Outpost — Ocean Casitas
Perched at the highest point of the whitewashed fishermen's village of Azenhas do Mar, the four Ocean Casitas feature expansive private terraces that extend to the cliff's edge.
Outpost is located atop a cliff that directly overlooks the sea. You have a front-row seat for everything nature offers.
Outpost - Casa das Arribas
The view from atop the cliffs over the ocean are simply breathtaking.
This is a great base to explore the coast north of Lisbon with Sintra, the beautiful beaches and great restaurants.
You need a car to explore the beautiful coast north of Lisbon.
Azenhas do Mar is within walking distance but down the hill. So brace yourself for the walk back home.
How would you describe Outpost in a nutshell?
Outpost is a historic property in a unique location, perched atop cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and just a 40 minutes’ drive from Lisbon.
What was the inspiration/story behind Outpost?
It started as soon as I saw the property. From that moment, everything was very clear and moved quickly. I’d actually been looking for a place for myself and loved this area of coastline. But the house was far too big for just me. I realised there were no real boutique hotels in the area, so that’s how the idea developed to create holiday apartments.
The house was built by a famous Portuguese architect, Raul Lino, who’d been responsible for rediscovering the romanticism of the Sintra castles. He was the architect behind many of the castles built between the 1920s and 1950s, as well as constructing a holiday house for himself just 200 metres down the cliff from where we are. A wealthy family commissioned this house as their estate in the 1940s and had lived there ever since.
How would you describe the atmosphere of Outpost and what do you love about it?
I think the location of Outpost is central to its atmosphere, as it’s located atop a cliff that directly overlooks the sea. You have a front-row seat for everything nature offers - storms, wind and sunshine - so the changing weather is quite amazing. It never feels the same from one day to the next - the colour of the ocean is always changing and the sunsets always look different.
Inside, we’ve tried to change as little as possible to make each of the apartments functional while upgrading them to the feel of a holiday house. Initially, they featured dark colours dating from the 1940s, so we made the colours lighter and added windows to give the house a summery feel while also respecting the heritage of the architecture.
How long do you recommend guests stay?
I’ve had guests stay anywhere from one day to four weeks. The first guest that arrived after I opened had only booked in for one night but the next morning asked if they could stay for the rest of their vacation, which was two weeks. But I would recommend at least a couple of days, as that gives you time to experience the house and the changes in light and weather that make it so special.
The property is divided into six apartments, each is different and is surrounded by a large garden that features a swimming pool and tennis court. The Ocean Saloon has two bedrooms and 100 square metres, with seven glass doors that offer views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Piso Alto takes up the entire upper floor and also has two bedrooms, as well as exceptional views in all directions.
The South Wing is a one-bedroom apartment with direct access to the pool and a lot of original features retained. The East Duplex is set across two levels and has had the most extensive modifications, with a modern, loft-like feel. We also have the North Casita, which was previously the maid’s house and is very cute and has impressive views, as well as the Pool House, another loft-style space with high ceilings and huge glass windows.
With almost 100sqm, the Ocean Saloon is our largest apartment. It is close to the cliff and enjoys wide unobstructed ocean views. The spacious master bedroom features a high dome-shaped ceiling and faces the ocean to the west.
The second bedroom has walls of the original hand-made tiles and looks out on the private east patio. The living room is defined by the original open fire place and the iconic high-ceiling wood structure.
Seven glass doors present stunning views and provide access to the private terrace. The free-standing bathtub rounds up the luxurious treat.
We recommend for couples and families with up to 2 kids. Larger families can add one of the adjacent apartments (South Wing or Piso Alto).
Features:
98sqm, very generous for 4 guests - Master bedroom, 200 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, open fireplace, sea view - Second bedroom, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - Living / dining room - fully equipped open kitchen - Fireplace - Sea view - Free parking - Free high speed WIFI - Kitchen basics (organic olive oil, sea salt etc.) - Shower gel, shampoo, soap: local artisan products based on cold-pressed oils - Towels, bedding, bathrobes, hairdryer
All apartments feature handmade wooden furniture between rustic and modern, created exclusively by artisan and neighbor Glen Samuel Friedman. There is a 9,000 sqm garden with sea view, a pool with sea view and a tennis court – all shared with the other apartments).
This annex is tucked away next to the main house providing extra privacy. The kitchen/dining area blends in with the living room around the fireplace.
Three glass doors open to the private terrace which goes all the way around the litte house. Enjoy a moment of peace in your hammock.
Features:
42sqm, for up to 3 guests - Bedroom, sea view, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - Living / dining room - fully equipped open kitchen - Fireplace - Sea view - Free parking - Free high speed WIFI - Kitchen basics (organic olive oil, sea salt etc.) - Shower gel, shampoo, soap: local artisan products based on cold-pressed oils - Towels, bedding, bathrobes, hairdryer
All apartments feature handmade wooden furniture between rustic and modern, created exclusively by artisan and neighbor Glen Samuel Friedman. There is a 9,000 sqm garden with sea view, a pool with sea view and a tennis court – all shared with the other apartments).
The original terracotta floors, the wood-ceilings and the corner fireplace create a cozy space in the living / dining room. The apartment provides privileged access to the pool (just 2 meters from the door). Living room and bedroom have unobstructed views on the sea to the west.
Features:
57sqm, for up to 4 guests - Bedroom, sea view, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - Living / dining room - fully equipped open kitchen - Sofa bed for 2 in the living room, 132 x 192cm - Fireplace - Sea view - Free parking - Free high speed WIFI - Kitchen basics (organic olive oil, sea salt etc.) - Shower gel, shampoo, soap: local artisan products based on cold-pressed oils - Towels, bedding, bathrobes, hairdryer
All apartments feature handmade wooden furniture between rustic and modern, created exclusively by artisan and neighbor Glen Samuel Friedman. There is a 9,000 sqm garden with sea view, a pool with sea view and a tennis court – all shared with the other apartments).
This unique apartment combines modern design with the cosy look and feel of the original wooden details. We re-arranged the layout and exposed the original rock walls. Around the free-standing stairs emerges a lofty gallery, connecting the upstairs bedroom with the downstairs living space and kitchen where a large glass wall opens to the private, east-facing terrace.
Features:
65sqm, very spacious for 2 guests - South-east bedroom on the first floor, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - Living / dining room - fully equipped open kitchen - Free parking - Free high speed WIFI - Kitchen basics (organic olive oil, sea salt etc.) - Shower gel, shampoo, soap: local artisan products based on cold-pressed oils - Towels, bedding, bathrobes, hairdryer
All apartments feature handmade wooden furniture between rustic and modern, created exclusively by artisan and neighbor Glen Samuel Friedman. There is a 9,000 sqm garden with sea view, a pool with sea view and a tennis court – all shared with the other apartments).
The apartment on the upstairs floor is flooded with light from every direction. The original wooden stairs lead up to the entrance of the Piso Alto apartment, which comprises the whole of the upper floor creating extra privacy and a special sense of space and belonging.
The sea view to the south reaches as far as the cliffs of Cabo da Roca, the most western spot of mainland Europe. From the north bedroom you can see all the way up to surf town Ericeira and the Berlengas islands, and the west bedroom looks straight out on the sea.
Features:
78sqm, spacious for 4 guests - West bedroom, sea view, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - North bedroom, sea view, 180 x 210cm Coco-Mat bed, can be set up as 2-single beds upon request - Living / dining room - fully equipped open kitchen - Free parking - Free high speed WIFI - Kitchen basics (organic olive oil, sea salt etc.) - Shower gel, shampoo, soap: local artisan products based on cold-pressed oils - Towels, bedding, bathrobes, hairdryer
All apartments feature handmade wooden furniture between rustic and modern, created exclusively by artisan and neighbor Glen Samuel Friedman. There is a 9,000 sqm garden with sea view, a pool with sea view and a tennis court – all shared with the other apartments).
The Pool House is a 60sqm open space room with a double bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a living and dining area, two single sofa beds, a freestanding bath tub, a shower and a private south-facing terrace. The terrace offers a beautiful view of the ocean.
A modern studio with plenty of natural light. A cozy freestanding open-space house in the garden with an open kitchen, dinging area, sofa and fireplace. Beautiful sea views from the bed and the private terrace. Hook up the hammock, enjoy the sea view and unwind.
All of the apartments have fully-equipped kitchens and are self-catering, however, we do offer a breakfast basket filled with local products and homemade goods that can be left outside your door in the morning. We also collaborate with one of our favourite restaurants in the village who will deliver food if you don’t feel like cooking or are arriving late.
Outpost is a holiday home, rather than a serviced hotel, but there is always someone there to welcome guests and offer tips, as well as being contactable by phone. I think it’s important for people to remember that they will be sharing the public spaces with other guests, so it’s essential that there is mutual respect. That being said, there are plenty of terraces and grassy areas with chairs where you can escape, all with fantastic sea views.
Our little spa is perfect for the less sunny days: A Finnish sauna with large windows to the ocean, a hot-tub to linger and an ice tub to re-energize. Complete the treat with a massage in your apartment.
I definitely recommend doing a hike along the coast, which is really spectacular and can be as short or as long as you like. We also have great surfing in the area, particularly during the summer months when it’s not too stormy. Sintra is nearby if you want to explore its castles and gardens, and you can easily visit Lisbon on a day trip too. I’d also highly recommend a visit to the nearby farmers’ market if you’re visiting on the weekend, as you can pick up very good, fresh produce there.
Outpost is located on an untouched stretch of coastline that’s dotted with fishing villages just to the north of Lisbon. Despite its proximity to the capital, it feels very remote and quiet, with a few villas that are used by wealthy Lisbon residents as a summer getaway.
The property is just half a kilometre from Azenhas do Mar, a whitewashed village that hugs the cliff and cascades down to the sea. It reminds me a bit of Greece and despite being so quiet, it has some very good seafood restaurants. There’s a large beach, Praia Grande, that has facilities, as well as a small beach directly in front of the property that is always empty, even in the middle of summer.
In my opinion, autumn (particularly October) is the best time to visit as you get the least wind and the most sun. But I also like the winter time as you can get some beautiful sunny days and incredible stormy weather and can enjoy the fireplaces, which are located in four of the apartments.
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