Staying at the Vintage Hotel | Lisbon

When you type into pretty much any search engine where to visit in the colder months at the beginning of the year, it's more than likely that Lisbon is going to be on that list. Reason(s) being, you're almost guaranteed to get a vitamin D fix while you're there (it gets more sun than anywhere else in Europe); there's a balanced offering of the historical and the new to explore; it's considerably cheaper than London, and finally, it's one of the most colourful cities I've ever been to, and thats bound to induce some happiness. Obviously there are plenty more reasons, but these were enough for me to press book on some return flights. 

I've been to Lisbon before and still remember being impressed first time round on how affordable and beautiful the Air B&Bs are there. Almost all of the listings have white-walled, bright spaces with traditional tiling and rooftops or balconies for alfresco breakfasts. If you're on a budget, I can recommend this guest house, ideal if you're inter railing or in a big group of friends. This time, we wanted somewhere a bit more luxe for our trip, and stumbled upon The Vintage. We booked via Mr and Mrs Smith, which gets you free breakfast everyday, a welcome cocktail on arrival and discount at the hotel restaurant for dinner. 

One of the best things about our stay at The Vintage was just how relaxing the space was. Never overcrowded (or even remotely crowded), the gym, spa, breakfast area, rooftops were quiet and perfect ambiance to actually unwind and feel relaxed, which is sometimes easier said than done in city hotels. We also loved the attention to detail in every aspect of the hotel—each room is equipped with a DIY gin and tonic station on arrival (we're talking the works, with sweet almonds, botanicals to infuse and a golden ice bucket), Portuguese amenities in the rooms (which I found at the Time Out Market and proceeded to stock up on for when I got home), and the decor is next level. The rooms are painted in city-inspired hues, matched with lofty ceilings and and an open plan bathroom that makes the most of the space. Velvet ochre sofas complete the downstairs lounge, with books and local artwork that make it a stylish space to have a drink while you're planning your route for the day. The spa is small, and perfectly formed, with a pool just big enough to swim in post sauna or steam room-ing. There's also a small gym that was empty every time we went to use it. 

We thought the location of the hotel was good; perhaps not right in the centre for people that want the main tourist spots on their doorstep, but given everywhere is walkable in Lisbon, it didn't bother us. We found some amazing restaurants within ten minutes walk of the hotel (Zero Zero, Tapisco were highlights), and it was about 20 minutes to walk into the centre. We also relied heavily on Uber for most of the trip, given it's really cheap, reliable and convenient compared to London. We tried and failed to get public transport on multiple occasions (a lot of time wasted spent at bus stops for buses that never turned up) so Uber was a great back-up. 

*for a full hotel tour, there's an IGTV up on my Instagram. 

THE ROOM

We stayed in one of the Superior Rooms (you can also stay in a Superior Deluxe, Vintage Corner Suite or Vintage Castle Suite), and the rooms come in either green, pink or navy. On arrival, the top shelf of the drinks trolley was a G&T DIY kit and complimentary soft drinks and beers, while the bottom shelf was local delicacies and notebooks that you could eat/use for a small fee. The DIY drinks kit was such a lovely touch, not something I've come across anywhere else and made getting ready to go out much more fun. The amenities were lovely  and we were very happy to have a proper coffee machine in the room for an early morning caffeine fix pre-breakfast.

THE BAR

One of my favourite parts of the hotel, the downstairs lounge and bar couldn't have decor that was more up my street. The velvet sofas, vintage wood and dried flowers mirrors the old meets new vibe of Lisbon and really sets the mood for an evening nightcap, but is just as much of nice space to hang out in during the daylight. My favourite cocktail on the menu was the English Garden—a gin and elderflower based cocktail that was dangerously delicious and both the first and last drink I had in Lisbon. 

THE ROOFTOP

What every city break needs is some R&R time post-exploring Lisbon's (very hilly) streets up on rooftop with a drink in hand. There's a bar there which was usually open with a delicious menu, and lots of sun loungers to hang out on overlooking the city. It's not so much the kind of space to sunbathe in a bikini, but great for relaxing in the end-of-the-day sun or if you're in the city for work, bring your laptop up to the terrace for a drink. 

THE RESTAURANT

We ate in the restaurant every morning for breakfast, and once for dinner having given into the menu we'd been looking at all weekend. This could be my favourite hotel breakfast ever, and I'm not exaggerating when I say no detail is spared in this spread. Whether you want a full English, cereal or Prosecco for breakfast, it's all ready for you and completely delicious, and I cannot recommend the pancakes enough. Just like the rest of the hotel, it's styled to perfection with the piece de resistance being a beautiful honeycomb bar that is insta-worthy. For dinner, I had the mushroom risotto with a side of truffle fries; would definitely recommend eating here if you're wanting a night in or arriving late at night (it's open until 11pm).

What I'm wearing:

Cashmere jumper | H&M

Beige shorts | ASOS 

Square neck dress | ASOS

Rings | Matthew Calvin

Anklet | Missoma 

White shoes | Topshop

Leopard print skirt | Zara

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links.