In short… A charming, delightful and peaceful oasis (with a pool!), whose owner’s touch is present in every detail.
The surroundings… Situated right in the center of Lisbon, the Palacio Principe Real is walking distance from everything. Lisbon at times can feel quite suffocating, especially if you’re unaccustomed to such small streets and winding roads. The hotel feels like a little oasis that you can escape into if you’re exhausted by the mayhem, but then quickly pop back out when you are ready to keep exploring.
The vibe… You enter through an insignificant side door, which is the car entrance of the grand old house. As you walk through a driveway with beautiful painted walls, you run into the owner’s vintage red Renault 4TL perched under a huge tree. The path opens up into a beautiful garden and terrace and a baby-pink hued building. The garden has huge palm trees, jacarandas, an outdoor restaurant and a lovely pool. It really gives you an immediate moment of peace and calm. The pool is such a game changer, and the garden is really the perfect place to relax and soak the sun, and even better if you are nursing a slight hangover! The decoration threw me off at the beginning—it is quirky, eclectic, colorful and with many touches of whimsy (duck leg tables and knick-knacks throughout). But I later realized this was exactly the charm of this hotel. It was lovingly done by the owners in their style and with their touch—and many pieces had a history and meaning behind them. A few hours in and I was completely into and in love with the vibe and colors and fun moments they created in the bar, dining rooms, lobby and sitting rooms. It’s exactly the reason why I always prefer independently owned hotels over chains. Something about the owner’s personal touch makes such a difference.
The rooms… Each room is different in design and size, as they kept the layout of the original palace. Ours, room 104, was a corner room with high ceilings with moldings, large windows and a small balcony—and a color palette of white with olive and touches of gold. Very stripped back and calm. The bathrooms are extremely spacious, with a large tub and large shower. The beds are incredibly comfortable. I loved that the rooms and bathrooms have large candles by the Portuguese brand Ecolove, bars of Nau do Cacau chocolate from Alentejo, and also a very well stocked mini bar (almond milk!) which is complimentary. They also happened to loan me the best steamer I have ever used, which I have noted to buy when back home.
The wellness… There is a private yoga and treatment room in the garden with free yoga classes. Massages and other treatments can be booked.
The food… We loved EVOO, the hotel’s restaurant. The food was so fresh, clean, simple and delicious. I had been told by a friend who lives in Lisbon that this is the only hotel he pops into for lunch and to relax in the garden. The owners have their own olive groves in Spain, so all the Black Duck olive oil that is used comes straight from there. If you are lucky, you can swing by for lunch or dinner, but the general rule is that it is only open for guests.
Be sure to… Have breakfast! The small menu is delicious. We ordered as much as we could each morning and indulged in too many coffees in the gorgeous sunshine.
Parting words… Charming, delightful, and genuinely a true vacation. We saw and chatted with Gail (the owner) every day. She flows comfortably through the hotel, is helpful and kind and makes the whole place feel loved and taken care of. When we return to Lisbon, we will most definitely be staying here again.
Date of stay… September, 2024
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