Our group of 8 all agreed that the Gin Library was one of our favorite travel experiences ever. It is completely unique. The location is lovely, the gin library is impressive, and the hosts, Ali, Carolina, and Joanna, are all warm and welcoming. Even the feline librarians did their part making us all feel at home…and were rewarded with a bit of sushi for their good service. We were so happy that we upgraded from gin tasting to a private sushi dinner at Solar Branco. The sushi was amazing and the vegetarian option was incredible! At a minimum, put a gin testing on your Sao Miguel itinerary. You will not regret it!

Unique experience, good view, excellent drinks. I love gin, don't like tonic, and still had them make it as they usually do. My only regret is not requesting seltzer instead. Quite the selection. You really should ask for something specific or the experience won't be much different other than a high quality cocktail.

The gin library is the most wonderful bar/experience. For such a massive gin collection, they still retain an intimate and cozy feel! Ali is so passionate, and Mrs. B’s cheesy bread is so delicious (and needed with 3 gin and tonics during the master class!). Lemon (the head librarian) is so sweet and knowledgeable as well! It’s also amazing that they started a foundation to protect the Azores whales with Baleia gin, and will be introducing other gins in support of other causes. If you bring a gin they don’t have, you can trade for a free bottle of their gin or a masterclass, as well!

We found this charming fascinating place by lucky chance, researching what to do on Sao Miguel on a rainy day as well as where to buy the Baleia gin, a wonderfully smooth and aromatic gin, one of the two gins produced and bottled entirely in the Azores. First we dropped by unannounced, not knowing one should have an appointment. Standing in front of the door we called the owner's number and Mr. Ali responded in such a welcoming way! Although both he and his wife were out, we were welcomed by his wife Caroline mere 15 minutes later, and had a chance to buy the wonderful Baleia gin and had a quick glance at the breathtaking gin collection. We also made a reservation for gin tasting in two days. On a lovely Sunday evening, we came for our gin tasting and were welcomed by smiling Catarina. Such a bubbly personality, a treasury of knowledge about gin types and brands she explained about the way the collection is organized and once we chose what we wish to try, she mixed our drinks with inspired insight of which spices will suit each gin best. We have also learned that Catarina is the artist who authored the mystical illustration on the Baleia bottles, perfectly capturing the fresh character of the gin itself in the beautiful image. As we browsed through numerous bottles we also got served some tasty snacks, freshly baked Brazilian cheese cakes. A minor disappointment ensued from time to time when an especially interesting bottle one would wish to try was already empty, however it is completely understandable that such an outstanding worldly collection is practically impossible to restock quickly. All in all this was an awesome experience that we hope to repeat one day, maybe next year when they plan to open accommodation capacities as well. Thank you Caroline, Catarina, and Ali, we had a great time!

I cannot recommend highly enough! Whether you’re a gin enthusiast or just looking to relax in a beautiful setting with an excellent G&T, The Gin Library should be a stop on your Azores itinerary. Ali and team are incredibly hospitable and make guests feel welcome, and they can expertly guide you on a gin selection (or two)! I made multiple visits during my stay on São Miguel, which were a highlight of my trip. Book a tasting around sunset and sit outside to enjoy the view with a drink and some good conversation, you won’t regret it!

Exceptional experience! Worth booking a reservation. Ali did a personal ‘perfect G&T’ lesson, Lemon and Richardo were fantastic at making recommendations. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The setting is intimate and beautiful. We’ll be back to stay at the eco-resort and we’ll bring our friends.

Our group purchased the Gin Master Class and thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Gin Library. Ali is an engaging host who drew us all in with his love of gin, his history of the evolution of the spirit, and his unmistakably British wit. Oh, the booze was good as well. The Gin Library is well worth the short drive out of Ponta Delgada and we'd highly recommend doing the full master class. We'll be visiting again during our next visit and in the interim will certainly be enjoying his signature gin, Baleia.

This place was fantastic!!! The owner Ali and the staff Lemon and Ricardo were all sooo helpful and knowledgeable. Such a wonderful way to end our trip. They offer a masterclass that would be fun to take too! They take their time explaining the different nuances and obviously love what they do. 10 out of 10.

Beatiful selection of Gin from all over the world. The place is a project in progress to become an eco hotel. On a nice day, sit on the balcony to enjoy an amazing view while sipping your Gin cocktail.

Amazing selection of gin, double-measured G&T, and a beautiful atmosphere + bonus points for cats! We booked a simple trip at the last minute so I wasn't able to experience the master class or the sushi dinner but I will definitely find time to come back!

What a fun place! Something unique for your trip to the Azores. And their special Belaia Gin is fantastic. I'm glad I had room in my suitcase. We went for a gin and tonic tasting, but can't wait to go back for a masterclass!

Amazing Gin Tasting experience. Ali’s place has bottles on bottles of all types of Gin and he is incredibly passionate about the craft of the perfect gin. We stumbled upon this place when looking for dinner and was one of our most fun evening outings. Definitely recommend a visit there!

The Gin Library is a must have experience for the perfect Gin & Tonic. It’s curator Ali & his lovely wife are kind, witty, hospitable, and overall top notch people. Their character is only surpassed by their wonderful property, collection, and proprietary Gin “Baleia”. Do yourself a favor and travel outside Ponta Delgada where you’ll always be a friend of Senior Raposo.

After a last minute whatsapp to Ali we where welcome this afternoon to visit the Gin Library. And what a beautiful place it is! Ali is very passionate in what he does and loves telling about his experiences and plans for the estate he owns. Besides from that the gin collection is massive and he loves telling about the different gins. Offcourse he has his own Beleia Gin, which we already tasted in our hotel and had bought a bottle off. If you are on the island and like Gin pay them a visit! If you plan to come to the island, wait till they have there hotel up and running ;) it will be lovely with a impressive view! If we come (or better, when we come back) we will definitely book a room there :)

The Gin Library was a highlight of our visit to the Azores. We are gin enthusiasts and I make G&T's for all my friends... I'll be putting into practice and talking about my once-in-a-lifetime experience at The Gin Library for years to come! The property also is stunning and inspired some ideas for my husband and I as we will be building out a piece of land next year. Ali and his wife are real visionaries and we just loved the enthusiasm and energy radiating here.

Fantastic! If you’re visiting Sao Miguel, make time for the Gin Library. Park on the street down below and walk up. 1000+ different gins from around the world.

I recently visited the Gin Library, and it's truly a delightful place. What sets it apart is their commitment to using only local ingredients in crafting their unique gin creations. The limited batches they offer are not just lovely but also exclusive, as once they're gone, they're gone. The staff is incredibly friendly, adding to the warm atmosphere. An amusing note is the resident cat, Tony, who has a penchant for stealthily nabbing your chips. A lovely experience overall!