LISBON ISSUE 384 Dec 2012

Cascais is a town of charming old houses and cobbled streets huddled around a graceful bay on Portugal’s spectacular Estoril Coast. A short walk from its historical centre stands the Farol Hotel, a daring architectural project directly overlooking the Atlantic and the delightful fishing boats of the local Marina.

Housed in a remodeled 19th-century mansion once owned by the Count of Cabral, the Farol Hotel combines the old and a new infrastructure with a unique contemporary design, resulting in a harmonious bridge in time. All spaces have been redefined in sophisticated black and white, making the contrast between modern, minimalist interior and historic, traditional exterior even more striking.

The garden area has been rearranged to further blur the boundaries between the hotel and its stunning natural surroundings.

30 guest rooms and three suites offer stunning ocean views - amongst them, nine Designer Rooms individually “dressed for bliss” by acclaimed Portuguese fashion designers. Room amenities include a hydro-massage bath tub, king or twin size bed, cable TV, Wi-Fi, safe-deposit box and, in some cases, a balcony or terrace. Though Lisbon is only a 25-minute drive away and the shopping streets and esplanades of downtown Cascais right around the corner, guests may find it hard to leave the dazzling design environment of the designed Farol Hotel.