Locke de Santa Joana, Lisbon

The Hotel

Located on a leafy street that is close to the centre but not smack dab on a main street, staying here is both convenient and relaxing. The hotel – housed in an ex-17th century convent – has 370 apartment-style rooms of varying sizes, set across nine floors; this is the brand’s largest hotel to date. And with co-working spaces, numerous F&B outlets, including one from famed Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes, a pool, courtyard, museum and café, this is a huge property. You could definitely spend a lot of time here.

What’s Close

You’re a short walk to the main designer retail area, Avenida Liberdade, and also moments from the regal Park Eduardo VII. This is an upmarket neighbourhood that borders on the financial district. But this is Lisbon, so everything is close.

The Vibe

This is a buzzy place! But it’s also large enough that you can spread out: dine in the sunken restaurant, lounge by the pool bar, or hide away in a quiet working cove.

The Rooms

These are apartment-style rooms, so they’re especially great if you’re looking to have facilities to make breakfast or lunch, as they have well-stocked kitchens. The design makes great use of its space: everything has a place, and the rooms mix original building elements, like columns, with more contemporary design, which works. Some terraces are shared, so be aware of that when booking, and they also have some spacious suites, should you be celebrating. Colours are muted, and materials include fabrics and ceramics from Portugal. Rooms fall into the ‘design hotel’ category – not luxury – and prices reflect this.

Restaurants

Santa Marta is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, with indoor/outdoor seating. Come here for comfort dishes like pizzas and pappardelle, as well as more local items like charcoal-grilled clams and charred red prawns. There’s a café in the lobby for quick coffees and bites, and you can also order food by the pool.

But the real star here is Nuno Mendes’ restaurant, Santa Joana, in the hidden main convent space – a restaurant that is sure to make this a true destination hotel. The menu showcases the diverse flavours in Portuguese cuisine, in an elevated, Nuno way, with highlights that include oysters with house-made green sriracha; sweet red shrimp with burnt leeks and lime leaf oil; seafood rice with crab, prawns and lobster; grilled beef chops with chimichurri; potatoes with chive butter and crispy onions; and, for dessert, meringue with corn and pineapple. It’s a large space that will be good for groups. Start on the terrace (weather permitting) or at the bar inside, then move on to your table.

Bars

For drinks, London-based Spiritland’s outpost here has a sultry bar, with music nights; The Kissaten Japanese-inspired listening bar has Lisbon’s largest whisky collection; and O Pequeno is a hidden Champagne and martini bar.

Highlights

Nuno! And the variety. It’s great that you can start at a Champagne bar, have dinner at an acclaimed chef’s restaurant, and end with a nightcap with great music – all without even leaving the property. Another highlight: the Portuguese textiles and materials, throughout.