Dinner at the 5-star Penha Longa Resort in Sintra, Portugal was the perfect pick-me-up for my companion and I after a week at the international Web Summit in the capital city.
It being late in the evening when we arrived by train from Lisbon we were just in time to find a table free at the Ritz-Carlton resort's Michelin-starred LAB restaurant. It was lucky we did because our experience over the ensuing two hours feasting on a gourmet tasting menu turned out to be a surreal-like culinary dream, a perfect introduction to an impressive resort nestled amidst rolling hills inside the Sintra-Cascais National Park.
Under the direction of chef Sergi Arola, we were served esoteric dishes ranging from seafood delights such as scarlet shrimp with vanilla, beet and orange and stingray with green apple and black bean cream to meat ones such as veal sweetbread with apricot and corn, all served in an elegant setting, with delicious amuse bouches consumed at a large wooden table before we were ushered to another room to partake of the main dishes.
Under the direction of chef Sergi Arola, we were served esoteric dishes ranging from seafood delights such as scarlet shrimp with vanilla, beet and orange and stingray with green apple and black bean cream to meat ones such as veal sweetbread with apricot and corn, all served in an elegant setting, with delicious amuse bouches consumed at a large wooden table before we were ushered to another room to partake of the main dishes.
Our accommodation was in a ground-floor executive suite, comprising several spacious rooms, with a large open-air terrace bordered by a lawn and hedgerows offering expansive views over the golf course. Comfortable chaise longues and padded armchairs meant we could relax in style watching golfers at play. Soundproof windows meant our sleep was utterly undisturbed.
Next day I enjoyed a wonderful deep tissue massage with oils comprising macadamia, sesame, sunflower and the essence of eucalyptus, peppermint, and Roman chamomile. The 1,500 m² spa is more than just a spa. It also incorporates a contemplative garden featuring gazebos, a jacuzzi, and a private discreet pool.
Golf is a popular activity here for many guests. Among the top 100 in Europe, the resort's 27-hole championship course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and has hosted the Portugal Open. Other sports include tennis at the Val country club with six courts, plus three squash and two padel courts.
Children are also well taken care of at Penha Longa, with a program that includes a variety of experiences including an outdoor playground, afternoon tea, family picnics and mini mixology workshops. There are also swimming and surfing lessons and scavenger hunts, as well as painting classes and golf clinics.
Penha Longa occupies an enviable location. Within an hour's walk are important sights from the 16th to 19th centuries including royal apartments, the monastery and several gardens. The hotel is also just 10 minutes from the Estoril Coast while the Cascais Shopping Centre is a mere 15 minutes away.
For sheer luxury in an historically intriguing and scenic setting, it's hard to beat Penha Longa Resort.