Thirty minutes up the coast from Lisbon lies the town of Cascais, a summer enclave for the capital’s well-heeled. The definition of charming, Cascais is a twisty cobblestone hamlet, full of ornately tiled houses, Spanish-style roofs, bougainvillea and, of course, deep blue Atlantic beaches. Situated on a small point, The Albatroz Hotel provides a seaside stay steeped in history, luxury and dreamy old-world glamour.
The Albatroz Hotel exterior
General Manager Frederico Simões de Almeida gives us the lowdown on The Albatroz’s most in-demand room.
The most requested room:
Room 101
What makes it so special:
This was the original room of the Duques of Loulé. It has the most privileged location of the whole resort; it’s like being on the bow of a ship.
Celebrity guests:
Brian Adams, Shania Twain, Mel Gibson, Francis Ford Coppola
The rate:
€200
The Albatroz Hotel’s duplex suite
Your personal favorite:
Suite 801—The duplex suite in the white house.
Because…
It’s a beautiful duplex suite full of natural light: a beautiful living room on the bottom floor and bedroom with a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the top floor.
A bathroom in The Albatroz Hotel
Fun fact:
This house, with a terrific location over the Praia da Conceição, was built by the orders of the Duke of Loulé, with the project of Architect Ávila, in 1870. It was one of the first luxury houses built by the Portuguese nobility to join the royal family in their Summer vacations in Cascais. The real name of the Duke de Loulé was Pedro Agostinho de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto (1830-1909) and he was “major-domo” from the Queen D. Maria Pia. This “Almond Box,” as it was called, was the home of several families until 1963, when it opened its doors to Tourism, with the name of Albatroz Inn. In those days there were 11 rooms, a dinning room and a bar. The swimming pool didn’t exist then. Instead of it, there was a beautiful lawn, where in the spring afternoons guests and regular customers sat for tea, a tradition that continues to this day.
The bar area in The Albatroz Hotel
