Azores Wine Company — Restaurant in Madalena

Our Azores trip overlapped my birthday, and I chose Pico, and AWC in particular to overlap that day as I always try to do something memorable, something unique as part of the celebration - and staying at this pretty luxurious boutique property in the middle of vine fields, and so unique ones, was exactly what I was excited about... and that is also exactly how I remember it now couple months later when I write this review.||Location: the hotel is located in the north, about 5 minutes away from the airport, facing beautiful waterfront with Sao Jorge in the background. Although there is a dinner option at the hotel, other than complimentary (excellent!) breakfasts you really need to always venture out for food - unless you plan to shop and cook in the room... but that is always an easy drive to Madalena for about 10 to 15 minutes at most, and super scenic ones with then Faial in the background :) you are literally located within the unique Pico vineyards and I did have a moment here and there where it hit me how unusual and cool location this is! I was concerned originally that this may feel too remote, but it didn't - it combines best of both worlds, it's intimate and secluded yet close enough to everything without a big effort, as long as you have a car!||Hotel Grounds: there are 5 or 6 rooms, that's really it - so based on that the check in "lobby" is really also the area where wine tours take place, and in the morning where breakfast is served exclusively to the guest of the AWC - so while it may feel a bit chaotic at the check in turned out to be a very peaceful and pleasant experience each morning. Inside the "courtyard" there is a small water "pool" and a few plants - all more of a decorative approach to the building that does serve really a wine making purpose rather than lodging - as one of the ladies at the front said "we are not a hotel" which kind of sums it up pretty well - though everything one would really need at a hotel is here... and then imagine being surrounded by the vineyards and having an ocean view :) remember this place hosts tours almost every day, though the mornings and evenings you have this place just to yourself - and we liked it like that. The walk through the vineyards is something very peaceful and serene, especially at early morning or right before sunset, it makes you feel like the time stood still :) ||Room: room came with a mini kitchen, and even wine chiller - which was super cool as guest can pick the bottles straight from there and simply pay at the check out rather than go to the "lobby," there was a mini fridge, great wifi, TV, nice big comfy bed, big bathroom - overall the room was super nice - and if you wake up for a tour or a ferry really early they can also leave you a mini breakfast in the fridge so you have it there for the morning. Views are amazing and the huge window opens to the side, allowing for a mini deck access where 2 chairs and a table are located - super nice to enjoy the wine in the evening... or until it gets cold as it does get very windy here||Food & restaurant options: we "skipped" 2 breakfasts as we had a whale tour and then were catching an early ferry to Faial... but once we got to our 3rd day we learned how amazing the breakfast is as opposed to the mini version we had in the rooms the first two mornings (not complaining here as that option in itself was great to have rather than no breakfast at al) - plus the views, and fresh hot coffee - perfect scenario in my book :) as to the lunches/dinners we always would drive somewhere and I reviewed other places here - Cella Bar for sure stood out to us and was a cool place to go. We didn't try the dinner at the hotel as we usually like to be flexible and it required reservations, but if you stay on the spot I heard only great things about it from other guests||Beach/pools; there are some natural pools near by in Madalena going west, as well as going east in Sao Roque - everything requires car. The hotel doesn't have a pool but I think it could benefit from that option in the courtyard as it screens the building from the wind and it would be nice in the evening to have a dip, maybe with a glass of wine while starring at the skies? :) again, Pico isn't your tropical island so not really much to rave here about unless you love the natural rocky pools, to me they are beautiful but I prefer white sandy beaches and for that I do go to Caribbeans, here I came for the Azorean culture and Pico wines, and that's exactly what we found!||Things to do: there are plenty of wine makers offering tours, from simple things as sampling to full tours with the vineyards (some available here at AWC) to very personal ones at the famous adegas - it's up to you, but I recommend trying a bit of each to get the full experience and range of what the wine culture is on Pico, it's not just AWC. Take a day trip to Faial, it's a must! Drive around Pico, do a whale watching tour, check out the vista points, definitely want to have a car for Pico and for AWC but there is plenty to choose from here!||Overall: we had a "rough" start but the property and the "brand" grew on us with each interaction, day, new experience to the point that at first I asked myself "whether I bit too much to chew" to the "omg I love it and I dont want to leave" :) it's definitely a unique experience and one needs to adjust for it - if you think this is a resort/hotel then I can tell you it's not, it's a cross between a hotel and luxurious b&b and it was something new for me, something that left great memories for life - I would totally return and I would totally recommend everyone...

Our Azores trip overlapped my birthday, and I chose Pico, and AWC in particular to overlap that day as I always try to do something memorable, something unique as part of the celebration - and staying at this pretty luxurious boutique property in the middle of vine fields, and so unique ones, was exactly what I was excited about... and that is also exactly how I remember it now couple months later when I write this review.||Location: the hotel is located in the north, about 5 minutes away from the airport, facing beautiful waterfront with Sao Jorge in the background. Although there is a dinner option at the hotel, other than complimentary (excellent!) breakfasts you really need to always venture out for food - unless you plan to shop and cook in the room... but that is always an easy drive to Madalena for about 10 to 15 minutes at most, and super scenic ones with then Faial in the background :) you are literally located within the unique Pico vineyards and I did have a moment here and there where it hit me how unusual and cool location this is! I was concerned originally that this may feel too remote, but it didn't - it combines best of both worlds, it's intimate and secluded yet close enough to everything without a big effort, as long as you have a car!||Hotel Grounds: there are 5 or 6 rooms, that's really it - so based on that the check in "lobby" is really also the area where wine tours take place, and in the morning where breakfast is served exclusively to the guest of the AWC - so while it may feel a bit chaotic at the check in turned out to be a very peaceful and pleasant experience each morning. Inside the "courtyard" there is a small water "pool" and a few plants - all more of a decorative approach to the building that does serve really a wine making purpose rather than lodging - as one of the ladies at the front said "we are not a hotel" which kind of sums it up pretty well - though everything one would really need at a hotel is here... and then imagine being surrounded by the vineyards and having an ocean view :) remember this place hosts tours almost every day, though the mornings and evenings you have this place just to yourself - and we liked it like that. The walk through the vineyards is something very peaceful and serene, especially at early morning or right before sunset, it makes you feel like the time stood still :) ||Room: room came with a mini kitchen, and even wine chiller - which was super cool as guest can pick the bottles straight from there and simply pay at the check out rather than go to the "lobby," there was a mini fridge, great wifi, TV, nice big comfy bed, big bathroom - overall the room was super nice - and if you wake up for a tour or a ferry really early they can also leave you a mini breakfast in the fridge so you have it there for the morning. Views are amazing and the huge window opens to the side, allowing for a mini deck access where 2 chairs and a table are located - super nice to enjoy the wine in the evening... or until it gets cold as it does get very windy here||Food & restaurant options: we "skipped" 2 breakfasts as we had a whale tour and then were catching an early ferry to Faial... but once we got to our 3rd day we learned how amazing the breakfast is as opposed to the mini version we had in the rooms the first two mornings (not complaining here as that option in itself was great to have rather than no breakfast at al) - plus the views, and fresh hot coffee - perfect scenario in my book :) as to the lunches/dinners we always would drive somewhere and I reviewed other places here - Cella Bar for sure stood out to us and was a cool place to go. We didn't try the dinner at the hotel as we usually like to be flexible and it required reservations, but if you stay on the spot I heard only great things about it from other guests||Beach/pools; there are some natural pools near by in Madalena going west, as well as going east in Sao Roque - everything requires car. The hotel doesn't have a pool but I think it could benefit from that option in the courtyard as it screens the building from the wind and it would be nice in the evening to have a dip, maybe with a glass of wine while starring at the skies? :) again, Pico isn't your tropical island so not really much to rave here about unless you love the natural rocky pools, to me they are beautiful but I prefer white sandy beaches and for that I do go to Caribbeans, here I came for the Azorean culture and Pico wines, and that's exactly what we found!||Things to do: there are plenty of wine makers offering tours, from simple things as sampling to full tours with the vineyards (some available here at AWC) to very personal ones at the famous adegas - it's up to you, but I recommend trying a bit of each to get the full experience and range of what the wine culture is on Pico, it's not just AWC. Take a day trip to Faial, it's a must! Drive around Pico, do a whale watching tour, check out the vista points, definitely want to have a car for Pico and for AWC but there is plenty to choose from here!||Overall: we had a "rough" start but the property and the "brand" grew on us with each interaction, day, new experience to the point that at first I asked myself "whether I bit too much to chew" to the "omg I love it and I dont want to leave" :) it's definitely a unique experience and one needs to adjust for it - if you think this is a resort/hotel then I can tell you it's not, it's a cross between a hotel and luxurious b&b and it was something new for me, something that left great memories for life - I would totally return and I would totally recommend everyone...

Azores wine hotel is a self catering room (kitchenette) and lovely king beds and high end bathrooms and a outdoor sitting area in the lava fields. The hotel is new and has amenities that many hotels do not offer. I chose this as I was solo and wanted to do their wine tasting and price fixe dinner and did not then was to drive. Its quite close (about 2 miles) from the airport and you wind the way through the "vineyard" which are mazes of lava stone walls to their hotel which sit overlooking the wine fields and to the back the Mountain of pico and it has expansive views. ||The reception area has a wine bar (best wine tasting in my mind on the island with high quality glassware which is critical !) and also where they hold their tanks awaiting bottling. The reception is quite clean and refreshing- I would say its a four star reception- would be nice to have been offered a complementary glass of water (or wine) for guests staying there. Just make someone feel a touch special for also booking a room - a little cheese plate- again that touch of elusive excellence hard to find in Azores. I want to feel the "above and beyond. || The rooms are quite modern and well appointed, high quality linen and accessories. Nice assortment of wines to try in the room. Its self catering but they do have a spotless cleaning service (which I did not expect) Rooms overlook the ocean but you cannot swim there (too rocky) but there are some great swimming holes you can find quickly with a car (or a long walk) - one near town but the better one out past the hotel. To the rear of the hotel are wonderful views of the mountain which you can see on the deck at dinner - sunset and sunrise views are great from the point and you look across to San Jorge. I wandered through the vineyard which you must do to park the car anyway. You can drive right up to the hotel but the guests have to park quite a bit away-m though I think if someone could not navigate this there would be some accommodation easily as it is wheelchair accessible one inside|| Internet and charing ports are modern||Breakfast is usual fare for Portugal- the view in the morning is pretty and service quite prompt. I did arrive 15 minutes early for my morning breakfast which was net with a glance at the watch - Americans are usually early! Since there were so few people it seemed easy to just have a cup of tea and await the bread basket, though I'm being four seasons picky where you are met with your name and friendly "can do" service. Eggs were freshly prepared but you have to preorder the fare the night before (to minimize wasted food) which is appreciated on a global sense but if you have never been to Portugal you might have trouble choosing until you know what every thing is!||Dinner is only available Thursday through sunday I think- they don't really have "bar food" so you have to go out. Ill review the restaurant in another post||You could catch a taxi but most people arrive by car||Its 10 minutes to the hub of Madalena port so if you arrive by ferry a taxi would work if you do plan dinner there- or the hotel can call a taxi- contrary to posts I did not see anyone having taxi issues but it was also entering the low season. ||Dinner is lovely and your can easily sit at the bar and not do a more formal price fix (and then chose your own meals) quite small so consider a reservation when you book rather than awaiting arrival as it seems it would have been full. You also can...