Yahoo
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Travel+Leisure

I’ve Lived in Lisbon for Years, but This Chic Hotel Helped Me Experience the City in a New Way

With standout design, top-tier dining, local experiences, and one of the best locations in Lisbon, Andaz Lisbon delivers on every front. Local T+L reporter Stacey Leasca was among the first in the door.

Stacey Leasca
The rooftop at Andaz Lisbon.Credit: Andaz Lisbon
The rooftop at Andaz Lisbon.<br>Credit: Andaz Lisbon

Andaz Lisbon

  • The hotel's location, steps from Lisbon's Praça do Comércio, is unmatched for guests looking to explore the city's coolest neighborhoods.

  • The rooftop bar and restaurant serves delicious fare, inspired by the global destinations that shaped Portugal, and offers some of the best city and Tagus River views.

  • An impeccably curated list of experiences unveils lesser-known parts of Lisbon and the region that guests will not find in guidebooks.

Five years after moving to Lisbon , I am still in awe every morning when I open my window. My love for this city seems to grow by the hour, but I was hesitant to stay at the brand-new Andaz Lisbon . Would I be too harsh a critic of an international hotel chain attempting to capture the essence of the place I cherish the most? It turned out that an overnight staycation at Andaz's first Portuguese outpost cast the city in a new light.

Housed in a former bank in Lisbon’s historic Baixa neighborhood, every inch of Andaz Lisbon pulls in from the city's culture and shares it back with guests. The building's original staircase is dotted with sculptures by Sofia Krus , with more works by Francisca Coutinho and Carolina Vaz showcased throughout the lobby. Even the hotel's signature scent was "curated to evoke Praça do Comércio in its heyday as a commercial center," says Cajetan Araujo, the general manager of Andaz Lisbon.

Advertisement
Advertisement

However, it's the curated experiences where the hotel truly excels. Ranging from shopping tours to some of the city's oldest accessory and jewelry boutiques and spending a day with a fisherman in Setúbal , a seaside community about 45 minutes from the city, Andaz Lisbon helps guests uncover hidden gems and activities that you won't find in the guidebooks.

I spent an afternoon with local artist Miguel Brum , touring his favorite public artworks around neighborhoods like Alfama and Graça, before I got to work on my own piece of street art (it was all above board and legal). The tour was charming and creative, allowing me to quite literally leave my mark on Lisbon.

"The [hotel] experience is shaped by the neighborhood as well: stepping out into Baixa, guests are moments from historic cafes and kiosks, independent boutiques, and the rhythm of daily Lisbon life," Araujo adds. "For me, Andaz Lisbon is a balance of design and discovery, a space that feels both rooted and alive, where I truly wish for our visiting guests to not just get a peek into my city, but to feel part of it by getting lost and finding their own Lisbon."

Here, my review of Andaz Lisbon.

The Rooms

A Deluxe room with a view of the city.Credit: Andaz Lisbon
A Deluxe room with a view of the city.<br>Credit: Andaz Lisbon

The hotel has 170 guest rooms and suites, each with cheerful pops of color, along with local cork accents, tile finishes, and rich mahogany wood. Bathrooms are clad in natural stone and oxblood-hued tiles, and come stocked with Byredo products. If you're traveling with a pet, the team will ensure they have every creature comfort, including a separate bed, toys, and plenty of treats.

Advertisement
Advertisement

When booking a room, specifically ask for one with a view of Praça do Comércio, because it's the best you'll get in Lisbon. What surprised me the most, however, was how quiet and dark my room became once I closed the curtains—an impressive feat given the hotel's central location.

Food and Drink

The rooftop terrace at Luzzi at Andaz Lisbon.Credit: Andaz Lisbon
The rooftop terrace at Luzzi at Andaz Lisbon.<br>Credit: Andaz Lisbon

The hotel’s restaurants marry Portuguese flair with global flavors. For Luzzi , the rooftop dining spot and terrace, executive chef Bruno Alves has created a menu that draws on flavors from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Goa, and Macau. Not-to-miss dishes include the Cabo Verde-style tuna tartare with a corn cream sauce, grilled carabinero shrimp with spicy piri-piri bisque and garlic, and shrimp dumpling in wild cassava broth and leeks, which I wanted seconds of.  

While the food is exceptional, the other highlight here is the view. Sundowners are best enjoyed in one of the window seats that overlook Praça do Comércio and the Tagus River. And if you need a good playlist for your walks around Lisbon, the restaurant team has you covered there , too.

The lobby-level Andaz Lounge is a lively spot serving casual fare inspired by Lisbon’s kiosks. Also worth mentioning: the in-house pastel de nata is on point, which matters a lot in Lisbon.

The Spa

The sculptured entryway of Andaz Lisbon.Credit: Andaz Lisbon
The sculptured entryway of Andaz Lisbon.<br>Credit: Andaz Lisbon

The hotel's spa wasn't ready when I stayed overnight. Once complete, it will feature "restorative amenities crafted to soothe, rebalance, and inspire renewal," the hotel shared in a statement. In-room spa services will be available, too.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The on-site fitness center has Technogym equipment.

Accessibility

Andaz Lisbon has one ADA-adapted room, and most common areas are accessible by a lift. The hotel is located in one of the more accessible parts of Lisbon, making it easier for guests with mobility concerns to access key sites. That said, Lisbon is notoriously hilly, so if mobility is a concern, talk to the hotel team about your best options for sightseeing before you arrive.

How to Book

The view of the reception desk from the Andaz Lounge.Credit: Andaz Lisbon
The view of the reception desk from the Andaz Lounge.<br>Credit: Andaz Lisbon

Andaz Lisbon is part of World of Hyatt , which rewards members with special rates, room upgrades, and extra perks.

Nightly rates at Andaz Lisbon start from $409.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values .

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure

Advertisement
Advertisement
Mobilize your Website
View Site in Mobile | Classic
Share by: