Relais & Châteaux has already announced the 12 new members of the distinguished association, among them Hotel Vermelho in Melides, which joins this important list composed of hotels and restaurants with properties in Africa, the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, China, and Australia.
Christian Louboutin, creator of the eponymous haute couture brand, nurtured a passion for the south of Portugal for over 20 years, particularly for the tranquility and special landscape of Melides, on one of the most sought-after coasts for national and international tourism. This love for the south of our country led the designer to conceive and design the Relais & Châteaux Hotel Vermelho, inaugurated in 2023, a traditional property whose beautiful sky-blue facade is adorned with ceramic elements by sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot – in allusion to an interior that is as much baroque as it is cheerful, with decoration signed by Madalena Caiado. In this hotel, the owner invites guests to fully experience la vie en rouge, having called upon the best craftsmen and some of his artist friends to contribute to its aesthetics, through the creation of stucco appliqués, frescoes, and fascinating optical illusions. Typically Portuguese but inspired by Louboutin’s favorite color, the red tiles that cover the bar floor were produced in the famous Azulejos de Azeitão factory.
The hotel was also decorated with furniture, antiques, and objects from the owner’s private collection. Its 13 rooms and suites, most of which have a terrace overlooking the garden and pool, feature a unique and original style. The Xtian restaurant serves flavorful Portuguese cuisine, bistro-style, using local ingredients.
“I am very pleased to see these twelve properties joining Relais & Châteaux, which complement the establishments in our collection. Each of these new members shares our passion for authenticity and terroir, as they are committed to enhancing, sharing, and preserving the culinary, cultural, architectural, and natural heritage of their respective regions,” says Laurent Gardinier, President of Relais & Châteaux.
