Dá Licença
ESTREMOZ / HOTEL / TRIED & TESTED
Amongst the backdrop of rural Alentejo, close to the historical town of Estremoz, Dá Licença is an achingly beautiful, privately owned small hotel & design-led space filled with an enviable collection of furniture & art. Leaving guests pondering whether they are settling into a gallery or private home, this is a place to indulge in a cloak of quiet, artistic rhetoric for a few days, leaving only to explore local vineyards, villages & farmers markets.
Having uprooted their lives in Paris for greener pastures, owners Vitor Borges (whose heritage lies in Portugal) & Franck Laigneau spent weeks here, at the centre of an undulating valley, observing how the light fell before breaking ground. The couple had the vision to transform what was once an old working olive farm into a monastic retreat that offers breathtaking views across 13,000 olive trees & eco-reserve. A collection of angular sail-white lodgings are, inside, inspired by the arts & crafts movement & eight luxury suites act as a study into the use of local materials. Clay stucco walls, ceramic tiles & pink marble fixtures are complimented with original art-nouveau pieces from Franck’s extensive catalogue of Jugendstil & Rudolf Steiner, the overflow of which is kept in the ‘adega’. After a visit, settle in for dinner in the Library - the shelves of which house an archive of art, architecture & design journals - prepared by Victor himself.
Room Service
Location: Estremoz, Alentejo.
Price: Suites start at 300€ per night with a minimum two-night stay.
Highlights: The swimming pool that mimics a James Turrell installation – a true reflective circle surrounded by stone & pink marble.
Our favourite room: The Rock Room is home to a bathtub crafted by a local marble smith, a project that took two months, while the Sky Room has its own pool for ultimate privacy.
Services: Breakfast is prepared each day by Vitor & served in the dining room with views of the kitchen garden & rock-rose-filled olive fields below. Daily turndown is provided, but this is more of a stay with friends than a hotel, so expect refined personal service but no fussy frills.
Designed by Vitor & Frank designed the property themselves with a local architect.
Photography by Design Escapes.
The Neighbourhood: Da Liçenca is a stone’s throw from Estremoz, a town filled with history where some of Portugals’ most remarkable kings & queens made second homes. On Saturday explore the bustling flea & farmers market before lunch & a stroll around one of the largest collections of tiles in the world.
Things to know: The hotel is for adults only.
Dá Licença is a member of the Design Escapes Club, tried & tested personally by us.
The Map
Dá Licença is located in the countryside just outside of the ancient town of Estremoz, around a one and a half hours’ drive from Lisbon. Fly to Lisbon & rent a little car, taking a road trip while finding some freedom during your stay to explore.
Download the Design Escapes Directory for local inspiration & to ensure you don’t miss out on any spots during your journey.