The Vintage Hotel & Spa

‘You’re going to LOVE Lisbon’, was the refrain that Mr Smith and I heard from all angles as we planned our trip. It seemed like all of our travel-loving friends had been there already – and we’d planned to go ourselves until the pandemic disrupted our adventurous ways. So in some sense, our expectations for this trip were already sky high, after years of delay and dreaming about tile art and pastéis de nata, and burnt orange rooftops. For our first time in Lisbon, we expected magic.

A few days before our visit, the first bit of enchantment came via WhatsApp, from the Vintage concierge staff, confirming arrival details and reminding us of our complimentary hotel transfer as part of the booking package. Not having to navigate a foreign taxi system is what dreams are made of. 

After shooting off a few quick details, we were assured all was set. And as promised, almost immediately upon touching down on the runway, we were contacted again to inform us the driver was standing by.

We were whisked away by our local driver, and within half an hour, deposited at the Vintage Hotel and Spa, with its glimmering white exterior and a welcome mat that invites guests in with the motto ‘inspire, relax, play’. Mr Smith and I were ready for a combination of all three.

We arrived early in the morning, perhaps a bit over eager, so the Vintage held our bags while the room was being prepared, and we headed out on foot to the nearby Botanic Garden. Luckily, the very popular, locally brewed Fabrica coffee truck was open at the entrance, so we got a quick jolt of iced caffeine as we explored the local trees, flowers, and bamboo forest.

Within an hour we received a WhatsApp message that the room was ready, but – entranced – we decided to continue strolling for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, all through downtown Bairro Alto, with a stop for an outdoor drink at Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara, where we gazed out over the city. Sure, the view was fantastic, but we both admitted to ourselves that we were just as excited to see what awaited us back at the Vintage. We grabbed custard tarts – those famous pastéis de nata at Manteigaria – and made our way back. The return journey was not without incident, however. I’d been warned about the uneven stones in Lisbon, but after a glass of wine (and me being a bit of a klutz), I of course wiped out on one of the cobblestone streets. Not to worry, the glass of bubbles cushioned the blow. At any rate, I was ready to rest.

Arriving back at the Vintage, we found our bags already neatly placed in the room, which was decorated in deep navy blue, rustic tan, and dandelion yellow. The Vintage Deluxe room rivalled a small apartment, with a balcony that we could view the city from. We threw open the windows and turned to the vintage bar cart, which was stocked with both complimentary smoked almonds, and a make-your-own gin and tonic, complete with local aromatics and a red gin. After half a day of walking up and down hills (and falling on them), I was ready for robe life with a G&T in hand, the breeze blowing through my hair on the terrace.

After a refreshing happy hour in our room, we headed out again to dinner at the farm to table Prado, named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, with its indoor greenery competing with the Botanic Garden. After a three hour tasting menu and several glasses of locally produced wine, we somehow made room for a nightcap at Toca da Raposa, a cocktail bar using seasonal ingredients with drinks named after animals. Mr. Smith had the Lynx, while I enjoyed the T-Rex, and we both subsequently appreciated falling asleep in the spacious bed back at the Vintage.

The next morning, feeling the effects of the night before, we were both ready to dig into the hearty breakfast buffet at the hotel’s Blue Bar & Restaurant. It was a bit too hot to sit on the lovely patio, so we enjoyed perusing the selection of cold yogurt and jams, local cheeses, fresh salmon and an array of pastries, plus eggs cooked to order, in the air conditioned breakfast room. We also eyed the sparkling wine and figured a little hair of the dog couldn’t hurt for our second day.

Refuelled and ready to go again, we headed out towards Belem, where we ogled the Belem Tower, Padrão dos Descombrimentos, and Museu Coleção Berardo – but were most thrilled by the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), currently housing the modern and contemporary art museum Museu Coleção Berardo.

While we pursued the Warhols, we received a pleasant check in message from our concierge team to make sure everything was to our liking. Yes, we replied – we liked those G&Ts a little too much! After stops at the Museum of Art and Technology and the LX Factory, Mr. Smith and I were ready to recharge back at The Vintage at the V Rooftop Bar. Just in time for happy hour, we marveled how the tint of our rosé perfectly complemented the roofs of the homes below. The sunlight twinkled through our glasses, like a magic potion.

After quick rinses using the rain head shower, we went to our final dinner at Tricky’s, taking seats at the chef’s counter. The atmosphere was lively and the plates were delicious, constructed by head chef Joao Correia, who brings a touch of Italy to the Portuguese menu. Our favorite dish was the ricotta tortellini with saffron butter sauce – I would have licked the plate if Mr Smith hadn’t stopped me. After one last drink at UNI, the sister bar of Toca da Raposa, where only eight guests are seated at a time and the menu is built around flavor profiles, we were ready for bed.

On our final morning, Mr Smith and I realised we hadn’t left ourselves time to take advantage of the spa at the Vintage before our train to Porto. However, we weren’t upset; this only gave us an excuse to come back soon. We found our inspiration, fun, and relaxation over the two days we spent – and a little bit of magic, too. As our concierge team wished us goodbye and helped us into our transfer to the train station, they asked us what we thought of our time. I yelled enthusiastically, ‘We LOVED Lisbon!’.