Review: Convent Square Lisbon, Vignette Collection, an IHG Hotel review

Why book?

For a first-timer in Lisbon, you’d have a hard time finding a stylish stay as central as this one. You’re surrounded by some of the city’s most important historical landmarks – but the history tucked away within the hotel is just as fascinating as everything that surrounds it.

Set the scene

It doesn’t get more central than this: Steps from the Praça de Figueira in Lisbon’s Baixa neighbourhood, around the corner from the Rossio train station and the Martim Moniz tram stop, you’re in the walkable heart of Lisbon while also within striking distance of pretty much anywhere you might want to explore from here. But for all the area’s accessibility, this is the first stylish branded hotel nearby – there are plenty of charming inns and serviceable hostels all around the square, but Vignette Collection’s arrival in the neighbourhood brings a sense of scale and comfort that had been the domain of better-known luxury properties along Avenida da Liberdade or plush boutique hotels in Chiado or Principe Real.

The backstory

Vignette Collection marks hospitality behemoth IHG Hotels & Resorts’ foray into intimate, design-centric properties around the world. And while there are all the comforts you’d want from a familiar, established brand, the sense of character and history that’s imbued throughout the hotel sets it apart from cookie-cutter chains. Convent Square Hotel opened in August 2023 in an 800-year-old cloister, part of a nunnery attached to the 13th-century church of São Domingo next door. The hotel was seamlessly integrated into one of Lisbon’s most historic areas – the church was one of the few landmarks to survive a 1755 earthquake that decimated much of Lisbon. The heart of the hotel is the open courtyard, anchored by two olive trees and a cistern used by the nuns for generations, but the past is woven into every corner – original tombstones from the crypt are incorporated into the Capitulo restaurant, and 17th-century blue tiles remain on various walls. But for all its heritage, Convent Square is soothingly contemporary – low tables with stylish chairs upholstered in Indo-Portuguese fabrics surround the cloisters, while stylish light fixtures made of leather hang amid the limestone columns of Capitulo.

The rooms

The 121 rooms are on the cosy side and have sleek design. The hotel leans into its origins with a unique look that might well coin a new design aesthetic: monastic chic. Carpets evoke sombre stone slabs from ancient monasteries, so much so that it wasn’t until I stepped out of the elevator and my foot sunk in the plush flooring that I realised it was, in fact, a carpet. A blush-coloured leather headboard was set against a wall that evoked unfinished stucco, the compact bathroom was fully clad in pink marble but low on storage space, and semicircular mirrors made the room feel airy. The bedside phone, resembling a hotel bible, straddled the line between kitschy and cute, and local treats in the room like port wine was a nice touch. Many of the rooms, including mine, look out over the cloister, but the soundproofing was impressive – when I slid closed the glass door to my Juliet balcony, the outside world was shut out with it. Rates start at £227 per night.

Food and drink

Just off the courtyard, Capitulo restaurant inhabits the former chapter house, a beautiful space with vaulted ceilings, timeworn details, and a stylish, contemporary stunner of a bar. The breakfast buffet is abundant with local cheeses and pastries including — of course — pasteis de nata. At night, the atmospheric restaurant serves chef Vitor Sobral’s contemporary Portuguese fare—cod fritters; cockles with xerem; chicken escabeche. Perhaps because the hotel had only been open a few weeks, it was fairly quiet when I was there, but given the central location and smart design, it has the potential to become a local favourite.

The spa

While there isn’t a spa, a light-filled wellness centre occupies the top floor, with a heated plunge pool, sauna, fitness centre overlooking the cloister and the roof of the neighbouring São Domingo church.

The neighbourhood/area

This was my first time in Lisbon, and I truly could not have dreamed of a better location — I was steps from some of the biggest landmarks and boulevards (and, importantly, pastel de nata shops) in Lisbon, and within an easy walk to the buzzy Chiado and Bairro Alto districts on one side and Mouraria and Alfama on the other. I personally didn’t have it in me to brave the endless lines to take the charming yellow tram up through Alfama and around the city, but if you’re more up to the wait than I was, the main stop, at Praça Martim Munoz, was a five minute walk away. While Ubers are plentiful and affordable in Lisbon, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and walked even farther afield, up posh Avenida Liberdade to Principe Real. Even day trips to places like Sintra are a breeze – the central Rossio train station practically at the hotel’s doorstep. If you want to spend most of your time in Lisbon exploring by foot, it doesn’t get more central than this.

The service

Service was very casual and friendly and consummately helpful – everyone was happy to show me around, share a bit of the hotel’s history, or help make a booking or a suggestion, even during the busiest hours.

Accessibility

While its hilly, cobblestoned streets may be extremely photogenic, Lisbon can be a challenging city to navigate for anyone with accessibility concerns. Convent Square’s location in Baixa, the lower portion of Lisbon between its hills, means the surrounding streets are reasonably flat and not as steep or difficult to manoeuvre as Chiado or elsewhere. It is, however, a pedestrian-only street, so taxi drop-off and pickup locations are around the corner – something to keep in mind. The hotel has a few designated accessible rooms; the only location that can be tricky to get to would be Capitulo, as it’s a few steps down from the main level, but there is a chair lift for guests who may need it.

Anything left to mention?

Every afternoon at 5:00, guests are invited to gather in the cloister for a ritual tea ceremony. It’s a nod to Portugal’s role in the spice and tea trade, and the host walks guests through the history of the cloister while serving tea made from signature blends from the Portuguese brand Infusões com História—it’s a charming complimentary experience worth lingering for at least once during a stay.