Casa Plaj

A pink house overlooking the ocean, 1 hour from Lisbon

Casa Plaj Portugal: Infinity pool at a vacation home curated by The Host, a listing platform for hotels and guesthousesCasa Plaj Portugal: Infinity pool at a vacation home curated by The Host, a listing platform for hotels and guesthouses

The Host has tested it for you,

A pink house overlooking the ocean, 1 hour from Lisbon

Casa Plaj is a vacation home located 1 hour from Lisbon, instantly recognizable thanks to its pink architecture overlooking the ocean. It’s a unique retreat where marble, wood, and exposed concrete come together with a spectacular pool and unforgettable sunsets.

a pink house perched overlooking the ocean

Casa Plaj is a place I’d had in the back of my mind for a long time. I’d spotted it on Instagram, and its architecture—designed by the Lisbon-based studio Extrastudio—immediately caught my eye: this pink house perched overlooking the ocean, with its almost monolithic silhouette and long, raw-concrete pool. It’s the kind of architecture you see once and never forget. After a year of following it from afar, I took the time to stop by during a road trip through Portugal.

You quickly leave the hustle and bustle of the capital behind to reach a small coastal village where, ultimately, there’s not much to do—and that’s exactly what I loved about it. The beach, the ocean spray, and Casa Plaj perched high above the landscape. As soon as you arrive, it feels a bit like walking through the door of an architect friend’s house—one where you envy everything: a beautiful, daring home, thought out down to the smallest detail, and very different from what you encounter in everyday life. With its open balconies, it’s better suited for a getaway with adults or teenagers.

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A minimalist bedroom at Casa Plaj, a vacation home in Portugal selected by The Host, a travel destination curatorCasa Plaj's stylish dining room with a view of nature, a vacation home in Portugal selected by The Host

Inside, the materials alone are almost enough to define the entire decor: veined marble, wood, mineral walls, and polished concrete floors. Large floor-to-ceiling windows with recessed frames disappear into the walls, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. From the living areas, the house opens onto a large terrace overlooking the pool and the landscape. Everything is graphic and very precise, without ever being overdone—right down to the skylight, which has become one of the home’s defining features. And then there are the light fixtures, perfectly chosen; in fact, I’ve since tracked down some of the models I saw there with the intention of installing them in my own home. Casa Plaj is one of those places that inspires.

What I particularly loved was how this striking architecture is, above all, designed to be lived in. You don’t feel hesitant to sit down, put your things down, or simply go about your daily life in the house. It’s certainly stunning, but above all, it’s a very pleasant place to live. And when the light begins to fade at the end of the day and the sun warms the pink facades, it becomes even more beautiful.

Everything is designed to make you feel right at home from the very first moments: a bottle of wine selected by Anna and Paul, the owners, is waiting for us chilled; a few Portuguese specialties are arranged on the kitchen island; the bath products are by Typology; the towels are plush; and the sheets are the kind you immediately want to slip into. Simple touches, but ones that instantly make you feel welcome.

And then there’s Julia, who runs the day-to-day operations at Casa Plaj. Helpful, attentive, and lovely, she shares her favorite spots and tips for exploring the area, while always being there if you need anything during your stay. That’s another thing I loved about this place: behind the spectacular house lies a genuine commitment to taking care of its guests. You arrive for the architecture and leave with your head full of ideas. A place that’s as wonderful to experience as it is to look at.

Mégane Rouault, co-founder of The Host
Pool and sunbathing area at Casa Plaj, a guesthouse in Portugal recommended by The Host, a travel directory platform
Photo credits :
@thehost.place
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Tested &  approved

We have stayed in each of these places to discover their soul, their story, and the people who bring them to life.
Places chosen for their beauty, their hospitality and their authenticity — and shared with you with care.

Casa Plaj

Casa Plaj is a vacation home located 1 hour from Lisbon, instantly recognizable thanks to its pink architecture overlooking the ocean. It’s a unique retreat where marble, wood, and exposed concrete come together with a spectacular pool and unforgettable sunsets.

Saint Eusèbe Manor

The Manoir de Saint-Eusèbe is a three-bedroom bed-and-breakfast on the banks of the Loire River, just a few kilometers from Saumur. It’s a hidden gem where guests leave wanting to take a little of its expertise home with them.

Montinhos

Agritourism in the rice fields

Located 1 hour south of Lisbon and 40 minutes from Comporta, Montinhos is an intimate estate designed by Mafalda and Rui on their family’s land. Two white houses, a pool overlooking the rice fields, and a heartfelt project where every detail tells the story of the Alentejo.

Homesphere - White

Located in the heart of Chora, the capital of Serifos, this Homesphere apartment offers a rare dual view: on one side, the Aegean Sea blending into the sky; on the other, the village’s white houses clinging to the mountainside.

The Core

The Core is a villa designed by Mold Architects on the island of Serifos, conceived as a true habitable sculpture. It offers an exercise in balance, driven by architecture that redefines our relationship with space. A vacation rental for 10 people—the most spectacular one I’ve ever had the chance to experience.

Studio Hera

In the heart of Exarchia, designer and artist Netta Dror invites us into her apartment, which reflects her artistic sensibility. It’s a beautiful and accessible spot in one of Athens’ liveliest neighborhoods.

The Song of the Field

A Break by the Pond

Le Chant du Champ is a unique vacation home located in the Loiret. We love its early 20th-century architecture, which has been passionately preserved; its decor, chosen with impeccable taste; its private pond; and its sauna overlooking the natural surroundings. A hidden gem just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Paris, where you’ll leave feeling as though you’ve stepped back in time.

Maison Roz

The Perfect Getaway in Brittany

Maison Roz is a vacation home located in southern Finistère. We love its architecture, designed by Wunder Architectes, its atmosphere that blends contemporary design, Breton craftsmanship, and references to the history of Pont-Aven, as well as its spectacular view of the Aven River. It’s a place we left with just one desire: to return.

Dar Zouina

Dar Zouina is a five-person home located a few kilometers from Essaouira. We love its absolute tranquility, its minimalist architecture, and the personal story behind this project conceived by Sonia. It’s a place where guests come as much to discover Morocco as to take some time for themselves.

Maison Padrig

A home for family and friends

Maison Padrig: the perfect balance between rustic charm and modern comfort. We love its distinctive style, blending clean lines with vintage touches. The ideal spot for a team retreat or a getaway with friends.

Fantasy

Located on Rue Cadet in the 9th arrondissement, La Fantaisie offers a unique experience in the heart of Paris. Designed as an urban oasis, this hotel combines vibrant colors, rich textures, and a soothing atmosphere. It’s a place where guests come not just to sleep, but to truly experience the space.

La Voie Lactée Hotel

Located in La Mongie, in the heart of the Grand Tourmalet ski area, La Voie Lactée is a 4-star, eco-friendly hotel situated at an altitude of 1,800 meters. With a design inspired by the 1960s and 1970s, breathtaking views of the peaks, and direct access to the slopes, it’s a rare gem where you can experience the mountains with style and simplicity.

SEA NOVA

Recently opened in Friar’s Bay, Sea Nova unveils a collection of apartments with a modern aesthetic, where the laid-back Caribbean lifestyle is combined with exceptional service.

Maison Mastrorelli

Authentic and stylish country house

In Roquefort-les-Pins, just a stone’s throw from the hilltop villages and the Côte d’Azur coastline, Maison Mastrorelli is a stone country house surrounded by 2,000 square meters of gardens. With a swimming pool, table d’hôte dining, and a warm, family-friendly atmosphere, it’s a welcoming place to experience the Côte d’Azur in a whole new way.

Bleu Bicoque

Cabins by the Canche

In Wail, a 1 hour and 20-minute drive from Lille and 40 minutes from Le Touquet, Bleu Bicoque offers two wooden cabins nestled right by the water. With elegant design, nature all around, and a hot tub on the terrace, it’s a serene, modern retreat where you can slow down.

Maison Silhouette

In Biarritz, an intimate home designed as an extension of the Silhouette Hotel. Six spacious suites where you can explore the city on foot, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Les fermes de Marie

In Megève, just a stone’s throw from the village center, Les Fermes de Marie has embodied the mountain lifestyle for over thirty years. Designed by the Sibuet family using wood salvaged from old alpine farmhouses dismantled throughout the Savoie region, it has become, over time, a true institution, where a sense of family and hospitality is felt from the moment you arrive.

Maison L Gascony

A getaway to Gascony

In the Gers, a beautifully restored 18th-century farmhouse, blending soft textures and simplicity amidst the natural surroundings.

Harmony Seljalandsfoss

Immersive GlassLodge in Iceland

We discovered Harmony Seljalandsfoss right at the start of our 5-day road trip in Iceland with our partners Lucas and Florian. It was a memorable first stop on the southern route, near the Golden Circle and facing the legendary Seljalandsfoss waterfall. As soon as we arrived, the place took us by surprise: two glass-walled lodges, perched in the middle of nowhere, set against a rugged and spectacular backdrop.

Villa Calys

I discovered Villa Calys during a trip between Bordeaux and Bandol. A friend had recommended it as a stopover, and it turned out to be much more than just a brief stop. Nestled in the village of Claira, just a stone’s throw from Perpignan and the Mediterranean, this newly opened guesthouse (in 2025) offers a bright and welcoming retreat, perfect for a break along the way.

Cedros Boutique Hotel

In the heart of Yucatán

I discovered Cedros during a road trip through Yucatán with my friend Estelle. It was Elisa, from Galopina, who recommended this place to us—it’s run by Laura, a French woman living in Mexico. A gem of a recommendation, just the kind we love. The moment we arrived, we were charmed: an intimate, beautiful, and peaceful hotel in the heart of a small village, far from the crowds.

Le Grand Air

A house nestled among the pine trees

Just an hour from Bordeaux, Le Grand Air is a home designed for reconnecting with nature, located five minutes from the lake and ten minutes from the ocean. It’s the perfect place to spend time with family and friends, breathe deeply, slow down, and enjoy a setting that’s both soothing and rejuvenating.

The Gardian Baths

Just outside the Camargue Regional Nature Park, an estate nestled between wild landscapes and the Mediterranean invites you to experience the region at its most authentic.

CHB

In a secluded corner of the Loire Valley, a guesthouse designed as a contemporary retreat invites you to slow down, take in the surroundings, and let yourself be carried away.

Budir Hotel

A two-hour drive from Reykjavik Airport, a hotel nestled at the edge of the world offers a total immersion in the raw power of Iceland’s landscapes.

Bel Estiu

A charming hamlet in the Périgord

In the Périgord Noir, an 18th-century farmhouse embodies a simple, warm, and deeply human way of life.

Maison Aribert

Charming inn

Nestled in the heart of the Uriage-les-Bains park, between the Vercors, Belledonne, and Chartreuse mountain ranges, a 19th-century estate invites you to slow down, recharge, and enjoy a culinary experience deeply rooted in the local region.

Youza Ecolodge

In Normandy, nestled in the heart of a vast forest, an architect-designed ecolodge invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself—far from the noise, yet close to what truly matters.

Heritage Le Telfair

In the untamed south of Mauritius, a historic estate offers an elegant retreat, perfect for slowing down, relaxing, and soaking up the sun in complete tranquility.

An Airbnb in Copenhagen

In Copenhagen, the capital of design and architecture, a family apartment situated along the canal offers a gentle and seamless way to explore the city with a baby.

Minos Beach Art Hotel

In Crete, nestled between lush gardens and the crystal-clear Aegean Sea, a beachfront hotel offers a sunny getaway designed to help you unwind without sacrificing comfort.

Santa Ponsa

A historic finca in Menorca

In Menorca, a 17th-century mansion surrounded by terraced gardens offers a haven of absolute tranquility, perfect for recharging your batteries away from the hustle and bustle.

Repère Sauvage

A hotel & lodges just two hours from Paris

In the heart of the Loir-et-Cher region, a historic manor house and a 42-hectare forest come together to create a new retreat designed with families in mind.

La Ferme de Brouage

Pick-your-own at the farm

This week I settled in at La Ferme de Brouage, a five-hectare estate nestled between the marshes and the ocean. Hahn-Claire and Antoine, our hosts, are the kind of people who command respect: five children, five guesthouses, a farm to run—and yet they always maintain that peaceful energy that sets the tone.

La Cabane des Barbots Bleus

Tucked away on the shores of Arcachon Bay, this cabin is a true Proustian madeleine. Inspired by the nearby oyster huts, it was built in 2005 entirely of wood to blend seamlessly into the landscape.

Moment Stays - George IV Bridge

Right in the heart of Edinburgh, between the Old Town and the New Town, Moment Stays – George IV Bridge offers a simple, seamless, and welcoming experience. The apartments are impeccably maintained, bright, and comfortable, providing that rare feeling of being right in the heart of a capital city while enjoying true comfort. In some apartments, the view of the castle adds an almost cinematic touch to your stay.

Galopina

In the heart of the Yucatan wilderness

Just a few miles from Mérida, Galopina is a guesthouse nestled in the heart of the Yucatecan jungle. Conceived by its hosts, Elisa and Guillaume, and brought to life in collaboration with architect Taco MX, it was designed as a home open to friends from near and far. Here, nature is ever-present: it shapes the light, the materials, and the rhythm of each day. Life here is set to the sound of the wind and the birdsong.

Les Grands Chênes

A family-run guesthouse

We’ve stayed in each of these places to take in their setting, meet the people behind them, and sense what makes them truly one of a kind.

Know a truly special place?
We’d love to hear about it.

Hôtel Massé

A hotel in Paris

Located between Pigalle and Rue des Martyrs, the Hôtel Massé is the 9th arrondissement’s newest four-star hotel, conceived by Eole Peyron and his family and designed by the architectural duo Gasparetto Parenti. It is a place that is both intimate and open to the city, blending Parisian heritage, a cozy atmosphere, and a curated selection of objects.

La Maison Grignan

Country house in the heart of the village

Perched high above the village of Grignan, La Maison is one of those places unlike any other. A space of raw elegance—both bold and inviting—that blends the art of living, freedom, and Provençal charm. Perfect for vacations with friends or family, or for a custom event.

La Baignoire

La dolce vita

Just an hour from Bordeaux, nestled among pine trees and golf courses, La Baignoire is a unique, cheerful place that reflects the personalities of those who created it. People come here to relax, enjoy the iconic pool, savor a delicious meal, and experience a moment out of time. A getaway just outside the city, perfect for families or a romantic getaway for two.

La Butte

A seafront hotel

In Plouider, overlooking Goulven Bay, La Butte is a vibrant establishment run by Solène and Nicolas Conraux. Here, fine dining, wellness, and hospitality come together to create a deeply rejuvenating experience. I return there every year, always with that rare sense of reconnecting with what truly matters.

Douarenn

A retreat in Finistère

Nestled in the heart of the Monts d’Arrée, in Berrien, Douarenn is a cozy cabin created by Cloé, Yannick, and their children. Designed to accommodate up to four people, it embodies a simple lifestyle in harmony with nature.

Villa Albertine

A house in the heart of Barbizon

In Barbizon, a former studio and an old barn lay waiting to be brought back to life. Today, that revival has taken shape as Villa Albertine.

Le Détour

A house where time stands still

Carefully restored by Pauline and Paul, Le Détour, located in the heart of Touraine, has preserved the charm of the original barn while offering the comforts of a warm and modern guesthouse.

City, region, country, place…

Slow living in the heart of the Pyrenean foothills

Just 45 minutes from Toulouse, Maison Bellamant is much more than a bed-and-breakfast: it’s a welcoming retreat lovingly created by Stéphanie and Laurent. Housed in a carefully restored old farmhouse, this place invites you to slow down, savor the moment, and feel right at home, just as if you were visiting friends.

Maison Hubert

The House of the Tribes

Located in the heart of a quiet, central neighborhood in Bordeaux, Maison Hubert is a unique guesthouse designed as an urban haven for today’s families. Created by Hobo Club, it combines spaciousness, comfort, and a cheerful aesthetic. It’s the place I’d recommend without hesitation to anyone asking where to stay in Bordeaux: a sunny, lively, and truly welcoming spot.

Capelongue

Provençal elegance

Provençal elegance

Starting at €350 per night
Bonnieux
135
people

La Butte

A seafront hotel

A seafront hotel

From €210 per night
Plouider
100
people

Maison Aribert

Charming inn

Charming inn

From €200 per night
Saint-Martin-d'Uriage
20
people

The Gîtes Marins

Vacation rentals overlooking the sea in Cancale

Vacation rentals overlooking the sea in Cancale

Starting at €580 per night
Cancale
10
people

Velvet House - Anneville

Live in tune with the water

Live in tune with the water

From €450 per night
Anneville-Ambourville
4
people
Photo shoot / Seminar
Wellness retreat
Stay

Capelongue

Provençal elegance

Provençal elegance

Starting at €350 per night
Bonnieux
135
people
Photo shoot / Seminar
Stay
Wellness retreat
Wedding

Maison Hubert

The House of the Tribes

The House of the Tribes

Starting at €300 per night
Bordeaux
15
people
Wellness retreat
Stay
Photo shoot / Seminar

The Song of the Field

A Break by the Pond

A Break by the Pond

From €600 per night
Griselles
10
people
Photo shoot / Seminar
Wellness retreat
Stay