This Far-flung Island Is a Hidden Gem of Portugal-With a New Luxury Boutique Hotel

"Portugal may draw millions of visitors- and expats-each year, but the Azores, nine remote islands in the middle of the Atlantic, are one of the country's best-kept secrets. It's easy to see why some refer to this archipelago, 800 miles west of the mainland, as the Hawaii of Europe. Here, rainbows are an almost daily occurrence, sperm and blue whales are frequently spotted just off the coast, and surf crashes over hot spring pools carved into lava stone."

"Each island has a different character: São Miguel, the largest, boasts a compelling contemporary cultural scene and thermal baths; Pico produces the best wine from grapes harvested in its UNESCO World Heritage-listed vineyards, protected by an intricate system of volcanic rock walls; and São Jorge is a favorite with surfers. Terceira may be lesser known, but it is historically and culturally significant."

"The new 44-room boutique hotel is the island's first five-star property, housed in a three-story building on a cobblestone side street in Angra do Heroísmo. And while its facade may blend in with the rest of the city's historic stone architecture, the interiors tell a different story. The lobby, reminiscent of a living room, is designed with a mix of rattan lanterns, locally made ceramics, antique blue-and-white porcelain plates, potted plants, and piles of books."

The Azores are nine remote Atlantic islands about 800 miles west of mainland Portugal, known for frequent rainbows, whale sightings, and volcanic hot-spring pools. Each island has its own character: São Miguel offers contemporary culture and thermal baths; Pico produces wine from UNESCO-listed vineyards protected by volcanic rock walls; São Jorge attracts surfers. Terceira is historically significant, with UNESCO-listed Angra do Heroísmo that served as a major maritime hub and briefly as Portugal's capital in the 19th century, and hosts year-round festivals. Torel Terra Brava is a new 44-room, five-star boutique hotel in Angra, blending historic exterior architecture with warm, design-focused interiors, including a living-room–style lobby with local ceramics, rattan lanterns, porcelain, plants, and books.

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