Almost invisible from the Guincho road, The Oitavos is huge, with more than 100 rooms, and minimalist decor in shades of blue – the same blue as the sea that can be seen over the dunes, wherever you are, and which has become known in the area as Oitavos blue – that is interrupted only by the enormous vases of flowers and the paintings by José Anahory (who is also responsible for the female sculpture at the entrance and for the design of this glass-fronted, Y-shaped building). At the restaurant you can choose between petiscos (tapas), like squid and pork that you can eat with your fingers, or the ceviche with yuzu and ponzu, or prepared dishes like arroz de lavagante azul (blue lobster rice) or bife de lombo maturado à portuguesa (Portuguese-style matured loin steak). And there’s also a sushi bar. If you’re thinking of spending some days at the beach, the outdoor swimming pool will be enough to change your mind, while the heated indoor pool is perfect for those windy days typical of the region. Last but not least, the spa is always an excellent choice.
Just half an hour from Lisbon (if you keep away from the rush hours), Cascais can be a pleasant place to spend a romantic evening, a weekend getaway or a family summer holiday; the perfect place to be a tourist and make the most of the best beaches down the coast. All you need to do is exchange the traffic on the A5 and Marginal for one of the best hotels in Cascais, and you can spend some special nights listening to the waves. It might be a bit of an extravagance, but you won’t want to do anything else once you’ve checked in. In this list of some of our favourite hotels in Cascais, you will find options for all tastes and pockets, from the keen golfer to those who are just looking to soak up on a swimming pool or a spa. And you can even bring the whole family since we've included some of the best places to bring the children while still being able to relax.