Santiago de Alfama

Very few hotels can boast the historical pedigree of Santiago de Alfama, nestled amidst the winding staircases of Lisbon’s upcoming Alfama district. A 15th-century former workhouse built atop Roman ruins which have been integrated into the structure, this exquisite building was snatched from the jaws of dereliction by hotelier Heleen Uitenbroek. After a six-year renovation, now each of Santiago de Alfama's 19 rooms are unique in both layout and decoration and feature decor flourishes ranging from exquisite French armoires to rich taupe slate bathrooms. The pristine white rooms are accented with vivid splashes of colour thanks to hand-made Indian fabrics, and beds are adorned with bespoke Portuguese cotton bedding. And if you're lucky enough to end up in room 303, you'll sleep beneath an original Roy Lichtenstein painting. The hotel’s Café Audrey boasts one of the best full English breakfasts this side of the Channel, while its restaurant, A Fabrica de Santiago, features a menu full of dishes inspired by the golden age of Portuguese exploration, with flavours from Brazil, Macau and everywhere in between – rather fitting for a hotel that sits next door to the church in which Christopher Columbus married in 1479. A palpably global feel - and plans in the pipeline for further renovations to an adjacent building – make Santiago de Alfama a must for those looking for a sophisticated, eclectic Lisbon hideout.