"When it first opened in 2005, in a butter-yellow building in Chiado, Bairro Alto was one of Lisbon’s first self-styled boutique hotels. Things have moved on since then, and as the city’s star has soared, so, too, has the competition. But here is the comeback that can't be ignored. After a thorough three-year revamp, the original team has reimagined the hotel without losing any of its essential charm. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura has enlarged the footprint, which now spans four 18th-century buildings, and reconfigured the bedrooms and public spaces. Interior designer Atelier Bastir has updated the hotel with elements of Portugal’s enviable artisanal heritage. It’s subtle and stylish with terrazzo floors, painted tiles, local artworks, and a mix of bespoke and antique furniture, while still letting the original architectural features sing. Another coup was to lure the talents of London-based Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes of Chiltern Firehouse back to his hometown. The fifth-floor BAHR restaurant and terrace shines a spotlight on local ingredients, such as prawn rissoles, a Portuguese snack, followed by wild turbot with green kale. Meanwhile, the in-house pastelaria serves a freshly baked take on the classic pastel de nata. Perfectly poised on the cusp of two of Lisbon’s most happening neighborhoods, Bairro Alto is back on the scene. —Aoife O'Riordain Insider Tip: The real clincher is the residents-only sixth-floor bar with its sunset views as the River Tagus unfurls before you. Doubles from about $360" - CNT Editors
