A hotel with the word “epic” in the title must be awesome, right? Well in the case of the five star Epic Sana Lisboa, a heated infinity pool on the rooftop helps.
The Epic Sana has bagged its fair share of awards, so you can be assured on quality at this 291-room luxury hotel. Minimalist décor accentuates the sheer size of the rooms, where king beds take pride of place. The spaciousness carries through to the bathrooms, where you can wash away the day in an oversized shower cubicle or tub before wrapping yourself in a fluffy robe. You can also wash off the chlorine from that pool dip you’ll likely want to take on the ninth floor, particularly nice at sunset when you can witness Lisbon’s famous golden glow with a cocktail in hand from the terrace bar. For added relaxation, swing by the Sayanna Wellness Spa, where you’ll find an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, gym and massage parlor. When hunger strikes, head to the lobby restaurant Onyx for a quick bite, or go for something fancier at the Flor-de- Lis restaurant. Choose from à la carte dishes or a tasting menu centered around Portugal’s delectable seafood and amazing wines.
Location: The Epic Sana is in Lisbon’s north, slightly removed from the city center. The uber-trendy suburb of Príncipe Real and high-end shopping street Avenida da Liberdade are nearby however, so you won’t be totally removed from the action. The Rato metro station is a ten-minute walk away.
Nearby:
Avenida da Liberdade: This is Lisbon’s premium shopping strip where you can tread across beautiful mosaic pavement under the arch of towering trees. The building façades along this street are also stunning, so what better place to drain some pennies?
39A Concept Store: Strut down a neon-lit, catwalk-style entrance to get to the goods of this funky gallery and boutique clothing store. You’ll find the wares of local designers laid out in an artsy fashion and surrounded by a collection of art and knick-knacks.
Miradouro do Parque Eduardo VII: This lookout is located on the border of the Jardim Amália Rodrigues Park, named after one of Portugal’s most famous fado singers. Walk up the long gentle slope from Avenida da Liberdade and past a statue of the Marquês de Pombal to admire a sweeping city view across the manicured gardens.
Jardim do Príncipe Real: Another fabulous green space nearby is the Príncipe Real park. A giant cedar tree stretches out like an umbrella over a circle of bench seats, and there is a traditional quiosque (kiosk) serving drinks and snacks.
Good for: The hotel is well kitted out for business and leisure travelers, but is also family-friendly and offers a babysitting service if you’ve got little ones in tow.
Amenities: pool; sauna; room service; free wi-fi; minibar; restaurant; bar; gym; laundry service; concierge; spa
Time Out tip: Go Italian style and walk five minutes to Il Mercato. Here the tasting menu changes daily to reflect the in-season and homemade products of the moment. If you fancy a picnic you can always pick up some goodies from the deli and head to Jardim Amália Rodrigues.