Pestana Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art Hotel

Reading some of the reviews of the hotel, I visited with trepidation. However, my experience of the hotel was exactly the opposite. All staff members that we came into contact with, were friendly, helpful and very efficient. The room was excellent, and okay, some of the areas are a little tired, but nothing that would allow me to criticise the hotel for. The breakfast was one of the best that I've seen in a 5* hotel. The food in the Taberna da Praça was excellent, and the atmosphere in this dining venue was really good. The hotel is in a superb location, almost in the heart of Cascais, but in a quiet spot. If you want to try tourist food, hit the main restaurants around the centre of the town, with the menus in a number of languages. However, if you want to try local restaurants, where local people dine, then go to Rua do Poco Novo. We tried Manjar da Villa, Melody, A Nova Estrela, and our favourite, Terrosso. All extremely reasonably priced, with a great selection of food and wine available. I would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel, it was a very special place to visit and stay.

I don't often write reviews, but feel compelled to do so about this hotel because it could just be so much better than it actually is. It's lovely hotel. The staff are nice and friendly. Our room (249) was nice looking although it would have been nicer to have a seaview as the hotel was clearly not busy. However, the shower was pretty awful with little pressure and really slippery over the bath with no shower mat. The TV remote did not work either. The air conditioning didn't work and even though we mentioned this, it was never fixed. Breakfast was ok, but again the service was very hit and miss. On one occasion we got our coffee after we had finished, on another I had to go an ask for it which was a bit annoying. As I say, nice hotel but it just felt that it wasn't very well run. It could be so much more with just a few little changes.

Beautiful hotel in a most unusual setting in a lovely little town. Cascais is a lovely relaxing place to visit after a few days in Lisbon. The public areas are very spacious and interesting. Everywhere is spotlessly clean. A very clever architect has designed this hotel. There's an outdoor pool and a beautiful indoor pool which was warm in October. Breakfast was outstanding, everything you could wish for, top quality and a nice surprise as I've experienced below standard breakfasts in several Pestana hotels in Madeira. The Marina is just behind the hotel, and if you walk out of the front of the hotel it's a few minutes to the beach and the town. There are many restaurants to choose from and three beaches within walking distance. We were bathing in the sea in late October. We ate in the hotel restaurant one evening, the food was good but pricey.

The location is what gives this hotel its rating. If we had been staying for more than 1 night I would have spoken to reception and asked to be moved. The rooms are tired our bathroom didn’t have a shower just a hand set so made it very difficult to use the facilities for my elderly mum. The beds are old and lumpy. The television says welcome to someone else! Would I stay here again No! I’ve stayed in a few Pestana Hotels now and oddly I wouldn’t return to any of them.

Very good hotel, on all levels. All very good meeting facilities and some nice shops. Very efficient and friendly staff. Good breakfast, although the coffee service was way too slow and some more warm (egg) options would have been good. Superb room and sleeping quality, nice swimming pool, in- and outdoor.