BEYOND THE LOBBY Experience a city through the people who live it.
Lisbon Is Where Old Souls and New Spirits Meet
Lisbon — Portugal’s sun-soaked capital built across seven hills — is a city of contrasts: steep cobbled lanes and neon-lit rooftop bars, centuries-old cathedrals and upcycled warehouses turned galleries, grilled sardines served on paper plates and Michelin-starred sea urchin. And while the city’s historic Alfama and Belém neighborhoods remain postcard-perfect, it’s in the up-and-coming enclaves of Cais do Sodré, Alcântara, and Graça that Lisbon’s heart beats loudest. Here, the old and new Portugal blur into one — a soulful blend of tradition, creativity, and a cool, unbothered kind of luxury.
“In Lisbon, people live outside. They meet in gardens, cafés, tiny taverns — it’s a culture of conversation. We have modern restaurants in 800-year-old buildings. You can sip orange wine at a rooftop that used to be a car park. There’s history in every corner — but it’s very much alive.”
— Rita Santos, Local Guide & Culinary Host
Once overlooked, the once-gritty riverside district of Cais do Sodré now gleams with renovated art deco façades and warm hospitality. At the Bairro Alto Hotel, a five-star property set at the meeting point of Lisbon’s bohemian and literary quarters, boutique elegance meets a modern sense of play — think velvet headboards, black-and-white tile bathrooms, and a rooftop bar that locals frequent as often as guests.
“We wanted to move beyond the ‘classic luxury’ model — the silver cloche and bow-tied staff. Lisbon isn’t a city of stiffness. It’s warmth, ease, friendliness. At Bairro Alto, our service is relaxed but never less refined. You feel like you’re being taken care of by a friend who just happens to own a spectacular hotel.”
— Ana Teixeira, General Manager, Bairro Alto Hotel
The rooftop views alone are reason to linger: spires, domes, and terracotta rooftops cascading toward the glittering Tagus River. But there’s more. Breakfast is served until noon (hello, jet lag), and a private walking tour through the historic Chiado district — complete with pastel de nata pit stops — can be arranged with the hotel’s cultural concierge.
Other musts: hopping on tram 28 for a rickety, cinematic ride through the city’s oldest streets; tasting petiscos (Portuguese tapas) and natural wines in Time Out Market, where chefs from Michelin kitchens run counter-style stalls; sipping ginjinha (a sour cherry liqueur) with locals in the tiny alley bars of Bairro Alto; or booking a table at Prado, a hyper-local, seasonal fine dining spot where every dish feels like a tribute to the land.
“Lisbon has a soul, but not a script. You can plan nothing and still stumble on magic — an old man singing fado in a wine bar, a secret courtyard café. It’s not about checking boxes here. It’s about letting the city reveal itself to you.”
— João Mendes, Photographer & Lifelong Lisboeta
If you’re craving a little R&R, LX Factory, a once-abandoned textile mill turned lifestyle hub, offers indie bookstores, design shops, vegan bakeries, and leafy terraces to while away an afternoon. Or escape to Costa da Caparica, just 25 minutes south, where surfers, DJs, and Lisbon’s creative crowd gather on wide Atlantic beaches, caipirinha in hand.
“The energy in Lisbon is effortless. It’s not trying to be trendy, but it is. People fall in love with the slowness. It’s a city that breathes — and invites you to breathe with it.”
— Mariana Oliveira, Creative Director & Hotelier