Cascais is a fishing village, once patronised by Portuguese royalty and exiled European kings, now firmly established as Lisbon’s summer playground. Grand buildings rise along the beachfront, none more appealing than Hotel Albatroz. Step inside to a lost world of 1950s Riviera chic. Porters swoop upon your luggage; an ocean of marble leads to a wall of glass, beyond which a cliff-top pool glistens in enclosed gardens. The buildings wrap around an inner court: waves lap below, palms soar above, a terraced bar juts out to sea, restaurant windows give huge views down the Estoril coast.
Rooms are no less alluring. Some overlook the pool, some the sea, some the beach, some all three. Take your pick from old-fashioned splendour, airy contemporary interiors, or the clipped English elegance of the next-door palace. This is a complete destination for couples, friends and families: you're in the middle of mazy streets with smart shops waiting to lighten your wallet, the beach and watersports are below. Glitzy Estoril is a short promenade away; sublime World Heritage Sintra with its Pena Palace lies in the hills behind; along the Atlantic coast is Cabo da Roca, Europe's westernmost point.
Highs
- Not only is this the smartest place to stay in town, but the hotel's position on a rocky headland between 2 golden beaches is matchless
- The facilities are regal: a stunning clifftop pool and recently revamped pool terrace, a panoramic bar and restaurant, twice-daily housekeeping and embossed bedlinens
- Elegant bedrooms, many with ocean views and balconies
- Charming old school service
- The train station is a short stroll away, and Lisbon a 40-minute ride
Lows
- It’s expensive, especially in the restaurant and during peak season, but worth it
- Light sleepers may be aware of revellers on the beach in high season
- Some bathrooms don't have space for washbags/not much room to hang clothes
- Rooms look a little tired, but they are soon to be renovated
Baby cots available on request
Some equipment may need to be requested in advance
Babysitting available by arrangement
The extensive buffet breakfast has options for even the fussiest of eaters. The snack menu has plenty of choice for families from pizzas to pasta to sandwiches, and is cheaper than the a la carte restaurant
- Swimming pool (unheated)
- 2 beaches below the hotel
- Watersports
- Playground in the main park
- Bikes to rent for free at the Town Hall, explore the coast
- Carousel in town
- Parque Palmela has a nature playground
- Luxury Hotel
- 50 rooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Cookery lessons
- Wine-tasting sessions
Rooms
The main hotel holds court on a rocky headland between two sandy beaches. The original 1873 building was constructed as the summer house of the Dukes of Loulé. It has a regal air: ascend a marble staircase, with a crystal chandelier hanging above. Bedrooms are nicely old-fashioned with crisp fabrics, antique furniture and watery views. Two newer wings to the rear, which surround the swimming pool, offer large light-filled bedrooms with delicious fabrics and big mirrors in colourful bathrooms. Many have spacious balconies overlooking the sea or beach.
Across the road, the neo-Romantic Palace was built in 20th-century Italianate style and faces Praia de Conceição beach. Expect English country-house elegance: antique mahogany furniture, trim carpets, thick fabrics, good art on the walls. You get Japanese screens, creamy marble bathrooms and those on the first floor have doors onto a Moorish-style balcony.
Rooms are divided into 3 categories according to size and views - most Collection Rooms face the town. Balconies are also a factor (most Deluxe Sea Views and Suite Sea Views have them).
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
Eating
A superb Breakfast is served in the dining room - grab the window tables for beach views. The extensive buffet includes freshly-cut fruit in rainbow formation, plates of cheese and ham, salads, salmon, a selection of cakes and patisserie, croissants and home-baked bread. There’s bacon, tomatoes and eggs if you fancy something hot.
You can order light meals in the bar and eat on the lovely terrace. It juts out to sea giving fabulous views. There's an extensive menu: salads, soups, risotto, pasta, steaks, omelettes, sandwiches and sinful puddings. The restaurant itself - wooden floors, glistening chandeliers - serves formal food at lunch and dinner. Come for stuffed crab, scallops with pancetta on pea puree, sautéed sea bass or crispy turbot, then an almond tart or ricotta with home-made ice cream.
Alternatively, pop down to Villa Cascais for seriously good modern cooking: foie gras with a mango coulis, sautéed lamb served with strawberries, then crème brûlée with pear sorbet.
Cascais has everything from simple pizza parlours to traditional restaurants and posh nosh. For great seafood, follow the road along the coast for restaurants overlooking the ocean.
Features include:
- Bar
- Kids' meals
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- The sandy beach is 50m away with loungers and parasols
- Watersports galore. The west coast is famous for surfing; you can also windsurf, paddle board (there’s a school on the beach), sail and waterski
- Cookery lessons and wine-tasting for groups of 2+; the chef takes you to the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Cascais has a park housing a military cidadela turned cultural centre, a contemporary art collection, an active fishing port, a handsome largo (square) - and no shortage of boutiques and nightlife
- Cabo da Raco, the most westerly point of Europe, is 5km west. A great cycle path follows the coast, hire a bike for free from the Town Hall
- Head north along the coast for beach after beach - and lots of surfers
- Visit spectacular Sintra for the Pena Palace, a fantasy multi-coloured hilltop castle built around a 15th-century convent
- The wild and wonderful Sintra Mountains have fabulous walking or riding; look for wild boar
- Trains into Lisbon take 40 minutes. The station is on your doorstep
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Windsurfing
- Wine tasting
Best Time to go
The hotel is open all year round. Weekends in High Season are pretty frantic. There's a Wednesday and Saturday local covered market.
The Cascais Summer Festival (July-Sept) offers nightly entertainment - music, dancing, fireworks - on the coastal path between Cascais and Estoril; and the Estoril Jazz Festival (July) is a world-class draw which includes performances in Cascais' Palmela Auditorium. There are events all year round in the area from music to sport.
The Cascais Summer Festival (July-Sept) offers nightly entertainment - music, dancing, fireworks - on the coastal path between Cascais and Estoril; and the Estoril Jazz Festival (July) is a world-class draw which includes performances in Cascais' Palmela Auditorium. There are events all year round in the area from music to sport.
Our Top Tips
Estoril, 15 minutes' away along a seaside promenade, has golf, palaces, a casino, and a packed schedule of events all year including the motorbike Grand Prix in mid-September.
Location
Hotel Albatroz is on cliffs by the sea in Cascais, next to Conceição beach and the main railway station, close to the restaurants and shops in town. Cascais is 35km west of Lisbon.
By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport (35km) is your closest. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving here.
By Car:
See our car rental recommendations. The hotel has free valet parking.
By Train:
It is a simple (and great value) 40 minute journey from Lisbon (alight at Cais do Sodre station) along the scenic Estoril Riviera. The hotel is 1 minute from the station.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Portugal and getting around
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela 35.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km