An artful escape located in one of Portugal’s most coveted destinations for affluent locals and expats
Offering a privileged position on the Atlantic coast, Cascais and its neighbouring Estoril are renowned as “Portugal’s Riviera”.
Once a modest fishing village, Cascais became a refuge for European royalty and a hub for spies during the Second World War. Today, it remains one of Portugal’s most coveted destinations for affluent locals and expats.
Brimming with exclusive villas, this historic town is also renowned for its art district (Bairro das Artes), where we find Artsy Cascais, an elegant luxury boutique hotel.
Adjacent to the Cidadela, Art Centre, the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Museu do Mar, and Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães, it is the ideal pied-à-terre for art enthusiasts.
The renovated house is situated within a region that also has noble connections; it was built in the late 19th century by Francisco Trindade Baptista, a good friend of Portuguese king Dom Carlos I.
The King invited him to purchase the plot to construct the house and spend more time together shooting. It was later bought by Alfredo da Silva, a renowned 20th-century industrialist. More recently, Francisco Maria Balsemão inherited it from his maternal grandfather, Supico Pinto, having spent many summers there.
The house was renovated and opened as a hotel in 2023, with a modern wing added at the rear to increase its capacity. Wooden floors and a large central staircase featuring contemporary artwork lead up to the rooms in the historic part of the hotel.
A modern lift is located in the new wing, transporting guests to the small yet beautifully arranged rooftop with a swimming pool and deck, complemented by an honesty bar. From here, the 180° view extends from Sintra to the Atlantic Ocean.
Stunning lighting fixtures illuminate the staircase and throughout the hotel; a cosy atmosphere that makes any visitor feel like they are staying at a friend’s charming Portuguese Riviera home.
Check-in takes place in the library in a relaxed and informal setting, where the hotel’s team gets to know its guests, allowing them to personalise each experience.
Across the corridor, the hotel’s restaurant, also open to walk-ins, is cleverly decorated with mirrors on the ceiling to create a spacious feel with a very tall ceiling trompe-l’œil. An XL photograph by a Dutch artist suggests a festive atmosphere, and a large U-shaped bar overlooks the open kitchen.
Breakfast is served à la carte, featuring homemade bread, brioche, gluten-free pastries, and fresh jams. At lunchtime, a short but varied menu is offered alongside an equally curated wine selection.
Although, at the moment, the restaurant is not open for dinner, guests can enjoy signature cocktails at the bar, and soon, on the street-side terrace, before heading into town for dinner.
The renovation project was overseen by architect Pedro Gomes Fernandes, whilst the interior design was curated by Marta Carreira. Spread across three floors connecting the historic building and the modern rear wing, the hotel’s 15 rooms – two of which are suites, and some boasting a terrace – are spacious and welcoming, with a sober décor inspired by the colours of local beaches in a restrained and soft colour palette, contrasting with the hotel’s brutalist façade.
Black and white photographs of the hotel and urban artwork façades adorn the walls. Like Yin and Yang, the two wings come together with contrasting colour schemes. In the historic building, white florim is used in the bathrooms, whilst in the modern building, the same stone is featured in black.
Under the eaves, the loft rooms offer a privileged view of Cascais Bay, the fort, and the Atlantic. Small details remind us we are in a design hotel, such as the chrome Italian coffee machine that uses sustainable capsules.
One of the most striking features of the project is the collaboration with the Portuguese street artist Alexandre Farto, better known as Vhils, who created an extraordinary cement artwork in slabs of over 700kg that encases two of the hotel’s façades.
Six of the hotel’s rooms (four within, two on the ground floor with terraces to admire the piece) offer an incredible and artistic experience. As the afternoon sun begins to set, rays of light shine through the cement work, creating a stunning display of light in the room.
“The initial idea was for the hotel to have a connection to the area. Besides renowned national and international artists, we wanted to showcase more local and emerging artists,” says Francisco Maria Balsemão. Some of these works are exhibited in the hotel’s back room, as well as pieces by João Gabriel and Daniel Lergon on the staircase.
The hotel’s impeccable location – just a few steps from the town centre – makes it the ideal base to explore Cascais and its vibrant social scene.
Take a swim in the bay, where you might even bump into Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal’s former President, who resides in Cascais and frequently swims there. There are plenty of restaurants in and around town, offering everything from traditional cuisine to fusion, Asian, and South American dishes.
A living work of art, Artsy Cascais offers a unique experience for its guests, who can take a painting class with a local artist or go on a gastronomic tour of Cascais.
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