A Sustainable Escape on Portugal’s Silver Coast where Nature and Luxury Coexist 

Our Lisbon & Sintra In Style trip begins at Areias do Seixo, a luxury cliffside retreat where architecture hugs the landscape and every detail, from garden-grown meals to intentional décor, tells a story of connection with the land.

There are places that you visit, and there are places that you never forget. Areias do Seixo, tucked into the cliffside above Portugal’s Silver Coast, where you spend the first two nights on our Lisbon & Sintra In Style itinerary, is the latter. This eco-retreat in Santa Cruz doesn’t just invite you to stay - it begs you to embrace its full experience. 

From the moment I arrived, I felt something different. Maybe it was the faint scent of sun-warmed herbs drifting from the garden, or the way the wind rustled through the beach grass, or the intentional use of fresh flowers in mismatched vases that worked harmoniously with the elemental decor. The hotel seemed to breathe with its surroundings, not simply coexist, but thrive in stride with the land, the light, and the seasons. 

Where the Garden Leads the Menu  

One of the most cherished parts of Areias do Seixo is the food and its life cycle - from the earth, to your mouth, back to the ground. Everything they use in their kitchen is with intention, even the bulbs of the flowers and the vegetable peels have a purpose. I didn’t expect how much of a journey dinner would be. Antonio, the head chef, has relationships with local fishermen and farmers, and he also uses the extensive gardens on the property which yield herbs and vegetables year-round.  

The hotel has two restaurants, the main dining area and the greenhouse. Dining in the main area, I was greeted with a glass of port wine and a conversation with Antonio. He asked my palate preferences, dietary restrictions, and how hungry I was. Every plate was explained as it came out, and I savored every bite of the sea bass in nettle sauce that was my main course (and what fun it was to like the taste of nettles that have a history of stinging me on hikes all over the world).  

The greenhouse was centered around herbs and goods from the ground. I started with fresh bread and various infused butters, as well as root vegetables dipped in potato puree. I swear I could taste the care, the sunshine and the sea breeze in every bite - forget farm to table, this was garden to heart. Plated like edible art, I indulged in the local octopus for dinner and devoured a Queen Charlotte cake for dessert.  

Even the leftovers had a place: turned into compost and returned to the earth, full-circle style. There’s something so grounding about knowing the remnants of squash blossoms will nourish next season’s tomatoes. 

All Natural Elements - From Heating and Cooling to Decor 

The building itself seems to have grown out of the cliffs, and the architect was intentional of the building being part of the landscape, not sticking out. Cork insulation keeps the air cool and quiet, while geothermal systems hum softly beneath the surface to create a sustainable heating and cooling system. Fireplaces in every room crack as the cold comes in and create the perfect romantic setting. The room I stayed in smelled like driftwood, citrus oil, and just a hint of the Atlantic. 

One of the writing desks in my room was made from an old aviary door, smooth and sun-bleached with rusted hinges still intact. The umbrella by my balcony? Once a fisherman’s net. The owner took inspiration from African countries and paired bright colors with all-natural material to evoke the feelings of nature and culture. Every item had a past life or is from the hands of an artist, and together, they tell a story of renewal. 

Blending Architecture with the Environment  

“During the whole process of construction, and from the very beginning, good practices were considered to promote a harmonious and respectful marriage between landscape and building, also, to mitigate environmental impact and ecological footprint. The architecture and design were conceived taking the morphology off the land – a natural amphitheater, into account, allowing the building to have less volume. We used rubble and wreckage from what was previously on the land” -Owners Marta and Gonçalo say. 

The longer I looked, the more I was able to notice things that connected this hotel to the nature around it. When I was impressed by the use of food in the restaurants, I then got a massage and noticed the garden also provided essential oils for the spa. Returning to my room, I noticed the jars on my desk had twine around their necks - made from fibrous plants from the garden.  

Before Areias do Seixo came to be, there was an old aviary on the land. The architecture team took rubble from this old building and used it for the hotel, a way to mitigate even more waste. Walking from my room to the dunes, I could turn around and see that the hotel is shaped to the natural curves of the land - it was built to blend in, not stick out. After a chilly nighttime stroll, I wanted to light my fireplace in my room. My fire starter was recycled orange peels from breakfast and pinecones from the property, nothing toxic, nothing single-use, all from the earth and it smelled incredibly comforting.  

Start your Trip with Raw Luxury 

Areias do Seixo isn’t just sustainable, it’s sensational, in the truest sense of the word. Every detail engages your senses without overwhelming them. You feel things more clearly here. You slow down. You breathe deeper. Whether you're soaking in the bathtub surrounded by dried flower garlands, or sipping wine beside a fire pit made of old stone, you’re not just in nature…you’re part of it. 

If you're planning a visit to Portugal’s Silver Coast on our Lisbon & Sintra In Style trip, this is where to start your adventure. With larger cities nearby, you can balance palace gardens and pastel de nata with moonlit dips in a saltwater pool and fresh wildflowers tucked behind your ear. This place feels like home in nature - and once you’ve stayed, you won’t want to leave.