True to its name, everything from the whitewashed walls and polished concrete floors to the stone terraces surrounding the pool are brilliant white, warmed by raw wood furniture and tactile fabrics such as wool and linen. The terraces that run the length of the hotel and overlook the sea are spectacular, whether for early-morning yoga to the sound of the waves or a cocktail by the fire pit while you watch the sunset. The white of the rooms and the azure of the ocean are reminiscent of a Greek island, but the converted 18th-century building also has intrinsically Azorean touches, with volcanic stone lintels and, in some rooms, stone beams and detailing. The rooms are all suites, complete with comfortable sofas and a small but high-spec kitchenette, fully equipped for preparing coffee and tea or a light meal. Bathrooms are large with polished concrete floors, big open showers, and organic toiletries by Susanne Kaufmann.
The laid-back feel of the Azores is reflected in the service, which is warm and welcoming without being overly formal. An in-house masseuse is available and yoga classes can be arranged. Or you can hire the hotel’s nine-meter chauffeured motor launch to explore neighboring islands, go scuba diving or swim in a secluded cove.
