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Melides Townhouse
Melides, Grândola, Portugal
Melides Townhouse
Melides, Grândola, Portugal
Utilitarian Chic
Newly constructed near the much-awaited boutique hotel by Christian Louboutin—he of stiletto heels and an eponymous, cork-bottomed sandal line—this sweet Melides cottage occupies three stories at the heart of this up-and-coming hotspot. The all new, watchtower-like village perch is spare and Scandi-practical inside, with a floating staircase as flourish and an interior color palette in shades of sea glass, plus an elevated terrace offering views out to the Atlantic.
A newly-built residential townhome at the heart of Melides, this modest space occupies a privileged address only 100 meters from French fashion designer Christian Louboutin’s new boutique hotel. Still charmingly slow-moving, Melides been celebrated as Portugal’s new “it” destination, second only to nearby Comporta. Like its neighbor, it boasts empty, windswept beaches, low-lying rice paddies, twisting ochre cork oaks, and lazy, whitewashed and blue-trimmed towns vibrant with bougainvillea.
This home is built across three floors, featuring two bedrooms and baths on the ground, a living/kitchen/dining room at its center, and a living room/third bedroom that opens up to a terrace with views out to the Atlantic shoreline.
A courtyard vegetable garden offers fresh produce, and the home is a quick five minutes from the nearest beach. The new build is a father-daughter collaboration with a team of local craftspeople attuned to the town’s humble history, its modest architectural heritage and its unhurried lifestyle.
AROUND
The house is located in the center of Melides, close to restaurants, cafes, shops, and the Louboutin resort, as well as a glorious sandy beach with otherworldly red rock cliffs. Popular activities include horseback riding on the beach and surfing.
Melides, dubbed the St Tropez of Portugal, is a new playground for hip global nomads, riding on the coattails of French designers and international architects. Its landscape differs a little from the greater Alentejo region due to the protected Lagoa de Melides or lagoon that surrounds the community and contains a stunning variety of flora and fauna. Eels from the waterways are a popular catch for local diners.
Located a little south of Lisbon along a rugged and relatively deserted stretch of the Atlantic, the Alentejo has welcomed Portuguese travelers for centuries, and they come for its notoriously slow pace and many deserted beaches. Vineyards, rice paddies, and cork oak groves crisscross the low-lying fields and rolling dunes. Further inland is the Serra de Grândola, an area of footpaths and hiking trails, gurgling streams and a 19km circular biking and hiking route, the Vereda de Melides.
The well-heeled enclave of Comporta is only a few miles away, zigzagged by shops, cafes, and restaurants. Design-conscious shoppers will delight in the Alentejo’s burgeoning selection of galleries, studio/workshops, and carefully curated boutiques.
Another draw is the creative community, Melides Art, with its landmark sculptures and ultra-contemporary residences. A land of decided contrasts, this hotspot still offers simple coastal cafes that sizzle with the sound of grilled sardines along with more well-heeled dining rooms.
LOCATION
Melides, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon, approximately 1½ hours
BEST TIME TO VISIT: April through November
