Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho

Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho descritpion

Built on the site of a 17th-century fortress, this luxury hotel features an award-winning gourmet restaurant and sweeping Atlantic Ocean views. It overlooks the Portuguese surfers’ paradise, Guincho Beach.
Stone winding stairs, terracotta tiles and ceilings in exposed bricks create a medieval feel. The central cloister has velvet sofas and wrought-iron chandeliers.
Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho’s rooms are furnished with rich fabrics, dark wood furniture, and paintings with golden frames. Some rooms have private closed balconies with ocean views.
The Michelin-starred restaurant has strong Portuguese influences and serves dishes based upon quality national ingredients. The expansive wine list is hand-picked by an award-winning sommelier. Guests can enjoy Fortaleza do Guincho’s fine dining in the privacy of their room.
After a day visiting the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, guests can sip a cocktail from the Fortaleza do Guincho Hotel’s bar, while seated on the large terrace overlooking the ocean.

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Facilities of Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho

Outdoors ：Grounds | Sun Deck

Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Bar | Breakfast in the Room | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed).

Languages Spoken ：Portuguese | French | Spanish | English | German

Reviews for Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho

Review 1：No coffee and tea facilities in the rooms. Lack of facility to iron own clothes at short notice as laundry service had a 7 hr turn around. The access in and out of the shower not great for someone elderly or with poor mobility. It didn't affect us but worth noting for others.

Review 2：Liked the location, attentiveness of the staff and the free bottle of port wine. The furnishings in the public areas were really lovely and the breakfast was really nice. Plenty to choose from.

Review 3：Thanks to the hotel for what it is! An unforgettable experience! excellent comfort! Wonderful restaurant! As a person who lives at the stern of the sea, perfectly understand how difficult and expensive to keep a hotel so close to the ocean. Thank you !!!

Review 4：The beds were a bit hard. The wifi only worked in the common areas due to the building structure.

Review 5：We loved the location situated right on the ocean & the uniqueness of the property.

Review 6：Room was smaller than we expected but overall a decent size

Review 7：Great location, superb view from the breakfast room, good selection and service at breakfast

Review 8：Poor value for money restaurant. Great service. Expected more for what is the most expensive restaurant in lisbon. Maybe the problem was the high expectations.

Review 9：1 star Michelin restaurant food was superb. Service too formal and stuffy.

Review 10：Spectacular view of surfing beaches. Late afternoon lunch and drink on patio extremely enjoyable.

Review 11：Nothing

Review 12：Hotel: exceptional setting on the cliff at the coast, no direct beach access but great views; cozy, original rooms, very friendly service Hotel Restaurant: great new portuguese chef, innovative food of outstanding quality with great love for the details, excellent wine selection (wide price range), very friendly and competent service.

Review 13：Restaurant food and service were excellent. The setting is right in the ocean. But it is excessively expensive. $200 for two. I'm from NYC And That's expensive by NYC standards. There are no other options because it's a bit. remote. There's a hotel next to the property but I'm not sure what their restaurant offers.

Review 14：Great deserted beach location b

Review 15：Brilliant service, brilliant welcome, nothing too much trouble, great location, amazing building and an amazing chef!! If you want a treat, go there right away!!

Review 16：Wifi a little weak in rooms bit worked great in open areas do there was no problem.

Review 17：Beautiful location. Large room. Helpful staff. Great restaurant. Free port and water in room

Review 18：There was not reservation at hotel restaurant, should give priority to the guests. There was not Wi-Fi in the room.

Review 19：Excellent breakfast, very friendly staff, room well furnished and comfortable.

Review 20：The only minor thing would be that my room was by the reception so a bit noise.

Review 21：The place is beautiful and the room is very well decorated and clean. Also the treats during reception was very good.

Review 22：Very difficult to use the shower! Complicated, not really efficient that system...

Review 23：We had been there 35 years ago, great location, right above the ocean and some steps only from two very nice beaches. Excellent weather in the very end of September! The hotel has a great tradition, hope it will keep it!

Review 24：Room was not completely same, photos demonstrated a big window next to bed, what we had was a small window, room did not get decent light. Location of the room was just couple of meters from entrance, we heard people come in and go, their chat and laughs during the evening. Felt like it should've been a storage room. Avoid booking 'Beach View' room if you don't want a bad experience. Wi-fi does not work in the room, you have to be in the common areas.

Review 25：Breakfast was amazing, very rich and tasty. Location Cleanliness

Review 26：Decorated in strange style, facilities dated, no swimming pool

Review 27：Location and view are amazing. Restaurant serves very good food, and deserves the rating.

Review 28：Internet very very very slow and always disconnecting. Very difficult for emails. They know the problem but nothing is done... Price of food for diner is too high. We went outside for dinner. Not really a beach nearby. The balcony is enclosed for second floor room. First floor room have no view at all.

Review 29：View of the ocean

Review 30：It would be perfect if it had access to a swimming pool - as it is difficult to swim safely in the sea.

Review 31：We loved the location of this old fort and the staff were absolutely charming and helpful. The breakfasts were relaxed, to a high standard and a great start to the day. We enjoyed taking out the hotel bikes along the safe and beautiful coastal cycle path to Cascais.

Review 32：Nothing to complain about, it would however have been a great addition if the hotel had a pool.

Review 33：The staff were excellent, they couldn't do enough for us always happy to advise and help with everything. The rooms were made up twice a day and the whole hotel was beautiful.

Review 34：The sound isolation of a standard room was pretty poor for a 5 start hotel. Our room was close to the reception and we could listen to people talking like if they were inside our room which led us to wisper inside our roon no not be heard by the other guests in the lobby. A few bugs walking around was a bit of an unpleasant surprise.

Review 35：Great dinner, great location, great staff, nice decoration.

Review 36：The hotel is located at a fantastic spot. The English/Spanish speaking personnel is extremely helpful and nice. The rooms relatively small but beautifully decorated and comfortable.

Review 37：WiFi was not always working in the room - the building is old with really thick walls!

Review 38：The setting is beautiful Staff very professional Michelin star Restaurant Glass covered inside yard Bikes to rent (or was it free to take?)

Review 39：Despite being on a beautiful beach, the beach is extremely windy (perfect for wind/kite-surfing if that is your thing) but quite rough to swim in, and the water is freezing even in the peak of summer. There is one semi-protected enclave at the far northern end of guincho beach served by Bar do Guincho which we frequented. So, the accommodating is really missing a pool as an alternative bathing option. The restaurant is inordinately expensive (>£120/head realistically) but the bar dining actually was lovely (they do a reasonably priced fish special cooked in the same 'Michelin-starred kitchen'). Breakfast was a bit ordinary, the rooms are 1990s gauche- grandiose, and there is no wifi in the rooms due to the thickness of the walls

Review 40：Great welcome by extremely lovely (on the most part) staff. Kooky and unique beach stay, reasonably well located close to Lisbon, and close to the interesting Sintra.

Review 41：You often cannot swim at the beaches near the hotel due to strong tides and aggressive lifeguards who are completely over the top.

Review 42：An exceptionally beautiful and romantic hotel sited nearly in the sea. This is the rare hotel that is more beautiful in real life than in photos. The food was exceptional and all the staff were lovely.

Review 43：all higher class rooms are ok and comply with Relais&Chateau standards. Lower room categories are higher than general portuguese hotels, but lower than usual R&C standards. Staff is very friendly and helpful Place is marvellous - one of the best locations on the spot.

Review 44：Frühstück war schlecht, nicht vielartig. Das Zimmer ist ziemlich klein und nur alte Möbel drin.

Review 45：Die Lage ist gut und schöne Landschaft und Meersicht, aber man soll Auto mieten, wenn man andere Stadt noch besichtigen möchte. Service ist gut, man kriegt jeden Tag Schokoladen.

Review 46：The only criticism we had was of service in the bar area. We chose to eat in the bar rather than the restaurant and it felt as though the service we received there was second rate. There were very long waits for food and drinks and it was hard to get the attention of the staff who were around.

Review 47：The hotel and its location are stunning. The website photos don't do it justice! Perched on a headline with beaches to either side, the hotel looks out to the Atlantic, with a sun terrace perfect for a cocktail at sundown. The rooms are incredibly spacious and the whole hotel is beautifully decorated. Concierge and reception staff could not have been more helpful, friendly or polite.

Review 48：Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Review 49：The whole experience was exceptional - without reservation. We ate in the restaurant one night and it was marvellous. The hotel or restaurant could not be faulted.

Review 50：Unfortunately there is a problem that I think is not acceptable: on the side of the building that looks towards Praia do Guincho there are the kitchen's fans. For us the main reason to choose this hotel was to stay close to the ocean and to find out that all we could listen to was the noise (...and smell) of those fans has been really disappointing. The Wi-Fi didn't work properly from the room.

Review 51：The location is really beautiful and overshadows the shortcomings. Breakfast is of good quality and variety. The staff courtesy is what you should expect from a 5 star Hotel.

Review 52：Didn't like that you could see camper vans parked outside the window overnight in the next door car park but I guess that the hotel can't do anything about that! Didn't spoil it however as you could positon the seating on the balcony so that you could only see the sea!

Review 53：Absolutely loved the location. Fabulous beaches. Michelin star menu fantastic as was breakfast. Staff were very pleasant and helpful from the front desk to the waiters and the cleaning staff. Free bottle of port in the room and pastries on two days of our stay much appreciated. Lovely fluffy bathrobes and luxury slippers.Will definitely return.

Review 54：Fabulous location, ease of parking, small & friendly. Beautiful views in the restaurant but the room was dark and smallish - not really 5* standard. Outside area lacks attention, the terrace could be stunning and yet lies almost empty, perhaps giving the place a feel of bygone glory. No pool although the beach is literally on the doorstep.

Review 55：We didn't realize when we booked that it was about 10km out of the main town of Cascais. In the end we hired a car which we weren't expecting to do. On the plus the more remote location meant we got to relax more at the hotel

Review 56：We didn't know when we booked that the hotel had been a fort and it was an unusual theme and location. We had a great room with a view over the sea. Good service. We received a complementary bottle of port as well as some sparkling wine - this may have been due to the fact that it was our wedding anniversary. Dinner at the restaurant was superb although pricey for someone on South African rands

Review 57：. The restaurant is pretending to look 'Michelin' but the cart looks to be developed at the late 80's. Not tasty and not talented. The service is annoying while the tea is served from tea bags. Which does not correspond to whole quasi-Michelin style and bill (100Euro per person without drinks). The dishes at th breakfast were not properly cleaned, waiters' hands were not clean as well ad his dress. The room on the first floor is tiny and awkward. With such size should be furnished in a quite different way. I have been hitted in my head by a glass tray of the shelf I wonder why the hotel is still in Relais and Chareaux chain, which is obviously misleading advertisement for it.

Review 58：the only good thing is the location. And probably if you are over 60 you will also like the design and manners of staff

Review 59：Not so much of a bad experience but we were on a walking holiday and so didn't have enough room to pack suitable clothing for the fine dining room. The staff said it would be fine but we would have felt 'very underdressed' in our hiking gear.

Review 60：Staff and room were very good.

Review 61：WIFI not easy to identify and PW not provided by default at check in.

Review 62：hotel location, surroundings and room decoration and comfort . Restaurant and the amazing setting in this great historical fort .

Review 63：Rooms are a bit dark, and room 201 smells a bit like food - from the restaurant (if you open the windows)

Review 64：I cant think of a better location to be, wake up with the waves, the sea, the cliff, the surfers. Best location in Portugal (if you like the sea)

Review 65：Our room #7, I believe, was on the ground floor with a small, iron-barred window with a partila view of the ocean. Next time we will book earlier and get a better room.

Review 66：Views, interior appointments, service staff was great, food was fabulous & well deserving of a Michelin Star

Review 67：Beds are very hard. Outdoor terrace area should be improved for better enjoyment of the view.

Review 68：Their chef is French. One of the best meals we had in Portugal. Very expensive but worth it. Great location right on the ocean, wonderful getaway from Lisboa. Lovely traditional decor, pretty interior courtyard.

Review 69：Bathroom was a bit small and some of the fittings were looking a bit tired.

Review 70：Fantastic location and stunning views of the beach and cliffs. Staff were friendly and efficient and meals were excellent.

Review 71：The third bed (for child) was really unconfortable. I would have expect a better extra bed in a so wonderful and accurate hotel. Furthermore our room was over the kitchen and we couldn't open the Window due to bed smell.

Review 72：Great location in front of the ocean. Execellent food.

Review 73：No swimming pool.

Review 74：Lovely room, gorgeous ocean views (esp from the bar), Michelen star restaurant with excellent food and service, drama of the common areas.

Review 75：The lovely sunset views and the central courtyard of the hotel. Unfortunately due to a mix up about our bookings we didn't get to stay here but Petra, the manager put us up at another 5 star hotel and even took us over to this hotel. She even organised a fabulous lunch at their Michelin Star restaurant which was a meal to die for!! Thanks Petra, we hope to be able to stay here when we visit Portugal next.

Review 76：The hotel was quiet if you are looking for an atmosphere. The location is further away from Cascais than you would think, probably about €10 to get in in a taxi, I would recommend a rental car if you are staying longer than a few days.

Review 77：The hotel was very luxurious, from the minute we arrived to the minute we left, we had an amazing experience. Every morning and evening the room was cleaned, the views from the room were stunning and staff very friendly and courteous!

Review 78：Sadly we couldn't keep our balcony doors open at night due to the dreadful noise of the air-conditioning / extraction system from the restaurant below

Review 79：Dramatic position above one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Very good restaurant with excellent - if rather expensive - modern cuisine.

Review 80：rooms were a bit small and dark with heavy antique furniture.

Review 81：Very easy check-in and very efficient pleasant Staff. Complimentary Port Wine Bottle and Water. The prices for Bar drinks were very reasonable and the service and cleanliness of the rooms was outstanding. We did not have dinner at the restaurant but we did have a lighter bar Menu dinner which was very good...as was the Buffet breakfast.

Review 82：Exceptional 27 January 2014 The sound of the Atlantic, waves crashing to the surrounding rocks, the amazing views. Wonderfully restored historical Portuguese 17th century fortress, amazing location, situated above the beaches overlooking the Atlantic.The service is great and the staff are very friendly and professional. The rooms are luxurious and there are many places to sit and look at the ocean. The Michelin-starred restaurant is fascinating.

Review 83：Overall cleanliness and general orderliness of the room. Clean, but not up to a 5 star standard...

Review 84：Location is TOPS! Hotel Size is perfect for the staff/guest ratio. Breakfast was simple but high level. if you like small and discreet, this place Rocks!

Review 85：In a brief word, this is the most over-priced, and over-hyped hotel Ihave stayed at in 25 years of travelling. If you are to believe theirprices and self-promotion, you will be expecting to roll around inluxury. Not! You will not be greeted by any friendly or helpful staff.They are brusque, argumentative, and look down on you with a snobbishair. There is an all-pervasive stiffness about the hotel. The room wascramped as it was stuffed with huge pieces of heavy furniture which madeit difficult to move around. There were holes in the sheets andeverything smacked of, perhaps, former “better days”. Wi-fi in the roomsis basically non-existent – the signal was too weak to be of any use.The much-touted “sweeping Atlantic Ocean views” from your bedroom willhave to be enjoyed through a tiny sliver of a window. As to location,there is nothing to recommend it. It is far out and far away fromanything remotely interesting. This bit of coast is hit by gale-forcewinds year round, the beaches are deserted, and the water is freezing.Breakfast was disappointing. You may not help yourself to coffee buthave to wait to be served. This may take a while as staff would ratherstand chatting in the kitchen. There was a very meagre selection, thebacon was burnt for two consecutive days, the fried eggs were rock-hard,there was a toaster but it was not even switched on for use. The cutlerywas badly scratched. The same goes for meals ordered through roomservice. Mediocre at best. I failed to discern anything coming close tofood from an “award-winning gourmet restaurant” or a “Michelin-starredrestaurant”. This is very deceitful advertising. Overall, never again.

Review 86：On the plus side, the bathroom was very plush if small. The bed wascomfortable. The closet is spacious. There is a tiny wall-safe. The air-con is strong.

Review 87：We had an absolutely fantastic stay in this beautiful hotel. The staff were superb, incredibly helpful and professional. Everything was immaculate. The rooms are beautiful and we were given a wonderful surprise upgrade to the best suite which was simply stunning. We ate in the restaurant, an outstanding meal, and the breakfast was the absolutely exquisite.

Review 88：Everything was ok but it could improve (modernize some parts)

Review 89：I liked that every little detail was very Potuguese styled, the location is the best quality of the place. Loved the view !!!

Review 90：Rooms and bathroom were pricy and very small; best for one person or two for a short stay.

Review 91：Beautiful setting on top of a wind-swept rock jutting out into the sea with huge rolling waves on either side. Restaurant had good food and beautiful view.

Review 92：Food expensive for what it is. Weather in height of summer was quitecold as it's on a cliff - you will need jackets! It's too far towalk anywhere from there - 10 euros to Cascais town.

Review 93：Beautiful sea view Quiet beaches right next door Comfy beds Greatbathroom with jacuzzi bath.Very peaceful and quiet in comparison to the town area.

Review 94：The divan on the enclosed balcony was placed in a way so you cannot seethe ocean when you are laying relaxing. However if you move the cushionsfrom the bed you can arrange yourself comfortably and view the ocean.

Review 95：The location was outstanding and lovely, friendly and a bit oldfashioned service.

Review 96：There are no facilities in the hotel, no pull, gym, or anything else. If the weather is bad, there is little to do. The restaurant is very good, but really pricey. There is however a plenty of choice around, even within walking distance.

Review 97：Wonderfully refurbished historical fortress, with a perfect waterfront position. Very helpful and professional staff.

Review 98：There were differences between the people at the reception, some of them excellent and very helpful, one of them not really, it seemed that we are disturbing him... The original room was above the kitchen with a lot of noise and smell from the kitchen from early morning till late night. Plus the bathroom there was not really functioning, seem to be old and not really clean. The receptionist was not really helpful to solve. Next day there was another receptionist, really helpful and we moved to another room that was ok.

Review 99：The location, the beaches around are fantastic

Review 100：Room not as described. No balcony despite booking room with balcony. Nodouble bed despite requesting one. The manager was helpful but rest of staff were not.

Review 101：The setting. Small intimate hotel. Restaurant had greet view

Review 102：We went to the Fortaleza for our 25th wedding anniversary, and it was a wonderful experience. This is a luxury hotel in an amazing location, situated above the beaches and coves on top of the bluffs overlooking the Atlantic on the coast of Portugal. The service was great and the staff were very friendly and professional. The room was luxurious and beautiful, with a great view of the ocean. The breakfast selections were extensive and delicious, served in the hotel dining room, and there are many places to sit and have drinks or tea and look at the ocean. We had dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant one night, which was lovely, and there are several other excellent restaurants in walking distance, despite the remote location. We also borrowed bikes from the hotel and rode them on the bike path to Cascais, which was a great way to see that bustling tourist town without having to stay there. It takes about 1/2 hour to get there by bike, and it is a very easy ride. There is a nature walk on the sand dunes up the hill from the hotel that was also very beautiful. We were very happy to be far from the city and enjoyed our relaxing stay.

Review 103：There was nothing to dislike!!

Review 104：We loved the peaceful setting, the beautiful room with the enclosed balcony, its proximity to the beach & nature walk and its outstanding breakfast and staff. It was a close drive to the the centre of Cascais but a wonderful escape from the city!!

Review 105：Great location in a romantic setting with amazing views, nice rooms and top food in the restaurant! Outstanding Portuguese wine selection.

Review 106：Excellent location, see view, breakfast

Review 107：leaving :(

Review 108：Everything - the view, the room, the staff, the location, and the food was amazing too.

Review 109：The fantastic seaside location, views,cliff and beaches. The wonderful restaurant and service.

Review 110：View of the ocean from our room and the public rooms was wonderful in this beautiful boutique hotel.

Review 111：Good for feeling of history, but lack of pool, gym, sauna...

Review 112：Location, view onto the ocean, good breakfast

Review 113：Looking at the Atlantic form the bar, dining room and the little verandah off our bedroom

Review 114：A perfect place !! The food the service the rooms the view!!!

Review 115：Hard to get to for public transport. Some improvements to bathroom required

Review 116：Location is fantastic

Review 117：The conversion of the original building

Review 118：The original building

Review 119：No wifi in the rooms. Mosquitos in late September?

Review 120：The property was beautiful, the staff was completely professional. The restaurant is amazing.

Review 121：So windy and far from town

Review 122：Lovely place with great views

Review 123：Hotel's restaurant is overpriced, especially for Portugal.

Review 124：Room interiors.

Review 125：The stuff was very helpful. They fulfilled all my special request.

Review 126：the hotel was so beautiful and the staff couldn't be more accomodating. food at the restaurant was great

Review 127：no gym

Review 128：Great location lovely property

Review 129：all equipment in the room are too old

Review 130：Gostei de tudo

Review 131：Location and the profressionalisn of the staff

The Fine Print

Pets are allowed and have a cost of EUR 15 per day.