My Story Hotel Tejo
This six-storey casa da cidade dates back to the 18th century, and thanks to a recent facelift its distinctive sky-blue front façade with its wrought iron detailing is arguably looking good as new. Inside, the ground floor is dominated by segmental archways and stout granite pillars: this distinctive, over-engineered Pombaline architectural style is in keeping with the surrounding Baixa district, which was famously regenerated following the great earthquake of 1755.
This architectural heritage is celebrated throughout the hotel’s 135 rooms, from the decorative dados and cornices to the roughly hewn stone walls in the ensuite bathrooms. And where the original 18th century timbers did need replacing, the architects have recycled the wood as parquet floors and tiled feature walls.
Breakfast is served in the ground floor O Poco restaurant, which is also a good option for a quiet dinner: search out the cosy, intimate nooks for extra privacy, but note that Wednesdays are live Fado evenings. The reverberating arched ceilings carry the melancholic melodies of Lisbon’s best vocalists to the furthest reaches of the restaurant.
‘O Poco’ refers to the Poco do Borratem – a 16th century well which sits beneath the hotel. This drinking water supply was a mainstay of Lisbon life right up until the 1960s. It’s no longer in use, but it’s tiled arches and brass taps are preserved for prosperity on the eastern side of the restaurant.
Officially, the My Story Hotel Tejo has a three-star rating due to the dimensions of some of its smaller rooms. From a service and quality perspective, we think it’s a solid four-star.
