Detailed Review
Bairro Alto is in the centre of the Arts district, where Lisbon culture lives and thrives. The renovated Bairro Alto Hotel dates back to 1845, in the privileged location of Bairro Alto, which literally means Upper District’. This vibrantly chic and in-vogue district of Lisbon is traditionally the heart of intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries.
The rooms have the typical Portuguese colour scheme as their base: yellow – symbolic of the Portuguese tram; ivory white – reflecting the Lioz stone of the Portuguese pavement; blue for the Tagus River; and a terracotta red symbolizing Lisbon’s ceramic roof tiles.
Bairro Alto is a place where luxury means intimacy and discretion, where there is tailor-made service in an atmosphere reflecting a mix of classic and contemporary design. In short, a stylist refuge from the turbulence of daily life.
Press Quotes
"Bairro Alto’s best feature is an open-air rooftop cafe where you can curl up on wicker sofas, eat a smoked salmon sandwich, and gaze out over Lisbon’s red-tiled roofs to the Tagus River." Conde Nast 08
"Upstairs, landings with oriental-style antique bird-print wallpaper lead to bedrooms that manage to feel both luxurious and compact" Guardian 06
Independent Reviews
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"Diogo Rosa La and Jose Pedro Viera designed this elegant bolthole, with charming city views from the rooftop terrace."
TI's top choice for design in Lisbon. With a fantastic location in the Bairro Alto from which it takes its name, the hotel mixes stark minimalism with lots of local character. Great roof terrace, too, with views of the Tagus.
Bairro Alto
By Rupert Eden
Like an exotic ballerina plying her luxuriant trade on a street corner, the Hotel Bairro Alto cruelly tempts gaping passers-by as they stroll along Lisbon’s landmark Praça de Camões. Whilst positively oozing sophistication and sensuality the hotel’s spartan lobby acts as a kind of decompression chamber to acclimatize the privileged few from the noisy bustling cafes and boutiques of Rua Garrett to a cool and fresh silence. It is mainly thanks to top design duo Diogo Rosa Lã and José Pedro Viera that the hotel has set an entirely new standard for Portugal in terms of architectural flair and unrivalled urban chic. The impeccable style and service would also be difficult to surpass even in Paris or New York whilst resident chef Leonor Manita has been poached from London’s Nobu to produce dainty menus fit for a Lusitanian king and eaten in the Flores patio restaurant. Spacious rooms conjur up yesteryear images of post-war screen idols like a Breakfast at Tiffany’s film set and soft yellow, ochre and pale blue pastels are borrowed from the surrounding Chiado district. Bathrooms resemble those of Anouska Hempel-inspired Blake’s Hotel. A rooftop terrace offers spectacular views of Lisbon and the Tagus estuary seen in the distance and is the perfect place to sip cocktails as the sun sets.
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