Noah Surf House Portugal

Noah Surf House in Santa Cruz sounds like the purest essence of California — and it is, in spite of the fact that it’s not on the Pacific, but the Atlantic coast of Portugal. It’s everything you’d want from a hip, laid-back, bohemian boutique surf hotel, plus a generous helping of the ultra-sleek modernist architecture and design that has somehow become the new standard among Portuguese hotels.

They don’t overdo it on the extravagant luxury — surfers are a hardy lot, and don’t generally ask to be handled with kid gloves — but the accommodations are more than comfortable enough, from the 8-person bunk rooms to the freestanding bungalows. Noah’s restaurant serves seafood-focused local fare al fresco, with a front-row view of the beach, and the whole thing is as sustainable as can be, right down to the aerothermal heat pump that replaces conventional heating and air conditioning.

The most important thing to know, however, is that this is no mere surf-themed boutique hotel — they’re as serious as can be about surfing here, and they’ve got the surf school (and the skate park, and the yoga and functional training classes) to prove it. For that reason it’s suited to beginners and experts alike, and the experience is as immersive as you want it to be.