The best honeymoon hotels in Lisbon
An expert guide to the best honeymoon hotels in Lisbon, including the top places for rooftop terraces, romantic pools, Michelin-starred restaurants, luxurious spas, glamourous suites, personal service, trendy cocktail bars and rooms with views, in locations near Santa Clara, the National Pantheon, Pra?a do Comércio, Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery, Cais do Sodre and Rossio railway stations and St. George's Castle.
Dazzling design runs throughout this boldly contemporary structure and rooms and suites are divided into themes which reflect the ancient colonies of the Portuguese Golden Age. The small rooftop swimming pool is the perfect spot to watch the river life flow and there's a spa with hammam, indoor pool and Turkish bath. An impressive range of bars and restaurants are part of the hotel, but the culinary highlight is Michelin-starred Feitoria with a gourmet tasting menu that references the spices brought back by the Portuguese on their voyages of discovery.
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The hotel blends the area's past with a decidedly 21st-century form of luxury. Inside, the overall character is one of contemporary elegance rooted in Portuguese heritage, with 19th-century palatial fa?ades that are characteristic of this area. A complimentary one-hour walking tour each morning stops first in the attractive Príncipe Real gardens nearby and the hotel is surrounded by shops, restaurants and main sights. Some rooms have balconies, others have terraces, two with outdoor fires. Ingredients for a colonial cocktail welcome drink wait on a tray for you.
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This cool, luxury option is found on the fringes of its eponymous nocturnal neighbourhood, whose maze of cobbled lanes buzz with lively bars. Rooms emanate the character of the city, replicating the white of the pavements and streets, the yellow of the trams, the terracotta of the roof tiles and the blue of the river. The handsome bathrooms are marble and dark-wood affairs with plate-size shower-heads and Molton Brown products. Service is excellent. The restaurant does a tasty degustation menu with dishes such as ceviche sardines brisée and fish broth.
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River views abound, along with city centre access. Here, the French windows open up onto a vista of terracotta rooftops that spill out onto the water. The feel inside is modern, fresh and slightly artsy-chic. The five floors feature recognisable Lisbon themes, such as a sultry fado floor, a literary floor and the boho Bairro Alto-themed floor. There's a small relaxed bar, which will do for a cold lager or two, as well as a good sushi restaurant. The humdrum of Lisbon's main railway station, Cais do Sodre, is on the hotel's doorstep, with the bars of Bairro Alto and the shops of Chiado five minutes away.
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Acclaimed architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade worked with owner Heleen Uitenbroek to bring this 15th-century building back to life, juggling Roman remains, preserved walls and the demands of a 21st-century five-star hotel. The result is a brilliant blend of authenticity and luxury. A Jaguar Mark VII 1953 'Grace' awaits to take you downtown, there is a gift shop and in the basement a beauty bar offers treatments accompanied by a cocktail. Views from the rooms are sublime, particularly from the resplendent Santiago Suite – take in the red roofs with the Tagus River beyond.
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It sits right in the beating heart of historical Lisbon, where the Royal Palace was destroyed in the 18th-century earthquake. 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. An indoor swimming pool at the top of the pousada and a spa, sauna and fitness room make great additions to this city hotel. Three different restaurant areas and a bar create a feeling of space.
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Interiors celebrate the best of Portugal, with nods to Lisbon’s Moorish heritage visible in the pierced sliding, wooden screens in some rooms and the design of the floor tiles in others. All rooms in this boutique hotel have character and a cosy feel to them, with sloping ceilings, warm colours and rich fabrics. The Sítio restaurant, on the ground floor of the hotel, has an elegantly relaxed, brasserie feel and views of the hotel's tree-filled interior courtyard. The menu highlights local wines and showcases the best of the Portuguese kitchen. A swimming pool in the courtyard is a rare treat in Lisbon.
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The hotel scores top marks for history, romance, and having the best views in the city – over the terracotta roof-tops of Lisbon’s ancient quarters and onto the ever-blue Atlantic. This intimate 10-suite palace feels like the most opulent b&b in the world. Drawing rooms are lined with original 18th-century azulejo tiles and period oil-paintings. And, of course, there’s the orange-tree-shaded black marble swimming pool. Plump for the three-storey Bartolomeu Gusmao suite where a winding staircase leads up to a private rooftop terrace surrounded by the city’s grandest edifices.
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A funky, contemporary option that presides on one of Lisbon’s seven hills and is far removed from the busy commercial centre or the tourist trail of historic sites. Interiors pay homage to 21st-century design; the walls may be clad in local limestone but fixtures and furnishings are designer. The overall effect lends a serene atmosphere paired with a strong sense of history. Suites are beautiful and all rooms look onto the River Tagus and over the roofs of old Lisbon. Every Tuesday and Saturday the legendary Feira da Ladra flea market takes place along the street in front of the hotel.