The Best Hotels to Book in Lisbon, Portugal, for Every Traveller

This hotel dates back to the 1930s and remains one of the go-to spots in the capital, especially now that it has a sleek rooftop bar and restaurant, where you can indulge in sushi while overlooking the skyline to the river Tagus beyond. It also has 285 spacious rooms, a spa, a garden with a round swimming pool and another restaurant, Cervejaria Liberdade – try the Aveiro Lagoon oysters.

For a sense of place, few hotels in Lisbon surpass this one, set in the bougainvillaea-clad, cobbled streets of Alfama, the oldest neighbourhood in the capital. Revel in the views of the winding streets and the magnificent Tagus from the chic red rooftop pool. Inside, the light-filled bedrooms are simply furnished with authentic Portuguese warmth. In winter, enjoy a plate of regional hams and cheeses around the rooftop firepit and watch a spectacular sunset.

The only hotel inside the São Jorge Castle compound, Solar do Castelo sits within an 18th-century building constructed on the site of the former royal palace kitchens. It brims with character, with exposed stone walls and antique blue-and-yellow hand-painted tiles. At its heart is a pretty patio, while the 20 bedrooms mix natural woods and a warm red.

The grande-dame of boutique hotels in Lisbon, Bairro Alto in downtown Chiado was reborn after a major refurbishment and extension. Bedrooms are an essay in luxury, while the fifth-floor restaurant, under the helm of acclaimed chef Nuno Mendes, draws on Portuguese bounty from the land and sea; think smoked goose barnacles on toast or aged beef tartare with red cabbage and egg yolk.

This warm and welcoming hostel in downtown Lisbon offers a mix of shared dormitories and private rooms within 200-year-old walls. It has a real traveller vibe, thanks in part to the communal activities, including Mamma’s dinners (a home-made family-style banquet), staff-led bar crawls and excursions to nearby Sintra. If you’re itching to explore Lisbon, the hotel also puts on a city tour.

The Vintage is a quietly charming neighbourhood hotel housing 53 rooms and three suites. It has a contemporary Portuguese restaurant at street level, a spa and a leafy rooftop restaurant with a bar and an outdoor cinema. Rooms have rich, bold colours and come with mid-century design details, such as a trolley bar cart with a complimentary gin and tonic kit.

You know you’re in Lisbon when you peer out from your front room and see trams rattling by or the city hall where the Portuguese Republic was declared in 1910. On a corner of a cute central square, AlmaLusa sits inside a restored historical building. It neatly combines period features (flagstone floors, original fireplaces) with modern comforts, and all rooms are slightly different in size and decor. A good breakfast is served in the downstairs restaurant, and there’s also an outdoor terrace on the square.

Near the waterfront, the LX Boutique Hotel was one of the first places to launch the formerly rundown district of Cais do Sodré into the hip category. This tall, former townhouse is now home to individually styled rooms, all spacious and with shutters and lofty ceilings – the best come with river views. The Confraria Restaurant downstairs is rated one of the top places to eat and drink in Lisbon. You are also right by Rua Nova do Carvalho, also known as Pink Street, with a pink tarmac denoting its role as one of the most happening streets for bars and clubs.

Slightly away from the hectic centre, this 18th-century former townhouse exudes historical charm. While the hotel is small and intimate, with a relaxing lounge and attractive walled garden where a giant breakfast buffet is served, its rooms are surprisingly spacious, with period furnishings. The place to hang out at As Janelas Verdes is the top-floor library, complete with a terrace offering incredible views over the city and the broad Tagus Estuary. Many of the rooms share the same panorama. No wonder author Eça de Queirós was inspired to write his novel Os Maias (1888) here.

After a catastrophic fire ripped through the upmarket Chiado district in the 1980s, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira was asked to help revamp it, and this classy hotel was part of the project. The windows give tantalising glimpses over the cityscape – you’re on a hill here – while the chic bar and terrace command terrific views across the city towards the castle and river. Rooms are big and airy, and some have balconies. You are also in the heart of the main designer shopping district in Lisbon, with the Armazéns do Chiado shopping centre right below you.

Hats off to the owners of this historical property – they artfully converted adjacent mansions into two different but equally stylish places to stay. The Independente Hostel offers three types of dorms with ornate tiled flooring. The downstairs restaurant-bar and patio is the place to meet people and find out about the various activities organised by the owners. Next door, there are spacious double rooms, some with great views over the city, as well as an extremely hip rooftop bar and restaurant, the Insólito.

Staying here feels like being an aristocratic guest in someone’s home (which, at some point, it was). The stunning 19th-century townhouse is all stained glass, large mirrors and chandeliers, along with double beds that seem dwarfed in the palatial bedrooms. Its location at the foot of the Alfama district means you’re only an (admittedly hefty) olive’s throw away from the river, and many rooms have Tagus views. There’s also a hearty breakfast served in the ornate dining room.

There’s an inevitable air of serenity at this small historical hotel in Lisbon; it sits inside a building that was once a Carmelite convent. Many of the contemporary-style rooms are arranged around a lovely interior courtyard, where you can enjoy a drink or a meal from the on-site highly rated restaurant. Behind high walls in the upmarket Lapa district, the hotel is a short tram ride away from the centre and an easy walk to the riverfront and the wonderful Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

This hotel in Lisbon proudly boasts its green credentials, with allergy-friendly rooms, low-energy fittings and local ingredients used in the restaurant. Even the modern building is partly recycled, retaining the facade of a traditional townhouse. The rooms are designed according to the concept of feng shui, complete with glass-walled showers, and there’s also a wellness centre and spa. On a pleasant side street, it’s also an easy downhill walk to the city centre.