The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel, Portugal

The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel

Monica Tindall

I found my happy place at The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel: shelves and shelves of books (over 45 000!), lush temperate gardens, delicious food and local wine – all just steps away from the medieval village of Óbidos.

The Literary Man is renowned for its impressive book collection and unique concept. Its immense library has earned the title of the most extensive hotel library in the world! This, coupled with the recognition of Óbidos by UNESCO as one of the Creative Cities of Literature, further enhances its reputation as a cultural and creative tourist destination. The interior design showcases the fusion of a library lounge with a restaurant, creating an elegant and understated ambience. With books adorning every corner, guests can revel in the cozy atmosphere featuring a fireplace and stunning wood and glass furnishings. Alternatively, several levels of outdoor gardens offer a quiet respite for a glass or two of wine and a good book. 

The hotel offers a variety of accommodations, each with its unique charm. The old part of the convent features rooms with traditional wooden “skirt-shirt” high ceilings and old flooring, complemented by iron beds. The suites in the old part of the hotel provide larger spaces, measuring over 25 square meters, and offer the additional amenity of a balcony. The wing of the nuns’ cells offers a selection of smaller rooms, measuring around 14 square metres and larger rooms, measuring approximately 30 square metres. These rooms boast an eco-chic decor characterized by smoothed cement and reused wood. The upper wing of the cells offers a more traditional décor and iron beds. All are equipped with TVs, mini-bars, complimentary Wi-Fi and an abundance of books, providing guests with modern conveniences while preserving the historical atmosphere.

Furthermore, the hotel’s restaurant Book & Cook, is an absolute delight, led by Chef Tiago Verissimo. He describes the cuisine as Portuguese creatively deconstructed and prepared with love and heart. The restaurant’s philosophy revolves around sourcing everything from the Óbidos hills, forest, and sea. The kitchen team hunts, fishes, and harvests, making everything from scratch. They even cure and smoke their own ingredients in-house, ensuring the highest quality and flavour. Additionally, their wine menu is super local, too! We enjoyed a fantastic meal here paired with exceptional Óbidos wine. Read more about that via this link.

The charm of Óbidos as a literary village, combined with The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel’s allure, creates a destination that will captivate book lovers and gourmets, combining all the good things in the world in one location. The hotel’s dedication to promoting literature and its vast collection of books make it a literary lover’s dream come true, and the strong focus on sharing exceptional local food and wine makes it a complete package.

Reasons to stay at The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel: a heaven for book lovers and also a delight for those who appreciate incredibly delicious local food and wine; lovely gardens; just steps away from the Medieval village and Creative City of Literature, Óbidos.

The Literary Man – Óbidos Hotel
Rua D` João d`Ornelas, 2510-074 Óbidos
+351 262 959 214
www.theliteraryman.pt

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