Here are awesome things that we’ve discovered in Portugal: design, fashion, and cocktails. We toured an amazing resort in the Douro Valley (wine country) that I want to show you, along with cute fashion and my new favorite low-alcohol cocktail.
Here we are with our traveling friends.
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy!
1. Design At A Peaceful High-end Luxury Resort In Portugal
We had lunch and a tour of the beautiful Six Senses Resort in the Douro Valley north of Porto. Here are some of the design highlights.
I’d love to have a grapevine canopy like above and bed throws are a great way to add color at the foot of a bed with white linens. This place is pricey but wouldn’t it be a dream to stay here?
2. 2023 Drink of Summer: “The Hugo Spritz”
On a hot day in Lisbon, my friends, Dorothy, Mercedes and I ducked into the beautiful bar at the Restaurante Rocco where I tried my first Hugo Spritz.
Mercedes, who had just come from a wedding in the north of Italy said “All the kids (meaning young adults) were drinking these cocktails at the wedding we attended.”
It’s the “It Drink Of Summer 2023” according to the Wine Enthusiast. “The Hugo spritz is a refreshing, low-alcohol sparkling wine cocktail with a gentle, floral flavor and a hint of herbaceous mint.”
It will be nice to make this at home with the mint exploding in our little herb garden.
How to Make a Hugo Spritz
Recipe courtesy of Bruno Dias
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces elderflower liqueur like St. Germain
- 8 Mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 2 ounces Prosecco
- 2 ounces sparkling water
- Lime wheels, for garnish
Instructions
In a wine glass filled with ice, add elderflower liqueur and mint leaves. Stir to combine, gently smashing the mint leaves as you stir. Add Prosecco and sparkling water to the top. Add several mint sprigs and lime wheels for garnish.
3. Dresses My Friends Are Wearing In Portugal
Did you see my recent travel wardrobe post? There are some helpful ideas there. I’m wearing an Eileen Fisher separate top and skirt in the first photo of this post that’s in my mix-and-match travel wardrobe. Also, have you checked out the Eileen Fisher End Of Season (40% off) Sale? There are some great things!
Velvet Brand: Dorothy has the cutest dresses and she told me about the Velvet by Marks & Graham line. She has this tiered linen dress in green (no longer available) that she wore on the train to Porto. But I like it in black, too. Cute sleeves.
Zara: This is a pretty shirtwaist dress that Mercedes wore (size medium).
It went on sale so if they don’t have it in your size, I have my eye on this one.
4. Delicious Chocolove Salted Carmel Dark Chocolate
While sipping port in Porto with chocolate candies (great combo), we were all discussing our favorite dark chocolate.
Mercedes highly recommends Chocolove Salted Carmel Dark Chocolate (for 10 bars on Amazon) or you can find it at Whole Foods.
She also likes Chocolove Almond and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate.
5. What To Read: “Two Nights in Lisbon”
I’ve been listening to this suspenseful book on audio and it’s a mystery that’s hard to put down! Dorothy and her husband, Carlos also loved it. Mercedes just ordered it on Libby.
I had some technical difficulties while writing this post from a secluded little spot with a river view in our hotel in Porto. So I was texting Cindy and Annie from across the continents. And Cindy helped me resolve it. The modern world (and good friends) is so awesome!
Let’s see what my pals’ Five Faves are this week:
Cindy Hattersley Design
Most Lovely Things
PS. I will post all my travel recommendations for Lisbon and Porto soon!
Portugal seems like the place to me … how beautiful everything is and it looks like you’re having the best time! I need to try that Hugo Spritz! xo
Mary Ann,
I’ve loved follow along on your adventures in Portugal and cannot wait to read your tips when you return.
Love Hugo Spritz, our Spanish friends introduced them to us a few years ago and we make them often. I love mint and love it even more in a cocktail.
All of you look beautiful in your dresses. I just ordered the dress you suggested from Zara. Love the pattern.
HAve a wonderful trip and safe travels home.
Mary Ann so enjoyed reading about this trip! Looks beautiful!! I have a friend who made us Hugos a few summers ago and I love them! Anything with mint and elderflower is so good. You ladies look great in the cute travel dresses. Keep posting more. So fun to follow along!
xo
Hi Mary Ann. I’ve followed you for a long time now, but have never commented. I couldn’t resist today though because everything just hit a familiar note. My husband and I have been to Portugal a couple of times,
including Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley. It is my favorite place, maybe because I’m half Portuguese :). I read Two Nights in Lisbon a couple of months ago (great read), and I just made my first but definitely not last Hugo Spritz (so good) after reading your blog. Thanks for all your great content. Yours is the first blog I go to.
Saude!
Lori
Thanks so much for commenting, Lori! I have always loved Portuguese pottery…ever since I was little.
Isn’t it a wonderful place with friendly people? I am going to do posts on Lisbon and Porto and link them to each other.
Thank you for commenting.
Wow!. I was so surprised when I saw that you had gone to the Restaurante Rocco. My husband and I stayed at the boutique Hotel Ivens next door last September and enjoyed breakfast and then cocktails there. It is beautiful and we loved Portugal. Thank you for sharing the lovely photos.
Phyllis…It’s pricey but so beautiful!
Mary Ann! I have loved everything you’ve posted about Portugal! I can’t believe we’ve never been! The drink sounds so refreshing! You guys look like it was a great trip with wonderful friends!!
Gorgeous pictures thank you Cindy! Well Portugal is on my travel list now !! Love the fact you are traveling with dear friends we were going to do that and then Covid hit, but we must as l think it’s a lovely memory for all
Have a beautiful time
🙂
Ha! This is Mary Ann…not Cindy, but I think that is a compliment.