Following its soft opening, the family-run property near Leiria joins the Lifestylehotels™ collection – with 16 rooms, expansive gardens and a story that began as a personal homecoming.
With 16 rooms and suites on a 40-hectare estate, Quinta Filippa brings generous space and an intimate scale to the Lifestylehotels™ collection. The new member is located in Lage, near Leiria, in rural Portugal between Lisbon and Porto. Behind the hotel is a family whose connection to this place began long before the first overnight guests arrived.
A homecoming becomes a hotel
When Mike and Nikki discovered the property in 2017, they were initially looking for a holiday home. For Mike, the project was also a return to his Portuguese roots: his mother grew up nearby with nine siblings. They named the quinta, once a place where the village gathered to bake bread, after his eldest daughter, Filippa. Over the years, their private venture evolved into the hotel it is today.
Working with interior designer Nanouk Souren van Ramshorst, Mike Schwalbach and Nikki Mol shaped a house that brings historic structures together with modern concrete extensions. Reclaimed wood, natural stone and organic textiles define the rooms, complemented by custom-made furniture. Living areas, gardens and a communal table extend the idea of a shared home.
From garden to table
The kitchen follows what is growing on the estate and in the surrounding area. Vegetables and herbs take centre stage, complemented by carefully selected fish and meat. Chef Paolo brings international experience to menus shaped by the gardens’ harvests and the produce of local suppliers.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the stay. Guests seeking company can join the communal table; private tables offer a quieter setting. That choice suits the personal character of the house: encounters can happen while guests keep their own rhythm.
A new member with its own story
With Quinta Filippa, Lifestylehotels™ expands its presence in Portugal through a property shaped by family connections, design and rural life. Facilities include a heated 25-metre saltwater pool, sauna, infrared saunas and steam room. Pilates, personal training and individual treatments can complement the stay.
Guided walks, farm activities and workshops with local makers introduce guests to the surroundings. Bread is also baked in the historic oven again. A former village gathering place has become part of the house’s next chapter – one that Quinta Filippa now continues as a member of Lifestylehotels™.
