Every city needs a beacon of luxury and in Lisbon, the honour has fallen to Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon ever since it was inaugurated in 1959. Overlooking the terracotta rooftops of Lisbon’s Old Town and the perfectly manicured gardens of Eduardo VII Park, the legendary hotel has provided a home-from-home for well-heeled visitors and hosted some of the most glamorous events in the city during its 62-year history.
The hotel returns to form this season after a delicate modernisation, with a new look that meets the needs of 21st-century visitors while honouring its glamorous past, courtesy of Portuguese design studio OITOEMPONTO. Founded by creative team Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec, the company has a portfolio of clients that includes opulent hotels, private residences, retail boutiques, restaurants and a wine estate and chateau in Provence.
Inspired by old photos and the hotel’s 1950’s aesthetic, the new look embraces the past but stands firmly in the present, with state-of-the-art light, audio and visual technology throughout the guestrooms and suites, redesigned to evoke a sense of stylish and playful 1950’s charm.
The new look extends to the hotel’s public spaces, with a new outdoor pool and bar and a new terrace at the Ritz Bar, the hotel’s signature watering hole. Some things remain unchanged, including the hotel’s museum-worthy collection of contemporary art and the spectacular outdoor terrace at Varanda Restaurant, where local ingredients and dishes are celebrated as diners soak in incredible views of Eduardo VII Park.