Hippocampus Nº46

Hotel
Artsy Cascais Boutique Hotel
ARTSY CASCAIS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Address: Av. Dom Carlos I, 246, 2750 – 310 CASCAIS
Reservations: +351 210 132 390 / reservations@artsycascais.com
Rates: from €210 (low season)
Art Restaurant: Tuesday to Sunday, from 7pm to 1am
hotel’s restaurant and circulation areas - there
are GUBI lamps in the rooms and suites, a
Danish brand linked to the Bauhaus, and
MENU, also of Danish origin, and very
contemporary. Timeless emblematic pieces,
such as Gino Sarfatti’s suspension lamp in
the Library bar, set the tone for the balance
between novelty and timelessness sought in
the project concept.
ART AS BACKGROUND
The concept of the new Cascais icon is, quite
simply, “Where art meets history”. Because art
really is the main element of Artsy Cascais,
the one that really makes a difference, that
has the biggest impact, and where photographs,
urban art and contemporary art merge
perfectly. Starting with the work of Vhils,
who embraces the modern wing and is responsible
for the hotel’s characteristic image,
passing through the original construction of
the building, the prints of Rembrandt, and,
in the Lobby and on the staircase, the pieces
of art by Alice Morey, Daniel Lergon, João
Gabriel and João Vasco Paiva.
And what about the unique experience of
sleeping inside a work of art? That’s exactly
what happens at Artsy. Those who decide to
stay in one of the rooms in the modern wing
will have the opportunity to sleep inside a
sculpture and wake up to the light coming
through the art installation by Vhils, which
embraces the windows outside the rooms. On
the palace side, the rooms, with high ceilings
and large windows from top to bottom, offer
magnificent views of the streets and gardens
of Cascais that surround the hotel - and, in
some of them, of the Bay and the sea. It is
due to the large windows, which favour the
entry of natural light, that a cheerful and
relaxing atmosphere is maintained in all the
rooms and suites.
In all nineteen rooms and suites of different
types, the history, art and culture of Cascais
are celebrated in neutral tones, but with a
sophisticated design and elements of modern
art by emerging local artists, such as the
works of photographer Miguel Velasco. In the
Artist Rooms, which have a terrace, guests
can choose between the sunshine outside or
the privacy and comfort of the interior, some
of which have an impressive fireplace that
takes you back to the experience of the old
house. In addition to the Artists Rooms, the
remaining rooms and suites are divided into
the Cosy Rooms, with areas between 15 m2
(161.5 ft2) and 20 m2 (215 ft2); the Superior
Rooms, with up to 25 m2 (269 ft2) square
metres; and the more spacious Signature
Suites, with up to 50m2 (538 ft2). - The
Attic Suite, with 30 m2 (323 ft2), is perfect
for 3 people.
Last but not least, the scent throughout
the hotel was specially created for Artsy by
perfumer Lourenço Lucena, the only Portuguese
to be a member of the French Society
of Perfumers, and is characterised by notes
of orange and basil, which merge with notes
of burnt wood, cedar and black pepper. The
Library Bar is the perfect place to work, read a
book or meet up with friends or other guests,
and the ideal spot for a coffee in the morning
or a cocktail at the end of the day, always
with art as a backdrop. The Pink Room can
be used for small meetings, workshops and
private dinners.
DELIGHTING ALL THE SENSES
Taste is another sense of the human body to
which Artsy pays particular attention. At the
Rooftop Bar, exclusive to guests until 8pm,
the heated pool, between 26-30° C, means
that even on the windiest days, guests can
continue to enjoy leisure time and even make
their own cocktails using the Honesty Bar.
But it’s also possible to choose drinks from
the bar menu, which includes wines and
cocktails, natural juices or even something
to snack on.
As for Art Restaurant, it promises to stand
out as a unique space in Cascais, with a
personalised experience and a vision of an
open kitchen, so that diners can see their
dish being prepared. At the head of the gastronomic
direction is Daniel Estriga, from
the Conceito restaurant, a chef with vast
experience, who has worked with renowned
counterparts such as Bertílio Gomes or Paulo
Morais, and has worked in restaurants such
as Quique D’Acosta (holder of 3 Michelin
stars) - with Carlos Nunes as his right-hand
man, the chef responsible for preparing the
dishes on a daily basis.
At Art, the aim is to emphasise seafood on
the one hand and multiculturalism on the
other, through dishes with influences from
all over the world, but also Portuguese traditions
readjusted to the realities of today,
such as the seafood hot dog. The concept
is based on food from scratch, everything is
handmade entirely in the restaurant, including
the pastries, without neglecting sustainability,
as evidenced by the way raw materials are
reused as a whole. The menu is flexible and
allows guests to enjoy the same experience
anywhere in the hotel. Dishes can be personalised,
individual or shared, so guests have
complete freedom to order what they want.
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