Located in the heart of Lisbon, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon sets the standard in luxury five-star accommodation in the city and is the best place to stay in Lisbon. The hotel was built in 1959 by the Dictator Salazar, and designed by award-winning architect Pardal Monteiro, to prove that Lisbon could do luxury as well as any other European capital and he certainly proved himself with this stunning building, and its interior.
Locals still call the hotel the Ritz Hotel, but it was taken over by the Four Seasons group and entirely refurbished. It’s also got a great location, with Lisbon’s narrow streets making traffic a problem, the hotel’s location near the main Avenida de Liberdade provides easy access for guests around the capital.
The iconic hotel wears the soul of Portugal on it’s sleeve, with art-deco interiors, set against a collection of important contemporary local artwork, and outside from the bedrooms and the rooftop fitness centre you can view the city’s rolling hills, brown roofs and even the sea beyond. A huge marble lobby area, which leads into a formal lounge area, where guests can relax before and after dining in the Varanda Restaurant.
The décor throughout the hotel is grand, there are chandeliers and huge flower displays on gilded furniture, as well as collections of modern Portuguese art, from tapestries to sculptures and paintings. You can also dine on the terrace at the Varanda Bar is you want the alfresco style of dining, or you can head to the luxury spa in the basement, where you will find a 18-metre pool, with spa and sauna rooms.
Contents
READ MORE: The Lisbon rooftop venue SEEN and Sky Bar
The Best Place Stay in Lisbon
FACILITIES
EXPERIENCES
The Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is the best place stay in Lisbon for a number of reasons, but the element that really made our stay special was the Saturday morning tour of Lisbon in a vintage motorbike with sidecar. All you need is your camera in tow, and your helmet and the professionals will do the rest. The four hour tour of Lisbon is something you’ve never experienced before.
Through a partnership with Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, you’ll join a your guide, ours was called Juan, on a tour of Portugal’s capital by vintage motorcycle. They pick you up from the front of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, and take you on your journey. For four hours you cruise through winding cobblestone streets and around leafy squares to discover the city’s most spectacular spots in Lisbon including: Alfama, Castelo de São Jorge, Bairro Alto and Chiado. At each stop, the guide will offer insights about the city and it’s interesting history!
READ MORE: 3 days in Lisbon: Ultimate Guide to a Lisbon City Break
The Best Place Stay in Lisbon
OUR BEDROOM
Quite possibly the best bit of our stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon was our beautiful bedroom. Located on the fifth floor, we stayed in one of the hotels Premium Rooms, with a balcony overlooking the old town, Eduardo VII Park and our Hotel gardens. The bedroom was 49m2 with lots of space, including a seating area and desk. On arrival there was also a lovely welcome gift from the hotel, a bottle of Port, and some tasty local pasteis!
Our private terrace from the bedroom offered stunning views, we wouldn’t have found elsewhere in Lisbon. It was great to wake up in the morning and stand out on the terrace with a cup of coffee planning our day ahead. Of the 282 rooms and four luxury suites, all but 10 have private terraces with far reaching views over Lisbon.
Our bedroom was opullent with a cream, brown and white hue throughout the rooms, luxury furnishings and a marble bathroom, with his and hers sinks. The deep carpets are something to be desired and the bed was one of the comfiest beds I’ve ever slept in with sumptuous cushions. It was so good in fact on the Saturday afternoon after a long morning, and indulgent lunch me and Sophie headed back to the room for a nap before our evening on the own. The bathrooms are elegantly clad in marble, offering a shower with separate bathtub and toilet. In our bathroom there were an array of amenities including the gorgeous brand L’Occitane.
READ MORE: Visit Lisbon: Five Day Trips from Lisbon
The Best Place Stay in Lisbon
FOOD & DRINK
And if that wasn’t enough, the weekend brunch is a special occasion. A welcome drink awaits guests upon arrival, and adults and children will delight in a sumptuous buffet at Varanda Restaurant, specially prepared by Executive Chef Pascal Meynard and his team. The buffet features breakfast favourites such as scrambled eggs, bacon and the delicious Ritz eggs Benedict at the live eggs cooking station, as well as a variety of crepes and waffles and there is even a live cooking station with a different theme each week and selections such as dim sum, bao bao and gyozas. There’s even a seafood, ceviche and sushi station at the buffet, as well as a farmer’s market salad station, an assortment of bread, artisanal national and international cheeses, charcuterie and a variety of jams, honey, muesli and homemade yoghurts. And on the terrace, there is a barbecue station and pizza oven. What more could you want?!
And if you aren’t staying at the hotel I would still recommend coming here for the weekend brunch as a special occasion!
READ MORE: How to spend 3 Days in Porto
The Best Place Stay in Lisbon
SPA AND FITNESS CENTRE
And if you want to keep fit whilst staying here, located on the rooftop of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, providing breathtaking views of the city and the Tagus River, is The Ritz Spa Fitness Centre. The area is huge and provides guests with 700 square metres (7,535 square feet) of exclusive facilities to work out in peace. The roof also features three floor-to-ceiling glass walls, with up-to-the-minute equipment including treadmills, bicycles and elliptical machines. And a running track that circles the fitness centre tops it all off, overlooking the wonderful city of Lisbon.
BOOK TRAVEL INSURANCE BEFORE YOU FLY
Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner. World Nomads is an affordable option that I personally recommend. BOOK HERE
Other posts that may help you:
The Best City Breaks for Couples
Beginner’s Guide to Europe Interrail Routes
Copenhagen Chic at the Andersen Hotel
Best Vegan Restaurants in Malmo
Ultimate Guide to a Weekend Break in York
10 of the Best places to eat Brunch in London
The Best Weekend Trips in the UK
Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring!
If you’ve enjoyed this post, please share it for me with all your friends and family!
Sophie X
