It’s called No Escape, and it’s the first escape room in Cascais. Opened on November 30th, the space features three rooms - with another three set to open soon. Teams must solve puzzles and uncover clues to win the game and escape in time.
"I’ve done over 40 escape rooms, and about two years ago, I remember standing in a room measuring the space with my feet, trying to figure out what I’d need. That’s when I decided I wanted to experience the other side of things – designing the game and deciding what players would have to do", explains Paulo Rosa, one of the project’s creators, to Time Out. "It came from being a player and realising I could create that same experience for others".
With a degree in Management and a career in sales, Paulo Rosa has always lived in Cascais and saw the need for an escape room in the area. "What always puzzled me was that every time I wanted to play, I had to leave Cascais. It didn’t make sense, especially since Cascais is full of tourists and young people. There’s so much potential here for players", he says.
Between June and November, Paulo turned an empty space into three game rooms. The first he envisioned is called "Psychiatry", a horror-themed room. The story unfolds in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, where the group enters out of curiosity but also to solve an unresolved family mystery connected to a grandfather. Since opening, it’s been the most popular room.
Another room, "Alcatraz", simulates a daring escape from the infamous American prison. The story is straightforward: participants have been wrongly convicted and must use logical thinking and teamwork to break out of the high-security facility. The good news? The only prisoner who ever managed to escape left some clues behind.
Then there’s "Solo", a room that transports players to the local Cascais Solo Club. "Since we’re in Cascais, we wanted something that locals would recognise", explains Paulo. "At its core, it’s like a game of Cluedo: the goal is to uncover the identity of a murderer".
As for the upcoming rooms, Paulo reveals that one will be inspired by the heist-filled world of Ocean’s Eleven, featuring meticulously planned (and utterly over-the-top) casino robberies in Las Vegas.
"It’s been going really well. We expected success because there’s nothing else like this in Cascais, but we didn’t expect it to take off so quickly", Paulo admits. "We’ve had plenty of locals, but also many visitors from outside Cascais".
Bookings can be made via No Escape’s official website. Each room accommodates groups of two to six people, depending on the room’s capacity. Prices range from €50 to €100, depending on the number of players. The games are recommended for ages 14 and up, although younger players must always be accompanied by an adult.
Rua São José, 246, Cascais. Wed-Fri 14.30-23.00; Sat-Sun 10.00-23.00. 913 136 219