Details
Fortaleza do Guincho is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Location: 7km from the centre of Cascais, 30 mins from Lisbon, and 35-40 minutes to Lisbon airport.
Website | Instagram | Michelin-Star Restaurant | Relais & Châteaux
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic, Fortaleza may now be a five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, but you can instantly feel its historic past. An area that attracts surfers and locals with deep pockets, this rather romantic, stuck-in-time enclave feels like a wild slice of paradise. ‘Where the land ends and the sea begins’ is the Luís de Camões quote on their website – and it feels perfect.
The Hotel
Built on one of the westernmost points of Europe, waves crash at the base of the hotel, and we’re sure they spill over the sides in the very windy season. Two large canons at the entrance remind you of the building’s roots, and the interior has been well-preserved. Staircases are windy, statues are stone, and artwork has heavy gold frames and chiaroscuro that’s hard to find outside of a museum.
The Vibe
It’s old school, and we’re here for it. Staff seem like they’ve mostly been there for years, and you get a sense of “if these walls could talk…”. Again, it was a fortress, and is perched up high: you can almost feel its protection.
The Rooms
There are 27 rooms in total, some with oceanfront views and outdoor balconies; if you can, book one of those. Brick ceilings are vaulted, tiles are original, and there are in-room fireplaces that almost tease (they’re decorative). Robes are thick with crests, and plush furniture has Barolo-tone velvet coverings. Things are brought up to 2024 with the USB outlets, gratis mini bars, and L’Occitane products.
Restaurants/Bars
The ocean is the star here and all wining/dining areas have views. Their casual restaurant, Spot, is quite the spot (sorry), with the building’s rich mustard backdrop and its ocean-front location. The cocktail list is extensive, which alludes to the kind of guests they get here – ones who know what they want – and the restaurant menu is comforting, with things like butter-soaked toasted sourdough sandwiches with fries for lunch, scones for tea time, and roasted nuts with Campari spritzes for aperitivo.
Their main namesake restaurant has had a Michelin star since 2001 and everything here is, again, inspired by the ocean, with two different Atlantic-inspired tasting menus that use Portuguese products served nightly. The dining room feels almost from a different era – large baroque chairs and thick curtains, well-spaced tables and crisp tablecloths – but the menu’s combinations, creations (like edible shells), and artistic plating make the experience feel contemporary. Most of the wines by the glass are Portuguese and most tables face the windows with, again, floor-to-ceiling views of the Atlantic ocean.
Highlights
The location. Keep your windows open at night and let the crashing waves be your lullaby. You can really feel the power of the sea here, almost everywhere you go. Sunsets with a drink in hand at Spot are special, too.
Anything Else
There are surfers catching waves on both sides of the property from dawn to dusk; ask about surf lessons if you aren’t well-versed; golf; or borrow a bike (they’re free). There are several hiking and walking trails from the hotel – over dunes, on the classic wooden walkways, or on paths – request a map from reception. There’s a great beachfront restaurant/bar, Bar do Guincho (try a sunset here), and the hotel can arrange wine tastings, too. We hear it’s extremely windy in this area in the summer; prices are more reasonable and so is the wind in the off-season, so take that into consideration when planning a trip.
