The lavish five star Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, perched atop one of Lisbon’s seven hills was my base in Lisbon for two nights during a girly break with my sister in law.
The regal hotel had its early beginnings as ‘The Ritz Hotel’ and was built in 1959 by the Dictator Salazar who commissioned award-winning architect Pardal Monteiro to design it to be a showstopper with the intention of proving that Lisbon could do luxury just as well as any other European capital, and it sure can!
Although it was taken over by the Four Seasons group in 1997, locals still fondly call it ‘The Ritz’ and the deluxe hotel is an iconic landmark in the colourful city, with luxury at the heart of its very essence.
As you step inside the spacious marble lobby decked out in grand, striking and opulent interiors, vibrant flower displays and tasteful art hanging on the walls, you just know you are in for a real treat, with the excellence in service that The Four Seasons group of hotels is renowned for.
I have experienced The Four Seasons magic in England at The Four Seasons hotel in Hampshire, which you can read about here.
Location
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The Four Seasons Hotel Ritz is located near the famous Avenida de Liberdade (the most expensive street in Lisbon) and is a really convenient base to get around the city from.
Eduardo VII Park is a short stroll away, as is the iconic Marquis of Pombal Square, which is an important roundabout with a bronze statue of the Marquess in the centre, depicted with a lion as a symbol of power by his side.
The Marques do Pombal metro station is a five minutes walk from the hotel, and has connections to the airport and most Lisbon sights.
Taxis are in abundance and so you can always hail one down!
Perfect for?
The Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is perfect for families, a spa break due to its impressive spa facilities, business stays, a girly holiday as well as romantic breaks.
Rooms
There are 282 rooms and suites all with impressive views. Some overlook the hotel’s perfectly kept gardens, some have views of the lush and green Eduardo VII Park and the others look out over Lisbon’s old town, the castle and the river.
We were kindly upgraded to a spacious Premium Room which had a balcony offering pretty panoramic views of Lisbon from up above.
The room, which was incredible spacious, was stylishly furnished, with all the mod-cons you would expect from a 5 star hotel, and the marble clad bathroom was sizeable too, with his and her sinks (hers and hers in our case), a shower and a bath tub!
The toiletries were from award winning brand L’Occitane, which I loved using.
The eager writer in me was pleased to find a lovely desk and there was complimentary WiFi, making it ideal for those who need a base to work from while travelling.
There was a spacious closet which we moved all our belongings too, truly settling in to the room for the two nights that we were there.
On arrival, as a lovely gesture we were gifted a bottle of Port and some delicious pastéis de nata to indulge in.
The famous Four Seasons bed was super comfortable with luxuriously soft sheets and we had a wonderful restorative sleep for the two nights that it was our home in Lisbon, and it was incredibly difficult to check out.
Food and Drink
If you happen to be staying in Lisbon over the weekend, the Weekend Brunch at The Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon is an absolute must!
From cold meats, pastries, cheese, savouries, barbecue food, ice cream and fresh juices, the Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon weekend brunch is a real treat to the senses and the perfect leisurely weekend indulgence.
If its a lovely day, there is a lovely outside terrace with a view towards the Eduardo VII Park, so ask to be seated there for an al fresco experience.
The brunch is held at the Varanda restaurant, which was also the location of our breakfast buffet, which was also superb, and there is an option to order a cooked breakfast on top of what is already on offer.
The breakfast spread had freshly baked breads, cold meats, cereals, fresh fruits, yoghurts, pastries, waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, hash browns and so much more that it was truly a decadence each morning and something we really looked forward to starting our day with!
Cocktails at The Ritz Bar, on the outside terrace, are also a must, and if you prefer, they also have an extensive wine and port menu. It was the ideal setting for sundowners after a day of exploring.
Facilities
The rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon has a panoramic 400-metre running track, ideal for those who want to start their morning with a jog and soak up Lisbon’s vibrant views.
Fitness enthusiasts will be pleased to know that there is also a gym and pilates studio available with views to be mesmerised on the rooftop.
For those that want to unwind and rejuvenate, the spa is extraordinary with an indoor 18-metre lap pool as its centrepiece. At the spa you can also enjoy facilities such as a sauna and a Turkish bath alongside an extensive range of Spa treatments.
All in all we had a wonderful stay and the hospitality was exceptional, the food sensational, the drinks utter perfection and that famous Four Seasons Bed, truly the best sleep I have had in a long while!
If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon, make the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz your home and you will be treated like royalty.
Rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz start from €660 (£567) in low season for Double Rooms; and from €695 (£597) in high. Breakfast not included but available at €47 (£40).
Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Rodrigo da Fonseca 88
1099-039
Lisboa, Portugal
tel 351 21 381 1400
You just can’t beat the quality of a Four Seasons hotel – what a lovely place to stay! (Ps, I adore your travel buddy’s dresses!)
Wow it looks beautiful Binny. My favourite spot would have to be ten roof terrace!
Your room looks so lovely and spacious! What a beautiful in a fabulous location!