The building and gardens are truly beautiful and unique. Excellent service and super friendly staff contribute to a very special atmosphere. Slightly impractical logistics (long hallways, complicated access to fitness centre) but compensated by helpful staff ready to guide you around. Looking forward to going back, for pleasure next time!

We are lovers of Classical art and when I came across the Hotel Pestana Palace website some years ago, I had told myself then - stay there when in Lisbon. After flying some 14 hours into Barcelona, and a 2 nights stay in Seville, we arrived in Lisbon. Due to the location of this Hotel, we opted a 2 nights stay in Hotel Avenida Palace in downtown Baixa first.

After a short 15 minutes cab ride from the Hotel Avenida Palace (see my other review), we finally arrived in the mainly residential district of the Hotel Pestana Palace. Had booked through Leading Hotels website, a Deluxe Garden view, we were upgraded to a Garden view Suite with a huge terrace, nice!

Our suite was simply gorgeous and quite large, about 50-55sqm, separated bedroom with door from the spacious sitting room and walk-in closet. Bathroom are mostly in marble and the terrace (which lacked privacy from neighbouring suites!) has loungers, table and chairs. Free chocolates, fruits and water were sent to us later - nice gestures.

The hotel's common areas are to be seen to believe - rooms and rooms of different Classical theme, from Neoclassical, Baroque to Chinoiserie or Japanese. Especially liked the wood panelled dinning room (first room on your left), with leather Chesterfield sofas, nice!!! Both the Restaurant's dinning halls are also palatial and grand. Though the outdoor pool and indoor heated pool and jacuzzi looked nice, we did not use them because it was winter.

As our stay had allowed us a 20% credit of the total spent, about 80 euros, we used it on their Restaurant for lunch (yummy and well presented!) and room service (nice but expensive!). Mistake - as this credit are only meant for restaurants, internet and the minibar. So, do beware of this practice, room service is NOT included.

The suite, while facing the lovely and well manicured garden was a heaven of peace and we enjoyed two nights of good sleep. Though I had found the beds acceptable, my husband had found his a tad too hard. No problems, duvets were added immediately upon us informing the Reception - great service, really!!!

As someone has mentioned, the Hotel Pestana is very close to Belem and so I had planned my itinerary in such a way that I would see these sights while staying downtown - Sintra (via train at Rossio train station), Oceanario de Lisboa Aquarium (via Metro, a must see, better than expected!), Baixa, Alfama & Chaido (the rest by walking). A cab to Belem is only 10 minutes from the Pestana Palace. And its only 5 minutes cab to the Docas de Santo Amaro for dinner, recommend the 5 Oceanos (great food at reasonable prices).

The negatives of staying at the Hotel Pestana are few - though 3 types of pillows were given, but all are too soft for our liking; poorer sound insulation within the Hotel and between rooms; harder beds; room credit should be allowed for room service usage; poorer location for sightseeing. Thus, for first time visitors to Lisbon, stay downtown first.

After a blissful two nights stay at this elegant National Monument, we took an early morning cab to the Airport for our flight to Paris, France. An early morning cab from the Hotel, though metered, was a whopping 40 euros compared to our arrival cab to downtown at only 10 euros (normal hours). Stay here, you surely won't be disappointed!

Lisbon Pestana Palace, a National Monument, is situated in a neighborhood not far from the Belem District, about 15' by taxi from Lisbon's center. It is a worthwhile detour if you want to get a taste of 19th century luxury and visit Belem and Sintra (the hotel is closer to Sintra than hotels in central Lisbon). Staying another couple of nights in the center of the city is recommended.

The common areas and the royal suites are in the palace, all the other rooms are in two newer wings. Rooms are comfortable and the service is excellent. The grounds are covered with luxuriant tropical vegetation and are actually part of the national monument.
Having a meal in the restaurant and relaxing in the palace's common area salons are special experiences (see photos). We felt relaxed and pampered. In the two days we stayed at this hotel we visited Sintra and Belem using taxis – not very expensive and time efficient.

We arrived at the main entrance and the porters took my hand to assist me out of the car. As you go inside, the furnishings are historical pieces - it was like staying a night in the Getty furniture area of the museum. The 'gossip chairs' in the bar were my fav. Stunning hotel AND grounds! The location is up a winding narrow road but the area is very quiet residential on the hill, not far from the Belem Tower (worth visiting). Many attractions are a short drive away. A walk through the gardens is a must. If traveling with family, the grounds will make for a stunning family photo! Even if you don't stay here, you really need to visit the bar and tour the grounds. It's a "don't miss" stop in Lisbon. All of the staff treated us like royalty. Can't wait to return!