Cabanas no Rio

We were warmly welcomed at Cabanas by the local team, who also arranged a small, thoughtful breakfast for the time we wanted the next morning. The two little fishing huts strike a lovely balance of design, simplicity, quiet, and a sense of being close to nature and yourself. There’s a reason travelers and architects share photos of this carefully designed spot. Cabanas no Rio is one of the houses created by Silent Living, near Comporta, where untouched nature sits alongside the area’s understated luxury, restaurants, beach clubs, and small coffee and lunch places. It’s a wholesome escape from busy Lisbon, especially if you care about architecture. Silent Living has made something distinctive here, and it gives you somewhere new to explore or rediscover.

The cabins and the surrounding nature are beautiful, and the stay is a unique choice if all you want is quiet and architecture. But the price felt far above the value we got, especially if you’re looking for a place that cares for its natural setting and supports local producers. Portugal has plenty of other lovely places to choose from. After two nights, I contacted Silent Living to explain how disappointed we were, and they never replied. That added to the impression that customers don’t matter to them. This was the most disappointing stay of our trip. A lot of smaller problems piled up and made it hard to relax or feel looked after. The bed creaked badly and needed repair, one bike had a broken saddle, a bedroom light was out, the toilet didn’t flush properly, and the shower tap kept coming off. The fruit left for us wasn’t fresh at check-in, and some condiments were past their date. The products in the kitchen, bathroom, and for personal use all came from big corporations, and most had very harsh chemicals. None were eco-friendly or locally made. The insect and mosquito plug-ins were extremely toxic rather than natural, and they were empty, so we had to buy something else. Breakfast was supermarket food too, rather than something from local makers.

A relaxing stay, and the staff were really kind. Some people in the other reviews are grumpy nitpickers, so ignore them.

The scenery was spectacular when I visited four years ago. I’d love to return this autumn, and hope the place has been maintained well and is just as beautiful.