If – like the rest of Europe’s agile working creative – you’re considering a full-time move to Lisbon, you could do far worse than testing the waters at the painfully hip Locke de Santa Joana.
A casual but by no means unceremonious ‘apart-hotel’ in the middle of Lisbon, rooms here come with a mini kitchen and washing machine, ideal if you want to feel like you’re actually living in one of Europe’s most compelling cities, rather than simply passing through. Rooms are compact, but have everything you need; think of it as a studio apartment more than a hotel room, with midcentury modern-inspired furnishings, a California-cool knotted throw on the bed and access to an outdoor pool in the central courtyard, as well as a gym and co-working space.
The building also comes with its own dose of Portuguese history; excellent on-site restaurant Santa Joana is in a seventeenth-century convent, so you don’t have to leave the site to swoon at original mosaics (or to indulge in outstanding food). Marking his big move back to Portugal, the culinary director is the mighty Nuno Mendes, former exec chef at London’s Chiltern Firehouse and founder of Fitzriovia’s Lisboeta. Bars on site are also super high-end; there’s the first European branch of London’s acclaimed audiophile bar Spiritland, and The Kissaten not only boasts the largest whiskey selection in Lisbon, but a directory of classic 1970s-leaning vinyl. In fact, the on-site food and drink options are so good (there’s also a great terrace bar and Italian restaurant overlooking the pool) that you might not end up heading out into Lisbon at all – which would really be quite a shame.
Neighbourhood
The hotel is right in the middle of central Lisbon, making it super practical for getting all over the (admittedly quite small) city.
Nearby
- Parque Eduardo VII: This grand, landscaped park is mere moments away from the hotel. Check out the Estufa Fria greenhouse, which dates back to the 1930s, and contains sculptures, waterfalls and a steamy selection of tropical plants.
- Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian (CAM): This modern art museum was seriously spruced up in 2024. Check out the stunning, Japanese-inspired wooden canopy – as much of a work of art as what’s inside the building.
- Teatro Tivoli: This neoclassical-styled theatre is great for everything from traditional fado music to modern dance.
Time Out tip
Seek out the hotel’s onsite archeological museum, which you’ll find in the seventeenth-century convent part of the building.