Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel on Postcard

"Lisbon’s swanky Lapa district is removed from the busy, winding streets of other neighborhoods, and this hotel is as grand as the neighborhood. Built in 1870, Lapa Palace was originally the residence of Luís Leite Pereira Jardim, the Count of Valenças, with ballrooms, tower views, and a lot of marble to prove it. Behind the 109-room building you’ll find a heated swimming pool and landscaped garden—an ethereal space in a fast-paced city."

How to Spend a Weekend in Lisbon

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@cntraveler

"Start wide: Can you describe this place for us?The aptly named Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel is situated in a former manor. Its location, on Lisbon’s outskirts, makes it inconvenient for those looking to stay central, but it's also ideal if you're looking for your own palatial playground for the weekend. (And, let's face it: who isn't?) Grounds this expansive and verdant are rare in tightly packed Lisbon, so take advantage of the room to breathe. We will. What’s the crowd like?The grand décor draws equally grand guests—and portraits of the manor’s former occupants hanging throughout keep an eye on them. Got it. How was check-in? Was the staff on their game?Though the lobby can be busy during peak times, the staff swiftly adjusts. Expect top-notch service and hospitality; the servers here deserve a shoutout for their charisma, conversation skills, and attention to detail. Navigating the grounds can be a bit disorienting, so ask for a map at check-in. Perfect. Now, onto the good stuff: Tell us about the digs.The 109 rooms are divided into three wings—the Garden Wing, Palace Wing, and the independent (and posh) Villa Lapa. All of the rooms are independently designed, featuring ornate old-world décor and modern amenities. They sound lovely. How about the little things, like the mini bar, or the shower goodies? What made your stay more comfortable?Perks include cable TV, free wifi, DVD players, and marble bathrooms stocked with L'Occitane products. Suites have iPod docks, living rooms, and Jacuzzis. Excellent. How about room service, and the dining options in general?A complimentary breakfast is included in the room rate. For other meals, Lapa Restaurant serves Mediterranean fare in an elegant atmosphere; the Rio Tejo Bar offers a renowned afternoon tea service (May through September); and Le Pavillion serves canapés and drinks poolside. We'll have to try them all. Any other services or features you'd like to shout out? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The jungle-y backyard is adorned with fountains, fish ponds, and a stellar outdoor pool. This is also a rare family-friendly hotel with babysitting services and a kids' pool. Great. Bottom line: worth it, and why?It’s worth the splurge if you’re here to celebrate something." - Jenna Scatena

Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel

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Adam H

Google

Wow. We absolutely loved this hotel. Visiting Lisbon for 2 nights we thought we would treat ourselves to a little bit of luxury and we were glad we did. Yes, this hotel is out of town with not a great deal going on around and about and was a 25 minute walk down towards Time Out Market one way and LX Factory the other way which were both worth visiting. |From the moment we arrived, we were treated exemplary by all staff. We arrived by Uber from the airport at 11:30 in the morning expecting to just leave our bags and go out however we were amazed that the receptionist checked to see if our room was ready and allowed us to check in which was great. Never before have we checked in this early to a hotel (check out was 12)|All the staff are wonderful and couldn’t do enough for you. We had a standard room which was on the 2nd floor and had garden views which was lovely. The rooms are lovely and palatial and a throwback reminder to how it would have been a few hundred years previously. The weather was ok given it was October but we did use the outdoor pool which was actually quite refreshing especially after walking for 8 miles in the day. Again, the pool attendants sorted you out with towels and cushions for loungers. We felt the indoor pool was a little tired and were disappointed that the room didn’t have any facilities to make a tea as no kettle and no tea bags but there was a coffee pod but we don’t drink coffee. |Breakfast was lovely and there was an option to sit on the terrace if the weather was ok. Bar area was small but again had a lovely outdoor terrace with far reaching river views. |If you are staying here then you must book the local Italian restaurant called Come Prima. It’s a 5 minute walk and is outstanding but you need to reserve a table in advance as it is so popular. |A lovely stay in a wonderful setting.

RubyBegoniaGoes

Google

This is a wonderful, true five star hotel. The kind of five star hotel where every employee is providing excellent service, where they replace every tablecloth with each breakfast guest, where they rake the entire lawn by the gorgeous pool every morning so there is never even one leaf, where the bathrooms are giant and marble-clad. I was a little hesitant because it looks a little stuffy in the photos but it’s all gorgeous old furniture and not overdone. It also does not have much of anything close by but it is extraordinarily cheap and easy to get around Lisbon and the neighborhood is very close (and even walkable) to all kinds on places you want to be. The pool is fabulous, the views over Lisbon extraordinary. I am so glad we stayed here.

Lexie H

Google

From beginning to end, our stay at this hotel was really something special. It's tucked away in a quieter part of town - between Belem and Praca do Comercio, but easily walkable into town. We got upgraded (via Amex) to an incredible room that had views of both the water and the garden. ||My birthday fell during our stay, and while I don't remember ever giving that detail, they must've picked up on it from my passport. When they brought us breakfast that morning, I was wished a happy birthday and then later received an incredible cake and bottle of champagne to continue celebrating (from the hotel). It was such a minor detail to pick up on since it wasn't on our reservation notes, and really shows the attention to detail of the hotel.||The continental breakfast was really good - both the one in the restaurant as well as the in-room option. The rooms also have an American outlet as an option, which was a very nice touch. ||Prior to staying, I saw some reviews noting the decor of the hotel and how it may be "outdated," but I would argue that is missing the point of the hotel design with that perspective. All of the rooms are decorated differently, and we were in the palace wing, with more traditional decor. It is a very luxurious, clean hotel and the bed was awesome with super nice linen sheets and fluffy pillows. I slept the best I've slept in a long time.||We would absolutely stay here again!

Angela S

Google

Overall this is a classy and traditional luxury hotel situated outside of the busy city centre of Lisbon. Rooms are generous in size and comfortable with nice balconies and fantastic views.The gardens and swimming pool are the best attractions. The bar area and terrace are lovely and the service is excellent. Yes I would stay here again as I found central Lisbon noisy and busy so it was nice to retreat to the Lapa area in the evening. Probably a hotel best suited to the older generation. Sound proofing between rooms was not the best which is the only downside that I could find. Hotel restaurant was good although there are nearby restaurants with more atmosphere.( including Come Prima).

Anthony P

Google

A wonderful feeling of old school luxury. Front desk and porters just delightfully helpful. The rooms are lovey with a fine bed and correspondingly luxurious bedding. ||We were very happy and very comfortable.||The spa facilities could maybe do with a bit of an upgrade although his is not a hotel at which one stays for the spa. ||Please keep it up. We are looking forward to going back.

Chetna M

Google

Anything I could say about Lapa Palace would do it an injustice. This hotel is a cosy home away from home. This was our first time back post-COVID and we were delighted to see so many familiar faces. From the front desk to the bar staff to the chamber maid, everyone is super friendly and hospitable and nothing is ever too much. We did not eat at the hotel restaurant but the menu did look varied and appealing. We ate lunch in the bar (Bar Tejo) and ordered a vegetarian club sandwich which is served with salad and chips. The food was delicious . A big shout out to Oscar who plays fabulous tunes on a piano and keyboard to make each evening special and also to Paulo, Ricardo, Marco, Joao and who are all brilliant. The hotel spa is well worth a try. The two Theresas and Andrea come very highly recommended. The massages we received were highly tailored to map against the problem areas we both had and were highly professional. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the front of house as they are truly exceptional. A big thank you to Miguel & Pedro and the team who make each stay perfect. We cannot wait to see you all again!! There is only one place to stay when you are in Lisbon and that is the Olisippo Lapa Palace.

Sharon H

Google

One of the best hotel that we have ever stayed in. What an experience! This is a 5 star hotel, restaurant and service in our book. We have traveled a lot over the years and this was the best. The staff was exceptional along with the room accommodation's. Don’t pass this up for this exceptional stay.

Andrew M

Google

What a Lovely Lovely Hotel. Everyone smiles, Everyone says Hello, Everyone says Yes. ||Having stayed in Lisbon City Centre last year, we wanted a hotel with a pool and gym. We wanted space. We’ve got it. A large generous bedroom, reprovisioned and tidied twice a day. A really well thought out breakfast. Super public spaces. ||It’s a treat.

Adam H

Google

Wow. We absolutely loved this hotel. Visiting Lisbon for 2 nights we thought we would treat ourselves to a little bit of luxury and we were glad we did. Yes, this hotel is out of town with not a great deal going on around and about and was a 25 minute walk down towards Time Out Market one way and LX Factory the other way which were both worth visiting. |From the moment we arrived, we were treated exemplary by all staff. We arrived by Uber from the airport at 11:30 in the morning expecting to just leave our bags and go out however we were amazed that the receptionist checked to see if our room was ready and allowed us to check in which was great. Never before have we checked in this early to a hotel (check out was 12)|All the staff are wonderful and couldn’t do enough for you. We had a standard room which was on the 2nd floor and had garden views which was lovely. The rooms are lovely and palatial and a throwback reminder to how it would have been a few hundred years previously. The weather was ok given it was October but we did use the outdoor pool which was actually quite refreshing especially after walking for 8 miles in the day. Again, the pool attendants sorted you out with towels and cushions for loungers. We felt the indoor pool was a little tired and were disappointed that the room didn’t have any facilities to make a tea as no kettle and no tea bags but there was a coffee pod but we don’t drink coffee. |Breakfast was lovely and there was an option to sit on the terrace if the weather was ok. Bar area was small but again had a lovely outdoor terrace with far reaching river views. |If you are staying here then you must book the local Italian restaurant called Come Prima. It’s a 5 minute walk and is outstanding but you need to reserve a table in advance as it is so popular. |A lovely stay in a wonderful setting.

RubyBegoniaGoes

Google

This is a wonderful, true five star hotel. The kind of five star hotel where every employee is providing excellent service, where they replace every tablecloth with each breakfast guest, where they rake the entire lawn by the gorgeous pool every morning so there is never even one leaf, where the bathrooms are giant and marble-clad. I was a little hesitant because it looks a little stuffy in the photos but it’s all gorgeous old furniture and not overdone. It also does not have much of anything close by but it is extraordinarily cheap and easy to get around Lisbon and the neighborhood is very close (and even walkable) to all kinds on places you want to be. The pool is fabulous, the views over Lisbon extraordinary. I am so glad we stayed here.

Lexie H

Google

From beginning to end, our stay at this hotel was really something special. It's tucked away in a quieter part of town - between Belem and Praca do Comercio, but easily walkable into town. We got upgraded (via Amex) to an incredible room that had views of both the water and the garden. ||My birthday fell during our stay, and while I don't remember ever giving that detail, they must've picked up on it from my passport. When they brought us breakfast that morning, I was wished a happy birthday and then later received an incredible cake and bottle of champagne to continue celebrating (from the hotel). It was such a minor detail to pick up on since it wasn't on our reservation notes, and really shows the attention to detail of the hotel.||The continental breakfast was really good - both the one in the restaurant as well as the in-room option. The rooms also have an American outlet as an option, which was a very nice touch. ||Prior to staying, I saw some reviews noting the decor of the hotel and how it may be "outdated," but I would argue that is missing the point of the hotel design with that perspective. All of the rooms are decorated differently, and we were in the palace wing, with more traditional decor. It is a very luxurious, clean hotel and the bed was awesome with super nice linen sheets and fluffy pillows. I slept the best I've slept in a long time.||We would absolutely stay here again!

Angela S

Google

Overall this is a classy and traditional luxury hotel situated outside of the busy city centre of Lisbon. Rooms are generous in size and comfortable with nice balconies and fantastic views.The gardens and swimming pool are the best attractions. The bar area and terrace are lovely and the service is excellent. Yes I would stay here again as I found central Lisbon noisy and busy so it was nice to retreat to the Lapa area in the evening. Probably a hotel best suited to the older generation. Sound proofing between rooms was not the best which is the only downside that I could find. Hotel restaurant was good although there are nearby restaurants with more atmosphere.( including Come Prima).

Anthony P

Google

A wonderful feeling of old school luxury. Front desk and porters just delightfully helpful. The rooms are lovey with a fine bed and correspondingly luxurious bedding. ||We were very happy and very comfortable.||The spa facilities could maybe do with a bit of an upgrade although his is not a hotel at which one stays for the spa. ||Please keep it up. We are looking forward to going back.

Chetna M

Google

Anything I could say about Lapa Palace would do it an injustice. This hotel is a cosy home away from home. This was our first time back post-COVID and we were delighted to see so many familiar faces. From the front desk to the bar staff to the chamber maid, everyone is super friendly and hospitable and nothing is ever too much. We did not eat at the hotel restaurant but the menu did look varied and appealing. We ate lunch in the bar (Bar Tejo) and ordered a vegetarian club sandwich which is served with salad and chips. The food was delicious . A big shout out to Oscar who plays fabulous tunes on a piano and keyboard to make each evening special and also to Paulo, Ricardo, Marco, Joao and who are all brilliant. The hotel spa is well worth a try. The two Theresas and Andrea come very highly recommended. The massages we received were highly tailored to map against the problem areas we both had and were highly professional. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the front of house as they are truly exceptional. A big thank you to Miguel & Pedro and the team who make each stay perfect. We cannot wait to see you all again!! There is only one place to stay when you are in Lisbon and that is the Olisippo Lapa Palace.

Sharon H

Google

One of the best hotel that we have ever stayed in. What an experience! This is a 5 star hotel, restaurant and service in our book. We have traveled a lot over the years and this was the best. The staff was exceptional along with the room accommodation's. Don’t pass this up for this exceptional stay.

Andrew M

Google

What a Lovely Lovely Hotel. Everyone smiles, Everyone says Hello, Everyone says Yes. ||Having stayed in Lisbon City Centre last year, we wanted a hotel with a pool and gym. We wanted space. We’ve got it. A large generous bedroom, reprovisioned and tidied twice a day. A really well thought out breakfast. Super public spaces. ||It’s a treat.

Joe C.

Yelp

The Lapa Palace is old school in the best way, with friendly but more formal service, old school decor, and a beautiful, classic property. Set away from the city core, it features beautiful views of the bay and the rest of Lisbon. The pool is something special, large, luxurious, warm and relaxing. It has a grotto like feel and is easily the most calming place I have found in a European city. The hotel is nearly perfect and a great value for what you receive. It needs more electrical outlets in the room. There, I came up with something negative to say.

Robin W.

Yelp

You will certainly be treated like royalty at Lapa Palace! From our first arrival off our Cruise Ship tour bus until our last moments having Room Service Breakfast, every second was spectacular! This beautiful and luxurious 5 Star hotel is welcoming and comfortable in the lobby, bar, restaurants and your suite. Tasteful and comfortable decor is seen throughout. Every amenity is offered. The health club with its indoor pool is lovely. Our tour group enjoyed the large outdoor pool surrounded by the beauty of lush gardens. Buffet breakfast was included in our daily room rate. We could sit inside or out on a beautiful terrace. On our last day, our breakfast was brought to our room because we had to eat before the restaurant opened. Room service was included. Be sure to look at the impressive picture of what they brought us! We recommend not staying on the second floor as the Internet was quite poor only on that level. Our suite was large and comfortable. The marble bathroom included separate areas for double sinks,a bathtub, enclosed shower and toilet with beset. Our room was made up twice a day. Once to clean and change towels and another for fresh towels and turn down. You will feel like a King or Queen if you stay here. We highly recommend it.

Sungeeta A.

Yelp

The Lapa Palace in Lisbon was a fantastic place to kick off our honeymoon. It's a beautiful hotel with the most attentive and helpful staff. It's location is also great, and within walking distance (or a short and inexpensive Uber ride) to many popular spots in Lisbon. One of my favorite parts of the hotel is the free breakfast, which is a truly incredible spread - and it even includes champagne! Their Spa is another highlight, and we enjoyed the most wonderful massages while we were waiting for our room to be ready. The room itself was quite nice and had a great view of their pool/ lawn. When I come back to Portugal, I will definitely consider staying at Lapa Palace again!

Steve T.

Yelp

If you've never been to Lisbon, or Portugal for that matter, be sure to add it to your bucket list. Lisbon has just the right mix of old and new, stodgy and hip, interesting and cool, busy and chill. One of the crown jewels of this great city is the Lapa Palace Hotel, once the home of some really, really rich dude, or duke as the case may be. Artfully redone, the hotel is the "lap(a)" of luxury. Situated just outside the historic district, the hotel offers comfortable, spacious rooms, a professional, uniformed, English speaking staff, doorman, on-site parking, a great outdoor pool and bar, and a solid breakfast (included). Your intrepid author discovered the Portuguese national dessert...the Pasteis de Nata, an egg custard in a tart shell. About the size of a silver dollar, I ate these by the truckload all over Portugal. What's not to like? Really my only complaint is that the hotel is within walking distance of nothing. Not a problem though...Ubers are readily available and cheap (about $3 gets you anywhere), so ditch the car (you won't need it and parking in Lisbon is a no-go) and Uber everywhere. If you find yourself in Lisbon, and you really should go, check our the Lapa Palace Hotel. In fact, one night when we got back from dinner the hotel parking lot was full of McClaren's, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porches. All of these vehicles were painted with outlandish schemes, my favorite being a Rolls Royse decked out as the "Muppet Show." Yeah, some folks have way too much money.

Amber A.

Yelp

A former Duke's palace. Lovely, plush grounds filled with exquisite trees, flowers, ponds, and waterfalls. Located high on a hill in the old section of Lisbon which gives you optimal views of the city and the water. Food and drinks are delicious. Breakfast is first class with regards to variety and taste. Spa facilitates are top notch. It's pricey but with it fir the location and amenities. The outdoor pool is fun and refreshing. Downside: I would expect the beds and bedding to be better for a luxury spa hotel. Also, service at the pool was very slow.

D L.

Yelp

In mid November we visited Lisbon for the first time and stayed at the Olissippo Lapa Palace for 5 days. We arrived at the hotel around 7am on Saturday morning hoping for as early a check-in as possible as we had been up for over 20 hours and had slept very little on our 8 hour flight from Miami to Lisbon. The gentleman at the Front Desk was very efficient and courteous. Our plan was to have breakfast and then take a taxi into town and return around noon. Imagine our surprise and delight when he informed us that he had changed our room since the reserved one was not ready and he could check us in right away. We stayed in a River View room on the 6th floor in the Garden Wing. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated with a wonderful view of the Tagus river. This level of excellent service was maintained throughout our entire stay. Although the hotel is about 10 minutes from central Lisbon, it was very easy to get around. It is in a great area with a lot of embassies. Crime is very low in Lisbon therefore we felt safe walking around at night. We also found taxi fares and food surprisingly less than we expected, especially for Europe. The food was also nicely seasoned and very tasty. We thoroughly enjoyed Portugal and found its people to be very engaging and friendly. We also would highly recommend Olissippo Lapa Palace and plan to return on our next visit to Lisbon.

Noirita B.

Yelp

Pros: 1. Awesome property with great rooms, service and pools 2. Great room service 3. People at reception are very helpful Cons: 1. Do European hotels never provide iron along with iron board at room? It was a little disappointment to us(coming from NYC) 2. Restaurant menu was pretty boring Overall: Highly recommended

Dennis L.

Yelp

Wow, this was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. It is very old world, but is kept beautifully well. The building is so gorgeous with lots of marble, well crafted wood, and big windows to showcase their views of their well sculpted garden. The free breakfast buffet they offer in the morning is so tasty. They offer free shoe shining, free DVD rentals, and free bath robes. The rooms are so nice. The bathrooms have towel warming racks. The closets are huge and even have shoe racks. The garden, waterfall, and pool area outside is very nice. The interior pool is nice, but small. They have a free sauna and steam room. The people who work here are incredibly nice and friendly. My wife and I came here as part of our honeymoon trip. They gave us free sparkling wine and strawberries the same night we checked in.

Shara C.

Yelp

My husband and I were in Lisbon for only one night before heading to the Douro Valley for a wedding. I'm so glad that we choose Olissippo Lapa Palace for our one night in the city and wish that we could have spent more time there. From the very beginning, I was impressed. The location is a bit off the beaten bath, which was wonderful. Walking into the hotel, the lobby is beautiful and the staff is incredible courteous and helpful. We booked the stay through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and they treated us like royalty - upgraded our room and we had a huge and beautiful patio and port wine and snacks waiting. The decor of the hotel is definitely more traditional vs. modern, which seemed appropriate for the location. The set up of the room was beautiful and the service throughout our stay was unmatched. We had drinks at the bar and dinner in the restaurant - all fabulous and delicious. I look forward to returning one day!

Dale B.

Yelp

Fabulous hotel with views of the Tagus, or garden/poolside rooms. Sublime service with many amenities. First-class restaurant, bar. Breakfast is superb, rooms contemporary and comfortable, bathrooms are spacious. Easily my favorite hotel in Portugal, one of my favorites in all of Europe.

Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel

Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel

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