On 30th of April, just a few minutes' walk from the centre of Cascais, the Legacy Hotel opened, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton chain. It holds four stars but promises a five-star service, making it worth a visit, whether for an overnight stay, a special dinner, or a relaxing moment in the spa.
The building once housed the Cidadela Cascais. The former hotel closed in 2019 and has been completely transformed, now enjoying a new lease of life. Part of the property has become a luxury private condominium, while the other part is reserved for the new hotel. Instead of the previous 115 rooms, there are now 59, catering to various needs and wallets. From the first to the fifth floor, the higher you go, the better the accommodation. The view over the sea and the Cascais coast is one of the highlights of the upper floors.
Modern, sophisticated, and elegant, the rooms are spacious and still have that new smell. Place your phone on top of the alarm clock to charge the battery automatically and enjoy the comfort of a good bed or armchair. There are half a dozen connecting twin rooms, and on the second floor, guests have a patio instead of a balcony – the ideal option for those bringing a pet, as the Legacy offers these pet-friendly rooms.
On sunny days, the long outdoor pool and the multipurpose patio, which is still undergoing final touches, are the most obvious destinations. On the -1 floor, you will find everything else: a fully equipped gym (soon to offer personal trainer services); a spa with various massage services; a small sauna; two relaxation areas; a corridor that serves as an art gallery and will host different exhibitions every three months; another patio; and the indoor pool. After strolling around the town, nothing will feel better than relaxing for a moment in this secluded area of the Legacy Hotel Cascais.
From Naples to Cascais, the Don Alfonso 1890
Despite the name, those arriving at Don Alfonso 1890 in the new Legacy Hotel Cascais might not immediately realise it is an Italian restaurant. The décor, in shades of red, evokes an Asian aesthetic. However, the cuisine indeed offers Italian flavours, as the hotel is home to a historic Neapolitan restaurant whose origins date back to the 19th century. Over the decades, it has become an internationally recognised fine dining brand, earning Michelin stars and other accolades. It adheres to a set of standards and foundational recipes – closely linked to local ingredients and sustainability – that are applied in its various locations around the world.
Among the starters, highlights include smoked cod in oak bark, served with creamy broad bean purée, citrus and garlic mayonnaise, and yoghurt sauce with chives (18€); and vitello tonnato, a mosaic of tuna and veal with tonnato sauce, fried capers, and nori seaweed powder (16€), a dish commonly found in the Naples region.
For the main courses, we are enveloped in a "memory embrace" with the spaghetto, the traditional Don Alfonso spaghetti, harmonised with a tomato and basil coulis, Parmesan cheese, and lemon zest (18€). The recipe remains the same as it was in 1890, according to the managers of the new restaurant in Cascais, which is also open to the general public and will soon have a direct entrance from the street, next to the building's commercial galleries. These galleries will soon host luxury retail shops in the coming months.
Another option is the ravioli, filled with a mixture of courgette, basil, goat cheese, prawn, and crustacean sauce (25€). The pasta is made on-site, with a flavourful bisque prepared with a variety of seafood.
For the main courses, try the red snapper with a bread crust, saffron sauce, and a trilogy of yam (31€); or the filet mignon, a Black Angus tenderloin wrapped in a sauce prepared over three days, accompanied by a potato millefeuille (30€).
End the meal with, for example, the Omaggio alla Gianduia (12€), a dark chocolate mousse with hazelnut paste on the side, pure cocoa shavings, an almond milk emulsion with lemon zest, and hazelnuts preserved in sugar and egg white. Led by Italian chef Nicola Restaino, Don Alfonso 1890 also offers a wide variety of pizzas.
Reformosa, a company specialising in luxury condominiums that has now opened its first hotel, intends to continue expanding the Legacy brand. Plans include opening a unit in Sesimbra (under the name Legacy by the Sea) and another in the Azores archipelago.
Avenida 25 de Abril, 528, Cascais. 21 054 0559