Torel Palace Lisbon
The Torel Palace is well-placed as a base from which to explore the city. Sat on a hilltop and tucked away from the usual tourist hotspots, this hotel has a more-local feel. Lisbon’s oldest funicular runs from the hotel down to Anunciada and it’s a short walk to the tree-lined Avenida da Liberdade, and then downtown to Baixa and the riverfront beyond.
The Torel chain of hotels take lost and forgotten buildings and turn them into luxurious boutique lodgings. Their décor strikes balance between historic chic and pleasant ostentation, and no two rooms are alike. The hotel locations, whether in the city or countryside, are always well located.
The Torel Palace in Lisbon combines four grand, inner-city mansion houses. They’re affectionally referred to as the Pink Palace, the Blue Palace, the Lavra Palace and the White Building, and all date back to the turn of the 20th century. Lisbon famously sits on seven hills and the mansions are positioned of hilltop Camara Pestana. As such, the hotel offers wonderful panoramic view of the districts of Principe, Bairro Alto, and Baixa. It’s particularly nice in the evenings when you’re relaxing in the outdoor courtyard with a glass of vinho branco.
The hotel as thirty-three rooms and suites spread across the three palaces, with five studio-style apartments in the White Building. High ceilings, bold colours, antique furniture and cosy furnishings all add to the opulence, and bottom-to-top windows make the most of Lisbon’s legendary ambient light. Completing this sense of luxury, you can enjoy the outdoor pool and gardens and the Calla Wellness Spa, which offers a arrange of treatments, including a Turkish-style hammam. The hotel’s own 2Monkeys restaurant has a well-earned Michelin star, indicative of the culinary creativity of Chef Vitor Matos and his excellent team – be sure to make time for dinner at least once during your stay. Breakfasts, lunches and more informal dinners are courtesy of the Pavilion restaurant, and nightcaps are available at the Duke’s Bar.
