A Focus on Food Around Portugal (Full Post)
Sneak peeks at Six Senses Lisbon, private cellar access in the Dão, a guide to Portugal’s 2026 Michelin stars, artisan workshops in Viana do Castelo, and why you should always order the soup here.
Hello everyone,
As we move into May, the conversation around Portugal is shifting. While the classic routes remain as popular as ever, we are seeing a growing appetite for two things: deeper wellness and true geographic depth.
In this quarterly update, we’re looking at the upcoming arrival of a heavy hitter in Lisbon’s luxury landscape, a region that remains our favorite “secret” for escaping the summer crowds, and a comprehensive look at the country’s culinary stars. Our goal remains the same: to provide you with the boots-on-the-ground intelligence and exclusive access required to turn a standard trip into a definitive Portuguese experience.
🇵🇹 3 Quick bites about Portugal for May 2026
1. Six Senses Comes to Lisbon
Six Senses is bringing its wellness-focused hospitality to Lisbon later this year, occupying two carefully restored 17th-century palaces, Palácio Lavra and Palácio de Pedrosas, near the historic Elevador do Lavra funicular. The property will follow the brand’s established approach: considered design, a serious wellness program, and a genuine connection to its surroundings. For clients who want Lisbon but prefer a quieter, more restorative base, this will be worth watching as details emerge. Reach out if you have clients who will want to be among the first through the door.
2. Favorite region to escape the crowds: Dão
As Portugal’s most visited corridors grow busier, the Dão region continues to offer something harder to find: space, authenticity, and depth. Tucked alongside the Serra da Estrela mountains, Dão is best known for its wines and its distinctive Serra da Estrela sheep’s cheese, but the regional capital, Viseu, is a genuinely underappreciated city with strong museums, good walking, and a relaxed pace that pairs well with a longer stay. A natural addition for clients who have already done Lisbon and Porto and are ready to go further. We offer private wine visits with some of the region’s most respected producers, including cellar access and tastings that are not open to the general public, as well as guided hikes and curated introductions to local artisans. If the Dão is a fit for your client, we can build something around it.
3. Portugal’s Michelin Landscape
Portugal now holds a notable roster of Michelin-recognized restaurants, and the list continues to grow. For clients with a strong interest in food, it’s worth building itineraries around these rather than treating them as an afterthought. We work directly with a number of these kitchens and can arrange reservations, kitchen visits, and in select cases, private dining experiences or chef’s table access that are not available through standard booking channels.
TWO STARS ❋❋
Funchal – Il Gallo d’Oro
Galé – Vila Joya
Leça da Palmeira – Casa da Chá da Boa Nova
Lisbon – Belcanto
Lisbon – Fifty Seconds
Lisbon – Henrique Sá Pessoa
Porches – Ocean
Porto – Antiqvvm
Vila Nova da Gaia – The Yeatman
ONE STAR ❋
Almancil – Gusto by Heinz Beck
Amarante – Largo do Paço
Braga – Palatial
Bragança – G Pousada
Cascais – Fortaleza do Guincho
Cascais – Kappo
Évora – A Cozinha do Paço
Faro – Alameda
Funchal – Desarma
Funchal – William Restaurant
Guimarães – A Cozinha
Lagoa – Bon Bon
Lisbon – 2 Monkeys
Lisbon – Cura
Lisbon – Encanto
Lisbon – Epur
Lisbon – Feitoria
Lisbon – Grenache
Lisbon – Kabuki
Lisbon – Kanazawa
Lisbon – Loco
Lisbon – Marlene
Lisbon – Sála
Lisbon – Yōso
Montemor-o-Novo – Mapa
Peso da Régua – Schisto
Portimão – Vista
Porto – Blind
Porto – DOP
Porto – Éon
Porto – Euskalduna Studio
Porto – Gastro by Elemento
Porto – In Diferente
Porto – Le Monument
Porto – Pedro Lemos
Porto – Vila Foz
Reguengos de Monsaraz – Esporão
Santarém – O Balcão
Silgueiros – Mesa de Lemos
Sintra – Lab
Sintra – Midori
Tavira – A Ver Tavira
Vila do Conde – Oculto
🌿 Spotlight Itinerary: Discover the Soul of Northern Portugal: A Journey Through Porto and Beyond
Here’s a quick itinerary to get a week-long adventure in Portugal started. Focused more on Portugal’s culture and soul, these three days will showcase the heart of Portugal.
Your immersive cultural exploration begins upon arrival in Porto, a city steeped in history and vibrant traditions. After a seamless transfer to your centrally located hotel, the afternoon invites you to step back in time. Accompanied by your private English-speaking expert guide, you will wander through the UNESCO World Heritage historical center of Porto. Here, the narrative of the city unfolds through its iconic azulejo tiles, telling stories on building facades, and within the breathtaking Igreja de São Francisco, an exemplar of Portuguese Baroque artistry. As daylight fades, an exclusive after-hours visit to Livraria Lello awaits, offering a unique perspective on this architectural gem and a glimpse into its rare book collection, including the fascinating Gemma Room. The evening concludes with a curated dinner at a local restaurant, offering authentic Portuguese cuisine.
The adventure continues as we venture north to Viana do Castelo, a city renowned for its deep cultural roots. Here, you will participate in a private workshop to learn the history and, perhaps, craft your own traditional cabeçudo, a distinctive folkloric figure. Following a delightful lunch at a local eatery, the afternoon is dedicated to the enriching Museu do Traje, an institution that preserves and showcases the region’s traditional costumes and textile heritage, offering a tangible connection to the past. Returning to Porto, you’ll carry with you a deeper appreciation for the distinct cultural tapestry of this northern Portuguese region.
Our journey then leads us to the breathtaking natural beauty of Castelo de Paiva and the Arouca Geopark, a UNESCO Geological site. You will embark on a guided tour of the Paiva Walkways, an 8km boardwalk that masterfully navigates the dramatic landscape along the Paiva River. This accessible walk offers stunning vistas as it winds through rugged terrain, with impressive stairways that ascend and descend the valley, showcasing the raw power and beauty of nature. To replenish your energy after this invigorating experience, a traditional lunch will be served at a characteristic Portuguese restaurant, allowing you to savor local flavors amidst picturesque surroundings. On your final day, you will enjoy a private transfer to Porto International Airport, or perhaps choose to extend your stay and delve further into the wonders of Portugal.
✨ Steal This Tip for Your Clients (with a little copy and paste action)
One consistent piece of feedback from first-time visitors to Portugal is that they expect more vegetables on the plate. The answer is almost always in the soup. Portuguese soups, from caldo verde with kale and potato to lighter seasonal broths, are a genuine part of the daily table, not an afterthought. At any traditional tasca, accepting the soup of the day is a reliable way to eat well, eat locally, and get a sense of how Portuguese people actually cook. Worth passing along. If your clients want to go further, we offer private market visits and hands-on cooking sessions with local chefs that bring this side of Portuguese food culture to life in a way that a restaurant meal alone cannot.
🤝 Let’s Connect
Whether your clients are looking for the prestige of a chef’s table in Porto or the quiet solitude of a mountain hike in the Dão, the difference lies in the details.
At Patamar Select, we don’t just book itineraries; we open doors that are usually kept closed—from after-hours access at Livraria Lello to private workshops with the artisans keeping Portugal’s folkloric traditions alive. As you review your bookings for the remainder of 2026, remember that we are here to handle the complexity, ensuring your clients see the “soul” of the country without the friction of crowds.
Ready to build something bespoke? Reply to this email or respond to us at contact@patamarselect.com to schedule a brief consultation on your upcoming VIP arrivals.
Warmly,