In Sintra, Marqí Hotel goes big on 1970s retro

The retro revival shows no sign of slowing down at this 1980s party mansion-turned-hotel in the Sintra mountains.

Behind this hillside former home’s unassuming, whitewashed exterior lies a treasure trove of vintage furniture and finds assembled by owner Mikkel Kristensen – a Danish photographer and former fashion brand owner who’s transformed the property into an eight-bedroom boutique hotel, Marqí.

As the legend goes, the building previously belonged to a civil engineer, who designed the home outside the village of Colorares, near Sintra, as the ultimate party pad. It had lobbies, a bar, fireplaces, terraces and a basement club – a ‘fun house’ in a dramatic coastal setting.

Its spaces remain intact, although Kristensen – with the help of his architect friend Mikas Emil, restaurateurs Simon Frank and Simon Lennet, and entrepreneur Henrik Fjordbak – has transformed the building for its new use. He’s devised eight individual rooms, each filled with one-of-a-kind pieces that follow a midcentury and 1970s slant. That means avocado green chairs, marble tables, shell-shaped bathroom sinks, parquet flooring and rattan garden furniture.

For added 70s authenticity, guests can book into one of Marqí’s garden rooms, which have wall-to-wall carpeting that stretches up to the bed bases. Rooms start around €225, with the hotel located 45 minutes from Lisbon’s city centre.

Speaking of location, Marquí sits on a stretch of the Sintra National Park coastline with plenty of wild Atlantic beaches on the doorstep. But if you prefer a more sedate swim, the garden has a pool.

Estr. do Rodízio 86, 2705-337 Colares, Portugal