At a Glance
An immaculately converted palace set in an extraordinarily lush oasis in the heart of the city.
Indagare Loves
- The leafy garden, with its huge purple jacaranda tree, which provides an escape from Lisbon’s crowded cobbled streets
- The emphasis on healthy, plant-based, food at their restaurant EVOO, drizzled with the owner’s own organic olive oil
- The indulgently large Drummonds bath tubs and generous rain showers with instantaneous hot water
Review
British owners Gail and Miles Curley fell in love with this 19th century palace on a visit to Lisbon and decided to become accidental hoteliers after Miles retired from his life as a lawyer. It’s all been Immaculately restored by Gail, who has preserved the ancient blue and white tiles, the ornate stucco-work ceilings and the impressive stairwell. She has also added bespoke, made-in-Portugal furniture and her own color-centric lightness of touch, which brings the gardens in. Fresh flowers abound and doors open out onto the greenery.
The best rooms are the Signature Suites and Signature Garden suites, but each of the 25 rooms delight with different details throughout. All come with a SMEG fridge with white wine, a variety of different milks and particularly tasty home-made energy ball biscuits. This is replaced daily as is the port and chocolate.
Breakfast can be taken in the garden accompanied by bird song (try the crushed avocado on sour-dough with poached eggs and seeds) lunch and dinner too if a day of enjoying the (unusually for Lisbon, heated) pool is what tempts. Otherwise the smiley staff will book tours or tables and owners Gail or Miles are always around to chat about where to go and what to see whether it is wineries or the best beaches within easy reach of Lisbon (somewhere they both escape to when time allows).
Who Should Stay
Luxury-loving travelers who will appreciate the tranquility in the heart of the city.
