If you wish to escape the hustle and bustle of central Lisbon, yet be only 30 minutes away from Lisbon airport, then Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is the perfect country retreat for you to consider. LLM contributor Baldwin Ho checks in to find out what makes this hotel the ideal escape from Portugal’s bustling capital.
Hotel
The hotel is nestled in the verdant, rolling hills of Torres Vedras, in the heart of the protected landscape of Socorro and Archeira Mountains. The tranquil atmosphere is self-evident as soon as you pass the gates of the hotel: This is where you can switch off from the stresses of urban living, yet be close enough for a day trip into the heart of Lisbon.
With 151 rooms and suites, the hotel is particularly popular with MICE events on weekdays due to their 2,150 sqm of ultra-contemporary event space. On weekends, leisure guests flock to the hotel for its country club vibes. The hotel offers an indoor and two outdoor pools but is only 20 minutes from the beach for those who prefer sand, surf, and sun. The hotel opened in 2007 and does have a regular programme of refurbishments, in particular, you will notice the bar area and some of the hotel rooms have a lighter palette, whilst the more difficult areas to update such as the lifts look distinctly early 2000s.
Room
Room categories range from the deluxe rooms (between 31 to 36 square metres) to the royal suite at 145 square metres. Most have either sweeping views of the golf course or views of the pool and scenic landscape of the Socorro and Archeira mountains. The rooms are all well-appointed with flat-screen TVs, high-speed internet, and espresso machines. They offer commodious bathrooms with a separate rain shower and bath and if you are staying in the likes of the grand duplex suite, you’ll even get a hydro massage bath.
There’s also self-catering accommodation available to book, which sits just outside of the main hotel building. This can include villas that hold up to four bedrooms, making for a great option for those seeking extra privacy, yet still able to have full access to the world-class facilities of the hotel.
Food and drink
The culinary options are where the hotel truly excels. Grande Escolha is their fine dining restaurant. Although, you’ll notice on their website, it’s strictly not a gourmet restaurant, as decreed by their head chef. However, the menu options are innovative and will match the very best Lisbon can offer. Where else would you see a suckling pig ramen offered as a starter?
Seafood options are especially strong and include a tuna starter prepared in three ways, while a local speciality is octopus served with sweet potato mash, caponata, and homemade pickles. Dishes are exquisitely presented as if you were dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, as can be seen on their rice pudding with coffee foam dessert.
The hotel’s other restaurants are more casual and include the Garden Terrace and Manjapão, where you can enjoy your buffet breakfast. Expect more stereotypical offerings like salad and burgers, although they still use the finest of ingredients. For example, for their seafood rice, expect to see green-lipped mussels and king prawns. You can wash down your meal with well-curated wines from the local region.
Spa and wellness
Dolce CampoReal’s Amai Spa is the perfect wellness oasis for those seeking some relaxation after exertions on the golf course. They use high-end, natural, holistic products from Arôms Natur for their treatments, and they have quirky treatment options such as candle massage by Miyoko and the inlove ritual for two people, where chocolate is the star attraction. They use 100% natural cocoa from Ghana as the key ingredient; the chocolate melts into a fluid cream that nourishes the skin and revitalises the senses.
There is also a cosy water circuit, where you can enjoy a Jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish bath, and whilst relaxing in the Jacuzzi, you will get tremendous views of the golf course.
To do
The hotel’s 18-hole golf course is one of the top 100 in Europe and whilst it might not be the longest, the undulating greens make for a tricky course to navigate. They can offer individual lessons on the driving range even for beginners and their knowledgeable tutors can brief you on the basics of the game and can enthuse you to pick up this sociable sport.
One of the resort’s best offerings for guests is a wine and jeep experience. You can either drive yourself through the mesmerising countryside or have your guide do that for you while explaining the key landmarks and history of the area. You’ll drive through dirt roads and traverse dramatic paths filled with wind turbines.
The tour stops at AdegaMãe winery. It is one of the few wineries in the region that exports to dozens of countries across the globe. The state-of-the-art winery is a sight to behold and the wine-tasting will include numerous limited-edition wines. Thankfully, you will be driven back to the hotel by your friendly guide post-tasting.
In a nutshell
Why struggle with a crowded hotel room in central Lisbon, when you can stay in a spacious countryside retreat that is only 30 minutes away from Lisbon airport?
Factbox
Dolce CampoReal Lisboa offers rooms from €160 per night.
Address: R. do Campo (Campo Real ), 2565-770, Portugal
Phone: +351 261 960 900
Email: reservations@dolcecamporeal.com
Website: dolcecamporeal.com
