Santa Clara 1728
"Start us off with an overview.It's easy to get here from the airport—about 20 minutes. The hotel sits on a square in the old cultural quarter of Lisbon: really beautiful and less gritty and touristy than the Chiado. It’s also close to the monastery São Vicente de Fora. The only downside is that it's near where the cruise ships dock, but I never saw any tourists around the hotel. How did it strike you on arrival?It’s a stunning space—an architect’s dream. There are only six rooms total in an 18th-century building that’s been painstakingly restored (think eggshell blue walls, limestone staircase, giant oil paintings leaning up against the wall). Bonus: The hotel is right on Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s best flea market that pops up every Tuesday and Saturday. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Six rooms = not a ton of guests, but everyone we saw was from somewhere in Europe. It's great for design nerds who want open-plan bathrooms (think shower with no doors) and a feeling of actually being in a romantic, design-forward part of Lisbon. We were lucky enough to meet the hotelier, João Rodrigues, who was seriously the coolest dude. He’s an airline pilot for TAP and opens these small, impeccably designed hotels all throughout Portugal. He knows Lisbon, and would happily recommend a restaurant. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.This whole hotel, including the rooms, is very Cereal: all lush but minimal and modern, with pale wood and gorgeous linens. All interiors are done by Antonio Citterio, who works with B&B Italia. There's a little espresso machine and a mini fridge stocked with wine, soda, and water. And the sheets are incredible! The bed was so comfortable—like, I wanted to get into it, skip dinner even though I was starving, and just sit in the bed all night. Pro tip: Bring an empty suitcase so you can buy all your linens in Portugal. Word of warning: The hotel is on a public square that's fun to hang out in by day, but not as fun when vendors are setting up the flea market at 5 a.m. If you're coming in the summer, you'll also need to leave your windows open, as there's no air conditioning. You're starving. What's the food like? There’s always a homemade meal in the communal kitchen (as well as Portuguese wine) and around a table where people share breakfast (included in the room cost). There isn’t a restaurant, but the food is incredible. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The staff is made up of Lisbon's warmest, most talkative cool kids. They'll also carry your bags to your taxi or Uber when the flea market blocks off the road in front of the hotel. Bottom line: Is it worth it? If you’re a design nerd and want to stay around a romantic Lisbon square (and will lean into the Euro thinking about room temperature control), this is the place for you." - Candice Rainey
