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Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels

Note9.2/10

Hotel
Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães
Country
Portugal
City
Guimarães
Room Type
Room with 2 beds
Hotel brand
Small Luxury Hotels
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Location

After two nights at the Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, and a day exploring the Douro Valley, I decided to stop at the Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, located 2 kilometres from downtown historic Guimarães.

Guimarães is a city tied to the founding and identity of the Portuguese nation. It has in fact been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Booking at the Hotel

The Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães is part of the Small Luxury Hotels collection within the World of Hyatt program.

I decided to spend a night there with a friend during our visit to the Douro Valley.

Holding Globalist status (the program’s top tier) thanks to a generous promotion during COVID-19, this stay is part of my ongoing exploration of World of Hyatt hotels and the perks offered to members.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

The cost was reasonable at $150 a night. To pay for my stay, I chose to use the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card for 2 reasons:

  • No conversion fees for this booking in Euros
  • The ability to redeem points against this travel expense
Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$150Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
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Hotel overview

The Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães occupies a 12th-century Augustinian convent. It’s part of Portugal’s Pousadas group.

What stands out from the moment you arrive is the architectural richness of this World of Hyatt property.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels
Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Beautiful light streams into the hotel’s reception as I check in at the end of the day.

A large chandelier hangs above the front desk, and sofas are arranged here.

To reach my assigned room, I pass through several grand reception rooms. History surrounds you here, and that’s what gives this hotel its charm.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels
Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Since this is a former convent, the rooms are rather austere at first glance.

Travelling with a friend, we chose a room with 2 single beds, which limits upgrade options.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Both four-poster beds were quite comfortable. That said, don’t expect to work at the desk under the TV: the desk surface is far too high (or the chairs too low). And the room’s dim lighting doesn’t exactly invite you to linger there anyway.

The bathroom had all the modern comforts: a bathtub-shower, a bidet, and a toilet.

Hotel services

Restaurant

The hotel’s restaurant sits in a beautiful historic room.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

This room is used for dinner only. Breakfast is served in another, equally grand room.

Note the bar (we were offered a cocktail on arrival) in the hotel’s main living area. A room that must be lovely in winter, by a good fireplace.

The hotel also offers several terraces, like this one with a fountain whose flowing water invites relaxation while you take in the scenery.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels
Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Breakfast

The hotel offers a breakfast buffet with numerous Portuguese specialties.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

The options on offer are quite complete on both the sweet and savoury side. All served on lovely porcelain.

Pool and spa

The hotel offers several indoor/outdoor gardens as well as a rose garden.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels
Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

If you’re staying here with your children, note that there’s also a small playground.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

Finally, the hotel also has a pool. It was closed during my stay.

I found it fit rather poorly with the hotel’s overall architecture. I would have preferred a stone pool rather than one lined with tiles like these.

I added a photo from the property so you can get a better sense of the facilities when it’s open.

Guimarães

During your stay at the Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, don’t miss visiting the city of Guimarães and its castle.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels

 

We enjoyed an excellent dinner on the main square, soaking up the local springtime atmosphere.

My overall impression of the hotel

The Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães is a good fit for travellers who want to step away from the big hotel chains while still enjoying a good level of comfort.

A sense of calm sets in as soon as you walk into this property and stroll through its gardens. Sure, it’s not fitted with the latest amenities, but the value for money is excellent.

This hotel, in any case, left me eager to discover other Small Luxury Hotels properties within World of Hyatt.

Review: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, Small Luxury Hotels - Pousada Mosteiro De Guimarães Small Luxury Hotels
Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
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Purchase ProtectionIncluded
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