Noah Surf House Portugal
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Key Highlights
- ✓Location:** The beachfront location, directly on Praia do Centro (Santa Cruz) and offering stunning ocean views, is a significant highlight.
Expert Review: Noah Surf House Portugal
Noah Surf House Portugal, a Michelin Key Selected property in A-dos-Cunhados, offers a unique blend of surf culture, eco-chic design, and family-friendly hospitality on Portugal's Silver Coast. Guests consistently praise its relaxed, bohemian vibe and excellent facilities.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for Noah Surf House Portugal is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently using terms like "superb," "exceptional," and "wonderful" to describe their stays. It holds high ratings, including a 9.2 on Booking.com based on 377 reviews, with staff scoring 9.6, cleanliness 9.4, and facilities 9.4. The Michelin Guide awards it a guest score of 19.6 out of 20. It's widely regarded as a paradise for surfers, skaters, and earth lovers, as well as an ideal destination for families.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently rave about several aspects of Noah Surf House:
- Design & Vibe: The hotel boasts an "incredible design and layout and concept", mixing modern aesthetics with driftwood decor and a laid-back, hippie beach vibe. Upcycled furnishings, fishing nets, and ropes create a unique and comfortable atmosphere.
- Activities: A major draw is the extensive array of activities, catering to both kids and adults. These include surf lessons for all levels, an on-site skate park, yoga and functional training classes, paddleboarding, and complimentary bicycles. Evenings often feature communal fire pits with local musicians.
- Staff: The staff are frequently highlighted as "amazingly friendly and helpful," "wonderful, accommodating and attentive," and "outstanding." Their dedication to providing an exceptional experience is a recurring theme in reviews.
- Location: The beachfront location, directly on Praia do Centro (Santa Cruz) and offering stunning ocean views, is a significant highlight.
3. Room Quality
The rooms and bungalows at Noah Surf House are described as comfortable, spacious, and "super cool" in design. They feature private bathrooms, balconies or terraces, and free WiFi. Decor incorporates stripped-back wood, upcycled furniture, and fishing nets, combined with modern elements like polished concrete and plush beds. Beds are noted as "incredibly comfortable."
Options range from standard rooms to bungalows, including "Terra Rooms" which can accommodate up to six or eight people with bunk beds, and "Mar & Cook Bungalows" that offer sea views and fully equipped kitchenettes, ideal for families or those who prefer to self-cater. Instead of traditional air conditioning, the hotel uses aerothermal energy to heat floors and relies on Atlantic breezes and fans for cooling, aligning with its sustainability ethos. Guests can often hear the sound of waves at night.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Noah Surf House receives high praise, with the food consistently described as "excellent" and "delicious." The on-site restaurant, led by Chef André Jesus, focuses on Portuguese cuisine with a fusion of local and international flavors, using fresh, local ingredients, including produce from the hotel's organic garden. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Breakfast, often included in the stay, is a highlight, described as a "delicious" and "excellent buffet" with a wide variety of options including fresh eggs (from their own chickens), fruit, juices, cereals, homemade cakes, yogurts, and jams. There is also a beach restaurant, Noah Beach House, located across the street directly on the sand, offering sea-view meals.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff are consistently lauded as one of the strongest assets of Noah Surf House. Guests describe them as "wonderful," "accommodating," "attentive," "friendly," and going "out their way to offer an exceptional experience." Many reviewers highlight the staff's warmth, helpfulness, and genuine friendliness, creating a "relaxed and positive atmosphere." Surf instructors are also specifically mentioned as being "the best" and "super friendly and knowledgeable."
6. Location & Accessibility
Noah Surf House Portugal boasts a "stunning beachfront location" in Santa Cruz, A-dos-Cunhados, with direct access to Praia do Centro (also known as Praia da Física). It offers "amazing views" of the ocean. The hotel is about a 50-minute drive from Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS), and transfers can be arranged.
Santa Cruz is described as a charming, low-key coastal town that provides "waves without crowds". While not a major tourist hub, it's conveniently located between the well-known surf spots of Ericeira (about 30 minutes south) and Peniche (about 35 minutes north). The area is ideal for exploring the Silver Coast's fishing towns and is about an hour's drive from Lisbon.
7. Value & Pricing
Noah Surf House Portugal is generally considered to offer "incredible value for money" despite some guests noting it can be "a bit pricey." The average price per room is around $229, which is higher than the average for Torres Vedras, but guests feel the array of included activities and overall quality justify the cost. The "Noah lifestyle" that extends beyond just surfing, encompassing various activities and a unique design, contributes to the perceived value.
8. Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor recurring criticisms have been noted by guests:
- Noise: Rooms in the main building can occasionally be "a bit noisy due to the rooftop bar" or a nearby generator.
- Room Amenities: Some guests have mentioned wishing for a fridge or small kitchen area in all rooms, particularly in standard accommodations.
- Dinner Quality (isolated incidents): One guest reported the "food was beyond bad" for lunch or dinner, suggesting the menu needed work, although this seems to be an isolated comment against a backdrop of generally excellent food reviews.
- Children's Behavior: One reviewer noted "The behaviour of families at breakfast was terrible! Children and parents with no culture!" indicating that while it's a family-friendly hotel, the atmosphere can sometimes be impacted by other guests' children.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor recurring criticisms have been noted by guests:
