During our five day trip in Portugal, we treated ourselves to a luxurious retreat at the Ritz Four Seasons in Lisbon. I couldn’t have asked for more in so far as ambience and amenities. We were located just a hop, skip, and jump away from the grand Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) in central Lisbon, where all of the major shopping seem to be concentrated in – not to mention, a mere five minutes distance from Restaurante Eleven, one of my favorite dining experiences while in Portugal.
The building was originally conceived by the Portuguese modernist Porfírio Pardal Monteiro, infused with the design sensibilities of the French interior decorator Henri Samuel. As I wandered within our expansive suite, I couldn’t help but admire the traditionalist and classical touches that one had come to expect of the Four Seasons franchise. Yet, the art-deco and avant-garde aesthetics which pervaded the grand establishment is also enough for a post-modernist fan to feel right at home. I, for one, could have easily spent more time wandering through the hotel premises just taking in their impresive collection of contemporary Portuguese contemporary art. There are apparently 600 pieces in total!
Some of my fondest memories comprise of waking up in the morning, going for a swim at the hotel spa pool, and then treating ourselves to a mega breakfast on the terrace. Mind you, all of this would normally occur before 10am, whereupon we would then seize the day in beautiful Lisboa. It was truly a fantastic experience, where a preggy traveler such as myself couldn’t have asked for a more scenic and comfortable place to rest! Pity I didn’t have time to test out the hotel’s rooftop jogging track, though my marathon-training travel companion assured me that it was top-notch… can’t say I’m surprised.