Oyster knows what travelers look for in their hotels. When we review properties around the world, we evaluate how every feature stacks up against the competition, from the rooms to the pools to the restaurants. So if you're planning a trip and need a place to start, you've come to the right place. Take a look at our top boutique picks in Lisbon, and get inspired!
The hotel's 50 rooms are sexy and spacious, with all-white decor accented by green rugs and unusual wall murals. Marble bathrooms are open, and some have inviting soaking tubs. Some rooms also have balconies with marina views and private whirlpools. Despite its small size, this hotel has many amenities, including a spa, a big indoor pool with a cold tank, a fitness center, a trendy bar with great views, and a Michelin-rated restaurant. Freebies such as Wi-Fi and airport shuttle bus are all great extras.
The 45-room LX is a cool boutique option often offering reasonable rates. It is known for its funky design; the hip sushi restaurant features bright furniture, rugs, and patterned wallpaper, and each floor of guest rooms has a different theme based on a neighborhood, place, or person in Lisbon history. They actually don't vary much aside from the themed wall murals, and all are impressive. With baby blue walls, plush bedding, upscale furniture, and small flat-screen TVs, the rooms feel cozy and high-end. Probably the coolest "funky" feature of the hotel is the graffiti-like mural on parts of the building that can be seen from some rooms.
This 29-room hotel, part of an historic 18th-century palace, lacks the amenities of a larger hotel -- but the hotel's intimate size is part of the appeal. Guests come for the cozy (if simple) rooms and gorgeous common areas, especially the antique-filled, wood-paneled library with an attached terrace overlooking the Tagus River. And the garden area, surrounded by ivy-covered walls, is welcoming.
The hotel’s 55 rooms have been individually decorated and have wonderful extras depending on their category: Some have clawfoot tubs, others Ralph Lauren-designed wallpaper, Nuno Cera photos, or balconies. There’s a nice restaurant serving local cuisine, a cocktail bar that's great for a nightcap, and conveniences such as babysitting services, and massages. But the highlight here is the wonderful rooftop terrace, boasting gorgeous city and river views.
The historic Solar Do Castelo is different than any other hotel in Lisbon. The rooms are quaint (if not luxurious), and the breakfast buffet offers a ton of options for hungry guests. But the real reason tourists stay at this hotel is the location; not only is it convenient to numerous sights and neighborhoods in the city, but it is the only hotel within the walls of the medieval village surrounding St. George's Castle. It's quiet, and rich in history -- the hotel has preserved a large part of the architecture, as well as adding a small museum of artifacts off of the lobby. And a real highlight is the outdoor terrace, where peacocks congregate. None of the 14 rooms are decorated the same, and some feel more upscale than others. But all offer free Wi-Fi and plenty of charm.
The building was once a school, and the hotel's fun decor reflects that history (think: chalkboards, desks and shelves with school material). Rooms are spacious, bright and modern, with minibars, flat-screen TVs, and plush beds, plus upscale bathrooms with deep Japanese-style tubs and Castelbel toiletries. There's a business center in the lounge, an honesty bar, and a pleasant garden, but the highlight here is the wonderful on-site cantina, in which patrons rate the food made by student cooks and pay what they feel is a fair price.
The Hotel Florida is a historic boutique with a cool retro vibe throughout. Rooms feature fun, quirky decor (such as framed movie posters and green, geometric prints), and while the bathrooms are pretty generic, all feature Saboaria Portugueza toiletries. Property highlights include a pleasant winter garden with comfy couches, a full-service business center with an area for kids to play while parents use the computers, and a small bar. The restaurant attached to the hotel is a popular spot serving up international and Portuguese cuisine.
The sleek, modern design of this 89-room hotel includes elements of Feng Shui; the common areas of the hotel, including the lobby, restaurant, and bar, have an open feel with clusters of bright furniture that add a punch of color. Rooms are designed with the natural elements and the planet in mind and are high-tech, with large, mounted flat-screen TVs, plug-and-play stations, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also features great eco-friendly practices, including the use of low environmental impact building materials, organic toiletries, and sustainable ingredients in the restaurant's menu. Hotel highlights include a comfy lounge and a spa with zen-inspired touches.