on every sunbed laid out in military fashion.
Dining on the terrace was very pleasant but this was only available once. The food was excellent as were the public rooms in the main building.
It was nice to be able to buy bottles of the Solar da Rede wine in the little shop next to Reception.
All in all we had a very pleasant stay and will come back.
The location was wonderful.
our reseverations were to stay in the hotel with a view. However we were put in a house that had very little window view. we had to walk up and down many stairs to get to the hotel or pool! Cannot take a car.
When we checked in we had no air condition and TV did not work.
The staff did get it to work that evening.
Staff at reception area durning check in were a little short to us.
With that being said everyone else during the stay was very nice
at check out they were great!
food was good. I would suggest to be sure you are in the hotel!
it looked great.
In summary we were delighted with our experience whilst staying at the
pousada as below.
The one exception as I have noted, was poor communications between
Reception and Restaurant.
Otherwise, overall excellent experience and we would come again if
visiting the Douro region.
The bedroom: Excellent
The view from the room: Excellent and we would ask for the same room next time.
The public rooms: Impressive and very comfortable.
The restaurant: First night experience was bad but the meal and service at the table
were very good.
Subsequent nights were very good on all counts.
Breakfasts were all very good.
Any noise: No. Not a problem.
The location of the hotel: Stunning setting and location.
Proximity to a town: Too far to want to drive out in the evening for dinner because of the
narrow roads, but otherwise convenient to Peso da Regua.
Any places visited near the hotel: Many and convenient for visiting the lower regions of the Douro wine
growing areas.
We stayed for one night at Easter time and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and excellent service together with splendid wine and food. The beautiful view from our room was an extra plus to a stop we will always remember.