In the heart of the city built on seven hills stands an emblematic establishment that reaches heights of luxury that earn it a place as the eighth among them: the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon.
Renovated in the spring of 2021 by interior design studio Oitoemponto, this architectural monument dating from 1959, whose style blends Art Deco and Louis XVI influences, has been transformed into the ultimate urban haven, with a modern twist. Lovers of design and art will be won over by the hotel’s vintage furniture and majestic collection of works adorning the building’s walls. Coupled with five-star service, the unapologetically sumptuous decoration once again confirms the legendary excellence of this Lisbon institution.
Lisboa reinvents luxury.
The impressive volumes of the common areas are jaw dropping from the very first glance… in fact it is impossible to remain stony faced at the sight of so much marble. In the entrance hall, large columns carved in this ubiquitous stone highlight the almost dizzying height of the ceilings. Vast corridors lead to the upper floors, where each landing is transformed into a lounge area in its own right. Despite the imposing proportions, the atmosphere is nonetheless intimate, hushed and friendly. On the ground floor, concealed behind the speakeasy bar, a cosy corner invites you into an oasis of calm: read in peace, sip a coffee or hold a business meeting, far from prying eyes.
Like its architecture, the hospitality of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is distinguished down to the last detail. Decorated by design duo Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec, the hotel’s 287 rooms and suites are a sanctum of comfort, enveloped in an absolutely exquisite and meticulous setting. The experience is so pleasurable that it is hard to resist the temptation of room service. But nothing could drag us away from the delights of the Cura, a restaurant aptly curated by the young Michelin-starred chef Pedro Pena Bastos, who takes us on a journey through the very essence of the Portuguese terroir with dishes that are both inventive and moreish.
Adding further to the sensory and sensual experience during your stay, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon treats its guests to a sublime spa and indoor pool. At the top of the hotel is a gym that also features an outdoor running track that circles the property, affording breathtaking views over the gardens of Eduardo VII Park. Sunny days, frequent throughout the year, are ideal for enjoying the outdoor pool and terraces: an oasis in the middle of the metropolis, where you can recharge your batteries after a day exploring the sights.
MARTINHAL RESIDENCES & MARTINHAL LISBON ORIENTE
What if travelling also meant treating yourself to creature comforts, even miles from home? What could be more pleasant, after a day’s escapades, than to return to an elegant, fully-equipped apartment where you immediately feel at ease and relaxed? Better still, what if this place became much more than just a stopover, but an address where you’d like to put down your suitcases for good?
Martinhal, located in one of the capital’s most dynamic districts: Parque das Nações, promises just that. Transformed during Expo’98, this riverside area on the banks of the Tagus combines vibrant modernity with thoughtful urban planning. Families, business travellers and digital nomads will find it the perfect place to enjoy the Portuguese art of living.
The idea behind Martinhal is rather unique in that it combines two high-standard accommodation concepts in a single setting. On the one hand, Martinhal Residences, with its 70 residential apartments for those wishing to settle in Lisbon while making the most of all the services of a hotel. On the other, Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, offering 82 tourist apartments (studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms) providing a pied-à-terre while travelling.
SUBLIME COMPORTA
Does your dream holiday mean enjoying top-of-the-range comfort while at the same time respecting the environment? Nestling in a 17-hectare unspoilt estate, Sublime Comporta offers just that, an exclusive interlude where luxury and nature live in perfect harmony. Surrounded by umbrella pines, cork oaks and wild dunes, this sanctuary invites you to immerse yourself in the well-being naturally exuded by an exceptional site. The accommodation, scattered among various buildings, guarantees total privacy and tranquillity. Whether in the Owner’s House, the Bio-Pool Suites or the cabana-style villas, each space, from 2 to 5 bedrooms, has its own swimming pool, fireplace and terrace.
But the hotel’s idyllic surroundings are only the beginning, as the hotel’s appeal lies much more in its commitment to eco-responsibility. Mainly powered by solar energy, the estate favours seasonal produce from its own kitchen garden. The use of single-use plastic is virtually non-existent, and the swimming pools, whether communal or private, are entirely chemical-free. Sublime Comporta reinterprets escape, far from the superfluous, as close as possible to the essential.
TOREL PALACE
You only have to lift your eyes to see the inspiration behind the place: literature. Each room and suite at the Torel Palace Porto pays homage to the great Portuguese writers whose portraits are displayed on the walls /painted on the ceilings. Antique books are scattered all around this truly palatial hotel, adding to the poetic ambience. Nestled in a nineteenth-century manor house, the hotel combines the classic charm of the period with contemporary touches, incorporated by architect Isabel Sá Nogueira. This is particularly true of the bathrooms of the guest bedrooms, which are made of mirror cubes that create a play of reflections where history and the present meet.
