The yummy scent of freshly baked cake is wafting through the air as we arrive at Dream Guincho, and as soon as we lean back on the deep, comfy sofas with our afternoon tea (served daily, except Tuesday), relaxation sets in. The airy and light-flooded lounge-dining room is a quirky mix of fun and funky modern art, exquisite antiques and colourful vintage finds acquired during charismatic co-owner Rosario’s far-flung voyages. With its fireplace, fluffy throws and candles, it makes for a cosy winter hideaway. But summer here is gorgeous too: white curtains gently waft onto the terrace overlooking the garden, pool and sea, creating a fluid indoor/outdoor living space.
Up a winding, wooden staircase you'll find the eight spacious rooms and a reading nook, testament to Rosario’s passion for books - which is unmissably reflected throughout the house: standing lamps that double up as book shelves, the room names (Don Quixote, The Great Gatsby, and so on). Add ultra-tasty traditional Portuguese food and wines to the mix, private Pilates classes to work it all off, hiking trails from your doorstep, gorgeous Guincho beach down the hill and Unesco-listed Sintra nearby, and voilà: a grown-up, young-at-heart epicurean retreat, perfect for couples, groups of friends, or a house party.
Highs
- Warm and welcoming ambience and an incredibly friendly team
- Plenty of chill-out spaces with super-cool, highly instagrammable décor: vintage pieces, modern art, curios from around the world
- Delicious homemade Portuguese dishes available on request, and there's a weekly table d’hôte
- All rooms have private terraces with sea views
- Guincho beach is a stunner: wide and sandy, with long waves that are ideal for surfing
Lows
- A tad tricky to find - but that’s part of the charm
- No food is served on Tuesdays, but restaurants and cafes are only a short drive away
- Some might not like the idea of a cigar room, but it is fully ventilated and located at the far end of the house - there wasn’t any smoke smell detectable during our visit
- You will need a car to get around, but transfers to nearby Cascais are included in the rate (ask for a timetable)
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are great times to travel, with pleasant daytime temperatures and cooler nights. July and August can get very hot (and busy).
Our top tips
Don’t miss the 20-minute scenic stroll through the dunes along the circular board walk above beautiful Cresmina beach. There is a cool café at the entrance/exit point. Kick back and enjoy the view.
- Boutique Hotel
- 8 rooms
- Breakfast + other meals on request (except Tuesdays)
- Over 12s preferred
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Pool Table
Rooms
Dream Guincho’s eight bright, modern and calming rooms are located on the first floor. All have terraces and varying degrees of sea views. They are named after Rosario’s favourite books: Don Quixote, The Little Prince, Anna Karenina... We loved our room (The Great Gatsby) but would have been equally happy in any of the others, as the differences are very subtle.
All have light wooden floors, white walls and colourful graffiti-inspired paintings. They are subtly dotted with antiques and vintage finds, soft woollen throws, large cushions and leather chairs - and, of course, each has a large stack of books. You get air conditioning, bottled water and a mobile phone with free calls and internet access. Bathrooms are spacious, with lots of storage space and showers only.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Coffee / tea making
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Radio
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
Food is offered here everyday (except Tuesdays). A tasty breakfast including local variations of the usual suspects is served in the quirky kitchen-dining room. Don’t miss the afternoon tea with freshly baked cake - our orange sponge was so tasty it hardly saw the light of day!
Light lunches or dinners are offered on request, and there's a fantastic table d’hôte offered once a week. It's a traditional Portuguese affair, similar to what Rosario would typically serve her family. We started with an aperitif from the drinks trolley in the lounge, nibbling on tasty lupins, olives, smoked pork meat, dried goats' cheese and tuna paste, before moving to the dining room for pumpkin soup and bacalhau á bras (dried cod with fried potatoes and egg), followed by pears cooked in red wine with cinnamon, and finishing off with cream cheese, nuts and pumpkin preserve. All dishes were equally delicious, washed down with fantastic Portuguese wines, our favourite of which was Rosario’s namesake.
There are lots of great restaurants and cafés just a short drive away - ask Rosario for recommendations.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Coffee maker
- Dinner by arrangement
- Lunch by arrangement
Activities
- Stay on-site and laze around the pool with a book and a glass of wine, enjoy a massage (needs to be booked well in advance) or sweat it out in the sauna, work out in the small exercise room, join a private yoga or Pilates class, or play a game of pool (or the piano) in the guest lounge.
- Take a hike up the hills right from your doorstep, or, further away, around the high cliffs at Cabo da Roca (mainland Europe’s most western point) or the Peninha Sanctuary in the Sintra mountains.
- Surf the long, break waves at stunning Guincho beach - boards are available to borrow on the beach.
- Stroll through Cascais, with its cobbled streets and its many boutiques, galleries and cafés.
- Take a day trip to Lisbon or Sintra.
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Pool table
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Walking
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
Dream Guincho is primarily an adult retreat with a sophisticated vibe, and they normally accept children aged over 12 only. Extra beds and baby cots can be added to some rooms on request.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Dream Guincho is located near the small village of Malveira da Serra, in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It's 37km northwest of Lisbon.
By Air:
Fly into Lisbon Portela (37km). Airport transfers can be arranged by the hotel, but you will probably want a car to get around- see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Lisbon 37.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 3.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 1.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 4 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape