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Lisbon’s 1959 grand hotel by Eduardo VII Park, full of Portuguese art
- Opened 1959
- Four Seasons since 1998
- Rooftop running track
- Families welcome
The story
In 1950, Portugal’s prime minister António de Oliveira Salazar revived the idea of a great first-class hotel for Lisbon and followed the project closely. A group of ten Portuguese businessmen, led by Queiroz Pereira, financed it, and the architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro designed a modernist block above Eduardo VII Park.
The Hotel Ritz opened in 1959 with 330 rooms. Leading Portuguese artists of the day were asked to decorate it: Almada Negreiros designed tapestries with centaurs, his wife Sarah Afonso painted an allegory of the seasons, and artists such as Querubim Lapa added works to a collection of around 600 pieces.
Four Seasons took over the management in 1998. In 2021 the rooms were renovated by the Porto studio Oitoemponto, with chairs and carpets taken from the original 1959 designs, and the roof was turned into a gym circled by a running track.
At a glance
- Where
- Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 88, beside Eduardo VII Park, near Avenida da Liberdade
- Open since
- 1959; managed by Four Seasons since 1998
- Rooms
- 282 rooms and suites, renovated in 2021
- Dining
- Varanda restaurant, with views over the park
- Wellness
- Spa with four treatment rooms, sauna and ESPA treatments
- Pool
- 18 m indoor pool, plus an outdoor pool and bar
- Children
- Welcome; babysitting available
- Pets
- Pet friendly
- Nearest airport
- Lisbon, about 12 to 20 minutes by car
Why book it
A run above the city
The rooftop gym is circled by a 400-metre outdoor track with views of Lisbon and the Tagus.
A museum of Portuguese art
Around 600 works, from Almada Negreiros’ tapestries to paintings and sculpture, fill the public rooms.
Room to breathe
Large rooms, an indoor and an outdoor pool and a park next door give you calm after a day in the hills.
Shopping on foot
Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main shopping avenue, is a few minutes’ walk away.
Amenities
Food and drink
- Varanda restaurant, known for its weekend brunch
- Bar
- 24-hour room service
Wellness
- Spa with ESPA facials
- Sauna
- Pilates sessions
Pool and outdoors
- 18 m indoor lap pool
- Outdoor pool and bar
- 400 m rooftop running track
Experiences
- Art collection tours on request
- Yoga and Pilates classes
Service
- Babysitting
- Pets welcome
- On-site parking
Did you know?
Built by request of a dictator
Salazar, who ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968, supervised the project himself as a statement of national prestige.
Twelve staff lifts
The hotel opened with 4 lifts for guests and 12 for staff, and 400 employees for 330 rooms.
Chairs from 1959
The velvet chairs in today’s rooms copy those of the original 1959 Card Room.
Good to know
Best for
- Art and design lovers
- Families who want space and a pool
- Runners and fitness fans
- Travellers who prefer a calm base
Think twice if
- You want to step out into old Lisbon’s lanes
- You prefer a small boutique hotel
- You want a rooftop bar scene
- You dislike grand, formal interiors
The rooftop gym has no changing rooms, so change in your room or at the spa first. Book Varanda’s weekend brunch ahead.
Location
Ready to choose?
See it side by side
Wondering how the Ritz compares with Bairro Alto Hotel, in the heart of Chiado?
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: Four Seasons press: hotel facts, Wikipedia, Robb Report, Salt of Portugal, Forbes Travel Guide, Traveller. Facts change: please confirm details with the hotel when booking. We may earn a commission.