Vermelho, the first hotel from the legendary shoemaker Christian Louboutin, set in the sleepy village of Melides, is the hottest hotel opening this spring
However, the property’s pièce de résistance can be found on the second floor, where the suites feature walls covered with bold frescoes by Athens-born painter Konstantin Kakanias: abstract weeping willows, ferns, snakes, and, on a balcony, a whimsical illustration of an angel in the nude bearing thigh-high stilettos on a plate, with the name “Christian” scrawled below it in Greek.
Up another flight of stairs is a glorious roof terrace where you could easily spend hours taking in the views of Melides and the verdant rolling hills beyond. It encapsulates Vermelho’s appeal: while the courteous staff is always on hand to arrange excursions, from horseback riding and wine tasting to paddle boarding on the nearby lagoon, the reason to come here is, ultimately, to embrace the slower pace of local life.
There are a smattering of good restaurants in town , but you’re even better served by the on-site Xtian, overseen by Portuguese chef David Abreu. At breakfast, you’ll find continental staples alongside local cheeses, charcuterie, wonderfully wobbly pastel de nata, and rustic bread smothered with deliciously sweet tomato jam.