Tucked into a historic neighbourhood with a palatial presence on a hilly cobblestone road overlooking the Tagus River, Olissippo Lapa Palace ticks all the boxes for a 5-star Lisbon retreat that’s close to the action but in its own blissful bubble.
Part of The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio and a Virtuoso hotel, Olissippo Lapa Palace is a bona fide find – a former palace built in 1870 that established the namesake neighbourhood, Lapa, with all the mod cons, just 25 minutes’ drive from Lisbon Airport.
A family home and then a palace until it was sold and turned into a hotel in 1988, reconstruction was finalised in 1992 when it opened to the public as Hotel da Lapa.
Checking-in
Olissippo Lapa Palace is located in the Lapa district in the exclusive diplomatic quarter, close to downtown Lisbon and the historic Belém district and around 7.5km from Lisbon Airport.
Olissippo Lapa Palace offers 95 rooms across the original Palace Wing and newer Garden Wing.
It reflects the style of 19th-century Portuguese society with custom period furniture, painted ceramic tiles, stained glass windows and original carpet in some rooms.
The attention to detail throughout extends to the welcoming and helpful staff with a seamless check-in process and attentive assistance with questions, transport and other requests during my stay.
The room
I originally booked a Pool & Garden Room with Balcony and received an upgrade on arrival to a River View Room in the hotel’s Garden Wing.
The spacious and sumptuous 40sqm room is set up with twin beds, a lounge area and a separate balcony with views of the subtropical gardens and pool as well as the city and Tagus River.
The generously sized marble bathroom contains a separate bath and a shower, twin basins and L’Occitane amenities. The heated bath rails are a nice touch as are the thick towels, bathrobes and slippers emblazoned with the hotel logo.
The décor features stylish dark wood furnishings that feel timeless, not dated, and maximalist packers will appreciate the huge amount of storage with twin wardrobes.
The period attention to detail flows into the rooms – bows are provided to hang on the door for housekeeping services and Portuguese-made Vista Alegre porcelain, founded in 1824, features in the bathroom and bedroom décor.
Food and drink
Olissippo Lapa Palace offers the onsite Lapa Restaurant with a Mediterranean menu, Restaurant–Bar Le Pavilion – a poolside café, the Rio Tejo Bar serving afternoon tea and cocktails with grand piano accompaniment and 24/7 in-room dining.
The complimentary breakfast spread features a hot-and-cold buffet, including pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), plus eggs and omelettes cooked to order and DIY Bloody Marys and mimosas.
The poolside menu skews towards healthy options, including a kids menu, plus alcoholic beverages.
I also make good use of room service after long days spent exploring the streets and alleyways of Lisbon, which always comes served on white linen with a selection of housemade breads and condiments.
Amenities
Olissippo Lapa Palace is the place to indulge in R’n’R whether that’s swanning around the sparkling outdoor lagoon pool – extremely inviting in the early summer afternoon heat – or indulging in a treatment at the spa wellness centre.
The centre offers hot and cold therapy, including a heated indoor pool, a sauna and Turkish bath and a list of massage and beauty treatments using Elemis skincare.
There’s a small but adequate gym with cardio equipment and weights, which you probably won’t have to share with another guest during your stay.
The standout feature is undoubtedly the lush subtropical gardens framing the outdoor pool that include a meandering pond with giant koi and resident turtles, water features and terraced lawns with plenty of deckchairs available.
With fig trees, palms and jacarandas for shade that also attract myriad birdlife, it’s reminiscent of a verdant Queensland in spring.
If you do have to stay connected, free hotel Wi-Fi will ensure you are switched on whether you’re by the pool or in your room.
The verdict
With supreme seclusion and tranquillity as standout attributes, Olissippo Lapa Palace is a hidden oasis in the city that your clients will adore after exploring Lisbon.
It’s also a surprisingly family-friendly stay with many young families making great use of the pool and outdoor amenities and socialising seamlessly with guests of all ages.
The genuine and attentive service and interest – from the front desk and concierge through to housekeeping – was another unexpected delight that made my stay special.
The details
- Address: Rua do Pau de Bandeira, No 4, 1249-021 Lisbon
- Room type: Olissippo Lapa Palace offers 95 rooms across the original Palace Wing and newer Garden Wing, including the River View Room
- Check-in: 2pm
- Check-out: 12pm
- Rates: From €430–€450 per night
- Website: Olissippo Lapa Palace
The writer paid for her stay.
