Comments Hotel Solar da Rede in Mesao Frio
Hotel Solar da Rede (formerly a Pousada of Portugal)
In the middle of the Douro demarcated wine region, on the road from Mesao Frio to Regua, is the Hotel 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.
Below are some comments of guests who recently stayed in Hotel Solar da Rede in Mesao Frio (formerly a Pousada).
We had a wonderful time at the pousada, lived in suite no. 17. The staff were very serviceminded and did everything to make it a fantastic
holiday. The area was and the view of the Duoro river was breathtaking. We only have one negative thing. In- and outside our suite
needed a good cleaning. The small terrace with the chairs was so dirty, we did not used it, and inside I think it was long ago the dust from the
cupboard under the television has been removed, we could write our names in the dust. The floor downstairs has not been washed for several weeks. As we only stayed for 3 days we did not want any troubles, so we did not say anything. It was our holiday.
Best regards Alice Gormsen
More than surprised to have such excellent service in the beautiful settings and comfortable room from this Pousada Solar da Rede .
We will return to enjoy the area and good food ,really relaxing.
We had an amazing time. The views of the Douro river were beautiful and there were many wineries within driving distance. The food was our favorite of all the stops we made in Portugal. We had two dinners there and they both were delicious. It was well worth the windy drive up the mountainside to get there. I would recommend it to anyone.
This pousada is extraordinary for its architecture and refurbishing…maintaining the original stonework and tile work when possible, as well as the original working(!) fireplaces made our stay feel like a “fairy tale.” We were greeted with professionalism and charm, given a beautifully decorated and detailed room with a phenomenal view of the Douro River, accommodated at every turn. The staff went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable, and we certainly were! The Pousada is isolated enough for us to feel secluded, yet close enough to several towns to give us plenty to do! It was a lovely stay; one we hope to do again soon!
Pousada Solar da Rede was our favourite pousada. The views were spectacular and the pousada, food and service was excellent. This pousada was a stunning combination of God’s creation and mans’ tenacity as we viewed the terraced hillsides down to the river.
The hotel and grounds are breathtaking beautiful. We stayed one night and the room was very comfortable but lacking in light – difficult to read in bed. Bathroom was very good but the shower was unuseable as it had no hand rail to help you get in and out of bath. The stone staircase had no hand rail and was difficult to negotiate with a weak knee.
We very much enjoyed our visit and we took back a box of your lovely wine to the UK to have over Christman.
We were a group of 10, from Australia, travelling for 3 weeks through Spain and Portugal. Stayed at Mesao Frio for 1 night after a magnificient cruise in the Douro. The stay at the Pousada capped a perfect day cruising in the beautiful Douro. The day was acknowledged by others as the highlight of the tour.
The public areas (inside and outside) are marvellous. The pool was cristal clear and perfect in a hot day. The scenery perched on top of the hill is impressive. Buffett dinner was excellent value. Unfortunately we only stayed for 1 night but could easily stayed for 3
The Pousada was simply wonderful!The setting was breathtaking.It was my first visit to the Douro Valley,I will be back and I will be returning to the Pousada.
One very small complaint,the lighting in the room could be improved.
Solar da Rede is always a wonderful experience. Living in the cottages among the vineyards, enjoying the views over the river, the blasting heat in the daytime ,relieved by a cool wind at sunset. Diner on the terrace with a view over the Douro. What can you say, it`s perfect and we return again and again.
Our first trip ever to Portugal, we had planned a pousada tour (11 different pousadas in 14 days) and were not sure what to expect but were extremely pleased when we pulled up to our first location – the Mesao Frio. To say we were impressed would be an understatement. They gave us the “King’s” room which we later found out actually used to be used when the King visited and I can certainly see why – it was spectacular! Decor was awesome, the views incredible and the food amazing. All of our other pousads turned out being great too but the Mesao Frio stuck out from some of the others, perhaps due to its excellent service as well. We look forward to going back to Portugal and visiting more pousads but the Mesao Frio is on our list of return visits for sure!
Lovely place for a nice quiet therapeutic break in a beautiful setting. Very civilised. Only complaint was the awful music in the dining room which would have suited a shopping mall!
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.