These are unusual times, and the state of affairs can change quickly. Please check the latest travel guidance before making your journey. Note that our writer visited these hotels pre-pandemic.
The wide, elegant boulevards of Lisbon’s city centre make it an ideal place to stay for easy access to the airport and avoiding the narrow, traffic-clogged streets downtown. From here you can walk to the main sites or stay local, window-shopping along the impressive Avenida Liberdade where the designer boutiques jostle with Portuguese jewellery brands. Break that up with a stop for a Bica (espresso) at one of the characteristic kiosks which dot the city centre to live like a local, a muscle-soothing massage in a subterranean spa, or a cocktail as you gaze over the sea of red roofs. However you spend your stay, here’s our pick of the best hotels in Lisbon city centre, including those with rooftop bars, courtyard swimming pools, and rooms with views.
Pousada de Lisboa
Lisbon, Portugal
This pousada – in the beating heart of historical Lisbon, on magnificent Praҁa do Comércio – weaves luxury with cultural heritage, art and history with modern comforts, and impressive views with an impeccable location. Interiors come courtesy of Brazilian architect Jaime Morais, who has managed the balance between contemporary necessities, a heritage-listed structure and original art pieces on loan from the city’s museums, with aplomb. Food reflects the far-flung influences of Portugal’s Golden Age of Discovery, but those who venture out might want to visit nearby cafe A Brasilera, which dates from 1782 and was a favourite of famous writer Fernando Pessoa. Many rooms have views over the square to the Tagus River.
From
£
165
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
• The best hotels in Lisbon
Bairro Alto Hotel
Lisbon, Portugal
Behind its ochre-coloured façade, this well-located Lisbon city hotel combines 18th-century architecture with contemporary Portugese design (think antique and vintage pieces, wood and wicker, tiles and marble, all under soft modern lighting). The overall character is one of a warm and welcoming townhouse with a strong sense of place. The hotel stands on one of Lisbon’s prettiest squares, Praça de Camões, with a statue of Luís de Camões, Portugal’s greatest poet in its centre. It’s in the vibrant quarter of Bairro Alto, long a haunt of artists and writers, and houses 87 rooms, the first outpost of chef Nuno Mendes in his home town, and a much sought-after roof terrace.
From
£
189
per night
Rates provided by
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Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
The Four Seasons’ location near the main Avenida de Liberdade means easy access to the capital’s attractions – unlike some hotels in downtown Lisbon where narrow streets can make traffic a problem. The landmark hotel was built in 1959 by the Dictator Salazar to prove that Lisbon could do luxury as well as any other European capital. More than half a century later it is still setting the bar with its inimitable service and impressive spa and fitness facilities (including a 400-metre running track on the hotel’s roof). Décor is grand; rooms overlook Eduardo VII Park, the hotel’s gardens and a Jacaranda lined street; and dining is excellent. A range of experiences such as urban art tours keep things interesting.
From
£
382
per night
Rates provided by
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Memmo Príncipe Real
Lisbon, Portugal
In the capital’s fashionable Príncipe Real district, the flagship property of the small but perfectly formed Memmo Hotels collection is surrounded by new concept stores, restaurants and Lisbon’s main sights. The overall character is one of contemporary elegance rooted in Portuguese heritage. Drawing on local materials from warm limestone to old hand-painted tiles, modern art by Miguel Branco, Barahona Possollo and Iva Viana and even hand-made hats from an old, established, neighbouring store, the design blends the area’s past with a decidedly 21st century form of luxury. From its 41 sleek rooms and elegant restaurant, it offers panoramic views across the capital.
From
£
104
per night
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The Lumiares
Lisbon, Portugal
This beautifully renovated 18th-century palace is perched atop one of Lisbon’s hills in the cobbled streets of the lively Bairro Alto district, where shoes are still handmade and soap, like the luxurious Claus Porto brand, hand-wrapped. A boom of new gastronomic hot-spots adds to the cultural pot, mingling with ancient palaces and old family businesses. The hotel houses 47 apartments and penthouses (with French windows, wooden shutters, tapestries by artisan weavers and high-spec kitchenettes with complimentary wine and water), an elegant spa, and a rooftop restaurant and bar offering a tasty, all-day menu to the backdrop of Lisbon’s red-roofed skyline.
From
£
139
per night
Rates provided by
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• The best nightlife in Lisbon
The One Palácio da Anunciada
Lisbon, Portugal
This five-star hotel, set within a beautifully restored 16th-century palace in the heart of Lisbon, is located just behind the capital’s main artery, Avenue de Liberdade. The vibe is truly luxurious: light-filled palatial interiors come with their original marble floors, stone staircase and ornate painted and gilded ceilings – while 21st-century needs have been seamlessly inserted by Chilean designer Jamie Beriestain into the 16th-century walls. A huge, open inner courtyard with a central fountain and a century-old Dragon tree is the hub of the hotel and where breakfast is served in the summer. It is overlooked by the swimming pool high up above it on another level.
From
£
124
per night
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Valverde Hotel
Lisbon, Portugal
On Lisbon’s grandest boulevard, the Valverde is all about celebrating the best of Portugal. The 25 rooms and suites overlook the capital’s characteristic red roofs; interiors draw together the very best art, porcelain, fabrics and marble from around the country (even nods to Lisbon’s Moorish heritage are visible in the pierced sliding, wooden screens and floor tiles); and the brasserie-style restaurant highlights local wines and cuisine. Young, friendly and knowledgeable local staff (clad in Lacoste, helmed by a Portuguese designer) make a good team here. There is a fitness room, a tiny film room, and a small swimming pool in the courtyard, a rare treat when it comes to hotels in central Lisbon.
From
£
189
per night
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Altis Avenida
Lisbon, Portugal
Perfectly located on the Praҁa dos Restauradores, this hotel faces the Avenida da Liberdade on one side and the neo-manueline, horseshoe-arched Rossio station on the other. Built in the 1940s by acclaimed architect, Cristino Silva, it has since been restored by the Altis group, who ensured its Portuguese modernism remained intact, including its retro façade and staircase. Interiors use marble and mirrors, mixing black, white and gold for the urban chic feel inspired by 1940s glamour. The Rossio restaurant spills out onto a rooftop terrace with far-reaching views over the city.
From
£
89
per night
Rates provided by
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Tivoli Avenida Liberdade
Lisbon, Portugal
The centrally located Tivoli Lisboa is flanked by many of Lisbon’s best designer shops. The hotel’s long history is visible in different elements of its architecture, from its modernist lobby with its low ceilings and original artworks, to its sleek Sky Bar offering far-reaching views over Lisbon’s rooftops to the Tagus River. It’s frequented for its cocktails, live music and DJs but not to be missed are the small sharing dishes and sushi, served out on the deck with fire heaters in winter and a sparkling Lisbon beneath. The round outdoor swimming pool, hidden in a garden of century old botanical trees, has the feel of a jungle paradise. Massages can be organised in cabanas above the pool.
From
£
160
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com