Marqí
COLARES / HOTEL / TRIED & TESTED
Tucked away on a residential hillside near Sintra & a short stroll from the wild waves of Praia Grande, the Marquí, a hip home-come-hotel is the place perfect holiday for design-o-philes, restful retreaters & aspiring adventurers alike who want to kick back with the cool crowd. Renovated by a couple of friends from Copenhagen, one a fashion photographer, the other a contemporary artist, this 1980s mansion is transformed into what they describe as 'one very strange hotel'.
Strange it may be when you consider that most dwellings in Sintra rely on 17th-century grandeur, as here, instead of opulent cornishings & gold plating, seriously cool retro & mid-century interiors are built on the original graphic base of the house. White, angular pebble dash exteriors are surrounded by luscious gardens & exotic plants complete with a turquoise Slim Aarons worthy swimming pool. Inside, the spacious rooms & suites are basic but decorated with interesting details (think shagpile rugs & red carpets) filled with notable collectable furniture that the boys have pulled together from Denmark & on their travels.
Room Service
Location: Colares, Sintra.
Price: From 120€ per night.
Highlights: The achingly cool 70’s vibes don’t stop at the decor, a soundtrack of dreamy funk & soul fills the lobby from the vinyl player in the evening where a log fire in the cooler months accompanies a cocktail from the honesty bar to see the night in.
Our favourite room: Choose the Garden Room for privacy or one of the Balcony Suites for the views.
Services: Pet-friendly, Pool, Breakfast (15€ per person), Concierge 24/7, Serviced & Honesty Bar.
Designed by Mikkel Kristensen in collaboration with friend & partner, artist & architect Mikas Emil.
Photography by Mikkel Kristensen for MARQÍ.
The Neighbourhood: Discover dramatic beaches, clifftop restaurants, historical mansions & ancient wineries, all part of the Design Directory for Sintra, coming soon to our curation of destination guides.
Things to know: There are some great restaurants around this coast, but transport can be a little difficult. Make sure you are prepared with booking taxi’s so you aren’t waiting twenty minutes for the Uber to arrive.
Pair it with: A few nights in Lisbon.
Marqí is a member of the Design Escapes Club, tried & tested personally by us.
The Map
Marqí is located just outside of the village of Colares near Sintra, nestled between rippling mountains, dewy forests & the wild Atlantic beaches of the area. Fly to Lisbon & get the train to Sintra or rent a car for a little road trip & some freedom while you’re there.
The Design Directory
Wander through Lisbon with the Design Escapes curated destination guide, a Design Directory filled with homes & hotels, tips & tastes, sights & scenes with the thoughtful & modern traveller in mind…
