Review: First in: Locke de Santa Joana Lisbon hotel review

Why book?

There’s been a quiet buzz about the opening of Locke’s first Lisbon location for some time, and the property undoubtedly lives up to the hype. On paper, there are some juxtapositions that seem hard to ignore; a fun, friendly and intimate service amidst a huge, 370 room property (Locke’s biggest, in fact), for example. Or the blend of modern design and furnishings in a site which was once a 17th century convent. But the brand has managed to create a property that feels welcoming, intimate, fresh and classic all at once.

Set the scene

Relatively unassuming from street level, the hotel opens to a reception area filled with a mish-mash of squishy sofas and chairs, plus a barrage of plants in oversized terracotta pots (I counted 37 on my quick scan). Truthfully, this is not a new concept; this fun, colourful, textured reception that screams cool, relaxed traveller. What helps set it apart though, is the touches that remind you you’re in Lisbon: the restored tiles that were found during excavation, the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, Castro’s, which scents the whole room and proudly displays pasteis de nata and – mercifully for all – a wonderfully separate co-working room, that allows those with laptops to have some quiet as they work, and everyone else to not feel as though they’ve walked into an office.

These thoughtful touches are what will make this property a must-stay in Lisbon as word of mouth spreads. Everyone has been catered for, from families to digital nomads, but nothing about the hotel feels mass market or overwhelming.

The backstory

A project that’s been five years in the making, the creation of Locke de Santa Joana meant setting to work on the restoration of the old convent. During this time, between 20,000 and 40,000 artefacts were found, which undoubtedly helped shape the hotel as it is today. The concept continuously blends the old with the new, and does so successfully; even more so when the on-site museum opens later this year to showcase the many impressive items that were found.

The hotel consists of four separate blocks, including the museum and food and beverage outlets. Despite the vastness of the property, the clever low-lying design (there are no more than 9 floors on any one building) ensures that it never feels imposing. In fact, winding through the halls to discover new areas was something of an adventure, and certainly helped embrace the fun, playful and memorable tone the brand is undoubtedly hoping to set.

The rooms

To me Lisbon is a light, bright city, where the mood is often decided by streams of sunshine, and I was pleased to see that most rooms take advantage of this with large windows and white walls to make the space feel bigger. Even rooms in the old convent block, which sometimes have lower ceilings and features like archways, felt bright and airy thanks to a clever use of space (and the smallest room type comes with a yoga mat and plenty of room to stretch).

There are 11 different room categories, ranging from a simple room with no kitchen facilities to a large suite with a dining and living area. Rooms are well-equipped for both short and long stays, with almost all room types including an oven, hob, fridge and washing machine. Some of the decor is nice but not unexpected – plush velvet chairs and boucle sofas, in a warm palette of terracotta, forest green and navy blue – but it’s the preserved original features and high ceilings that give them their special touch, and add a homely feel to what could easily have felt more generic.

The food and drink

There are huge plans for this property, but right now only one of the planned restaurants is open; Santa Marta, an indoor-outdoor restaurant that sits within the inner courtyard overlooking the pool. Inside the restaurant decor almost has a touch of the beach shack, but any gimmick is pulled back by the decor and artwork which consists of steel sculptures, 3D sardines and fun nods to local landmarks. The menu is Mediterranean, and leans towards Italian dishes; the lemon tagliatelle and piccante pizza (made with fermented dough in a specialist oven) are particular highlights, while the cocktail menu is inventive and fresh.

Locke de Santa Joana will certainly become a gastro spot in the city in its own right when restaurants and bars from White Rabbit Projects and Spiritland open later in 2024. A sneaky glimpse at the larger Santa Joana brasserie restaurant shows original convent flooring and a large, open space with a balcony overlooking the tables below. The more intimate fine-dining restaurant is plush and cosy, with hidden booths and low lighting setting the tone. The Kissaten bar will boast Lisbon’s largest whisky collection, while O Pequeno will be an intimate Champagne and martini bar, open to guests and outside visitors.

The neighbourhood

First-time visitors to Lisbon may well feel that they’re a little further out of town than they’d like to be, but that’s no bad thing. Away from the busy streets of Bairro Alto and Baixa, or the unforgiving cobbles of Alfama, there’s room to breathe and take in your surroundings. On the hotel’s doorstep is Parque Eduardo VII, and from the top you can overlook the whole city and across the water, making this a favourite hangout spot for locals.

The location also puts you perfectly placed to explore outside of Lisbon, whether you jump in a taxi across the river to Costa da Caparica for some beach time, or over to Sintra to explore the historic town. Such easy access to everything will be particularly valuable for longer stay guests who want to immerse themselves into the neighbourhood like a true local.

The service

Service is undoubtedly a highlight of the experience at Locke de Santa Joana, and during our stay things ran incredibly smoothly for a new opening. Staff are warm and welcoming, striking the balance of professionalism and friendliness in a way only those with vast hospitality experience can do easily. For example, on my second day at breakfast I was remembered by name and they asked if I wanted the same table from the day before, a touch that made me feel an unexpected sense of belonging, especially as I was travelling alone.

The hotel also has two ‘Head House Hosts’, who are available to assist guests with their itinerary, recommend local hangouts and generally offer a warm greeting. Priscilla, one of the hosts, was a fountain of knowledge about the hotel, the Locke brand and Lisbon generally when we met, and her excitement was infectious.

Sustainability

By its nature, hybrid hospitality is more environmentally sustainable than hotels. Many of the trademark features of hotels such as daily cleaning, and high staff numbers are more intensive, while hybrid spaces are designed to accommodate longer stays than hotels, which in turn encourage more sustainable travel habits by enabling guests to embed themselves in a new city for an extended period of time. Locke has 100% renewable energy contracts, 100% LED lighting and the option to opt out of daily cleaning.

The brand has also put significant investment into the preservation of the Convento de Santa Joana, which was derelict before repairs began. As part of this, over 2000 heritage tiles which were found on-site have been restored and reused.

Accessibility

There are 14 ground floor rooms and one fully accessible guest room, plus lift access to all parking levels

All social spaces are accessible. The hotel is also dog-friendly, and service dogs are welcome.

For families

The apartments are well-equipped for families, and while the majority of rooms have just one bed, guests can request an additional one if needed. There are a couple of adjoining rooms, too.

If you’re the type of family who likes to get out and about during your travels, this could be a wonderful base for your trip. However, if you’re hoping to hang by the pool and relax, it’s probably not the right place for you, since the pool area is relatively small, and designed more for lounging rather than swimming. Restaurants are undoubtedly designed with adults in mind, although Santa Marta’s menu may suit some children.

Anything else left to mention?

Sitting within the centre of the hotel’s four blocks is a courtyard which houses Santa Marta restaurant, a patio and the hotel’s pool. As mentioned, the pool itself is relatively small, and the area around it has just a few sunbeds (albeit very cosy ones, if you can bag a spot). It feels like the hotel is still getting to grips with what they want this space to be; there aren’t enough beds to make this a hangout area (which is probably the idea) and during our stay there was no music setting the tone. If you’re hoping to spend hours by the pool, you’re probably out of luck – this area is more suited to a short stint relaxing and cooling down.

It’s also worth noting that there is no spa at the hotel, but there is a gym that’s open 24 hours.