The Vintage Hotel

Rooms

The 56 stunning rooms and suites come in beautiful shades of botanical green, powder blue or warm terracotta, with tall ceilings, wooden flooring and plenty of vintage design touches. There are curvy Art-Deco chairs, triangular chrome lampshades, groovy Riley-esque artwork - all of it bespoke. Huge windows (double glazed for total quietness) are draped with heavy curtains, adding an air of 60s glamour, which is echoed in the Portuguese bath products' charmingly retro designs.

Entry-level Vintage Superior and slightly larger Deluxe rooms are more than satisfactory for most. The latter boast the better city views, and plenty of space for an extra bed, but all feel cosseting and carefully crafted, with marshmallow-soft beds and a small sitting area. A few in each category have balconies, too.

The 3 exceptional Corner Suites offer a slice of high end Lisboan life, with panoramic city views to boot. Choose the top-of-the-pile Castle Suite to gaze at stunning São Jorge in your bathrobe. You get a very spacious seating area to entertain friends in, plus a large workspace (though we'd hope it'd go unused).

In the morning, take a rainfall shower (there are no bathtubs), and charge up with a coffee – there's a machine in each room. Come the evening, the drinks trolley beckons with artisan snacks and spiced gins complete with fresh garnish.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The hotel's street-level Blue Bar & Restaurant is fresh and inviting, awash with bright blues reminiscent of the city's cerulean skies. A tempting buffet breakfast here spans the usual freshly baked bread and pastries, muesli and cereals, cold meats and cheeses; plus a smattering of cooked dishes such as poached eggs, bacon, pancakes and the like.

For dinner if eating in, order a bottle of Douro wine, then share a plate of Pica Pau (Portuguese beef strips in tangy pickle sauce) or a towering hamburger with Pata Negra ham and fat chips. Other delicious nouveau-Portuguese dishes include octopus salad with sweet potatoes and roasted peppers, or slow-roasted pork cheek with mashed potato and sautéed mushrooms. This hotel restaurant is certainly no club-sandwich after-thought.

It's worth mentioning that world-renowned seafood spot Cervejeria Ramiro is a hop, skip and a jump from The Vintage. Try turning up at an unusual time to bag a seat; then plump for the giant prawns followed by a prego – AKA steak sandwich – for dessert. Fancy a more conventional sweet treat? Authentic Italian gelateria Nannarella is worth the half hour yomp on a hot evening; basil flavour was our favourite.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Don super comfy flats and head for Bairro Alto, where you'll find dreamy concept stores, buzzy restaurants, a boho crowd and the best coffee in town (the Flat White is rare in Portugal - but not here)
  
• Wander around jewellery shops, cafes and the enchanting bookstore at hipster magnet LX Factory (picture a high end Hackney Wick, with year-round sunshine)
  
• Take a breather in the city's small but exotic Botanical Gardens, a block away: no theatrics, but plenty of palms, aloes, monsteras – and silence. The city's Natural History Museum is adjacent
  
• Back at the hotel, a pre-bookable sauna and steam room complements the menu of spa packages and underground dipping pool; there's also a small gym (which we had to ourselves) with limited but high tech equipment, plus pre-designed workout routines and even personal training sessions
  
• Reward yourself by stocking up Benamôr goodies (Portugal's beloved beauty brand) in the spa's boutique

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Well being

Kids

Families are more than welcome, but this is definitely a spot for stealing away for a few days with someone special. That said, high chairs, extra beds and cots are on hand if needed – and staff have tons of ideas for where to take little ones.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The best rooms for families are the Castle Suite and one of the Corner Suites as these can take both an extra bed and a baby cot. Otherwise the Deluxe Rooms can take an extra bed or a baby cot. Note that a family of four would have to book two adjoining rooms.

Distances:

• Airport: 30 minutes
• Hospital: 15 minutes
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Vintage Hotel is in the Principe Real district of Lisbon, just north of the centre. There are metro, bus and tram stops within 5-10 mins' walk of the hotel; or you could walk into the heart of Bairro Alto in 15 mins.

By Air:
Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport is a 20-min drive, or 30-40 mins by public transport.

By Train
The stations of Rossio (for Sintra) and Cais do Sodré (for Cascais) are a brief taxi ride away; Santa Apolónia (for Porto, Faro etc) is a little further, about 15 mins' by car or metro.

By Car
You really don't need a car to explore Lisbon - public transport is plentiful, and the city's trams are legendary. But if heading further afield after your stay here, check our car hire tips and Lisbon city-centre rental locations.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.