Why Casa Fortunato Feels Like Home - AFAR
"Run by owners António and Filipa Fortunato and their family, this boutique Lisbon hotel is a lovingly restored early-20th-century townhome that opened in the fall of 2018. The refurbishment preserved original 1910s materials and details—French boiserie paneling, handmade tiles (each room with a different pattern), original carpentry, a grand staircase, Liós stone at the main entrance and antique glass doors—while using a back-to-basics design approach informed by a feng shui study and paint and wallpaper selections from Farrow & Ball and Jupiter 10. No two guest rooms are the same: enormous windows bring in natural light, furniture was curated from the owners’ homes and rearranged to suit each layout, and the couple even lived in the rooms for weeks to refine the ambience. Service is personal and thoughtful, with pre-arrival emails to confirm bedding preferences, coordination of day trips with local partners, and a chef-and-assistant team preparing breakfasts and dinners served at a communal dining table; breakfasts often include miso soup, seasonal fruit, gluten-free vegan pastries, oats, and fresh-squeezed juices. The family’s presence—children who help with luggage, cook in classes, or offer local tips, a teenager who sometimes plays piano, and a black Labrador who acts as the friendly “concierge”—creates a warm, unhurried atmosphere where guests can attend private hatha yoga in a minimalist studio, join shared meals, and truly feel like friends and family rather than just visitors." - Nicole Antonio
