The rugged Portuguese surf town of Ericeira is an unexpected destination for a world-class luxury design hotel.

Immerso, however, is the newest resort destination where design-obsessed jetsetters can seek out a luxury stay that is intimately rooted in the surrounding nature, deep in the valley of Ribamar in Ericeira.
As soon as you enter Immerso, the property feels like its very own ecosystem: detached from the outside world, yet firmly rooted in the immediate natural environment. The constant thread which can be felt in all areas of the hotel is the connection to the land and sea. The state-of-the-art main building is overwhelmingly modern and minimalist, nearly brutalist even, overlooking rolling hills and the ocean. The effect is a singular exterior, striking to look at but still blends into nature surroundings while accentuating the landscape.
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THE DESIGN

The interior design emulates the same effect. Sleek, polished slate grey walls and floors provide a stunningly modern structure, while carefully selected interior decorations bring in textures and movements of the natural environment into the hotel. Such artisanal pieces, which are almost all made in Portugual, include the oversized sand swirl mural in the lobby and edgy contemporary panels that mimic silhouettes found in nature.


Immerso’s signature scent was created by the renowned Portuguese perfumer, Lourenço Luçena. The evocative and subtly herbaceous scent has top notes akin to pine, which evoke essence of the forest, while the base is meant to invigorate smells from deep ocean. The alluring and slightly intoxicating scent follows guests through the entire property and forms a quintessential part of the stay, as well as Immerso’s identity. These immaculately designed elements result in a luxurious and sensory experience that is truly unmatched as they’re fundamentally rooted in the environment in which the property resides.



THE ROOMS

The rooms are the paragon of understated luxury by utilizing the same earthy mineral palette of slate, wood and subtle green while possessing sleek yet rustic wood furniture. Thanks to the intentionally varying elevations in the architecture, all the rooms in the main building have spacious balconies looking out to either the hills or the ocean. The simplistic minimalism of the décor and proximity to outdoors makes it possible to deeply relax and disconnect within the rooms at Immerso.


THE WELLNESS

Wellness is a natural foundation of Immerso’s offerings. Guests are encouraged to partake in outdoor activities thanks to facilities like: the yoga platform overlooking the ocean, scenic walkways with quirky art installations, electric bicycle rentals and two rooftop pools with ocean views. Immerso Spa provides a uniquely curated list of detox and therapeutic treatments that use plant-based products by Ignae, made in the Azores. The spa circuit available for guests includes: a sauna, Turkish bath and sensory bath.


THE RESTAURANT

Emme is the hotel’s phenomenal in-house restaurant. Michelin chef, Alexandre Silva of LOCO in Lisbon, is not afraid to bring out bold, unexpected flavors of typical Atlantic products. Emme has a way of making regional cuisine exotic, starting with the seaweed butter in the couvert that’s to die for.

The star starter for us was the Seafood Pica-Pau with marinated shellfish doused in a fragrant kefir lime herb sauce that’s so addicting you’ll want to swim in it. Another unexpected but delightful starter is the Rocha Pear served with melted goat cheese, jamon Iberico and honey in a skillet, complete with crispy cheese crusted around the sides. The mains lean in a bit more into traditional Portuguese cuisine. The Feijoada bean stew with poached codfish is excellent and highly comforting. So is Chef’s Duck Rice which also comes in a skillet, with duck that’s marvelously tender and cooked to perfection.







WHY WE LOVE IT
With a phenomenal in-house restaurant, unmatched natural environment and seamlessly integrated design, Immerso offers a world-class luxury resort experience which cannot be replicated anywhere else. An escape into the high-end design of Immerso and lush green valley along the coast of Ericeira is a perfect way to disconnect from daily life in order to profoundly immerse oneself in rugged nature.
