Review: Sublime Lisboa

Why book?

Feel like royalty in this princess-worthy boutique hotel, which sees the hotel brand expand from its Comporta base to this city palace in style.

Set the scene

Lisbon is a city home to many Palacios, many of which have been turned into luxury hotels. So what makes Sublime stand out? The success is in the small touches here: the pasteis de nata and a bottle of ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur) greeting you in your room, the personal welcome from the reception staff as you enter the building, the endless design books and magazines scattered around the hotel and the slightly-wonky staircases that retain their decade-old charm.

The backstory

Sublime Comporta has been one of the most talked-about hotels in Portugal for some time now, so its Lisbon opening in early summer 2022 was eagerly awaited. The brand wanted to create an urban version of their Alentejo retreat and has succeeded where many other properties have failed in making a 20th-century mansion building feel like a home away from home.

The rooms

Each room and suite is different in design and layout, from the attic rooms with their sloping ceilings and rolltop bathtubs to the palatial suites with large windows and plenty of light rushing in. Luxury is something they all have in common, though; expect beds so sumptuous you’ll be snoozing for hours, showers bigger than most en-suites and ceilings so high you can almost hear an echo. The top two floors are home to suites with terraces, which give a view of Lisbon’s iconic terracotta rooftops.

The food and drink

The hotel has just one restaurant, Davvero, but we named it one of the best restaurants in Lisbon thanks to its focus on good quality ingredients and simple Italian classics done well. Chef Isaac Kumi’s menu consists of beef loin carpaccio, a classic Cacio e Pepe and the most delicious Parmigiana Di Melanzane. The tiramisù is wonderful, but the lemon and passion fruit tartlet with meringue and yoghurt gelato left a lasting impression. You’ll undoubtedly be stuffed after all that, but finish the evening with a glass of Sublime’s Moscato before retiring to your own princess suite.

The neighbourhood

You know you're in a high-demand spot when you find yourself a stone’s throw away from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. While the historic centre of Lisbon is a good walk from the property, Sublime has the added benefit of being close to Parque Eduardo VII. This sloping park overlooks the entire city and out towards the River Tejo. From here, you can take a stroll down the luxury shopping street of Avenida da Liberdade towards Baixa, where you’ll find many of the city’s key attractions (and plenty of places to buy a pastel de nata, crucially).

The service

Service is slick and friendly. On arrival, we were welcomed by name, and the check-in process is smooth. For the most part you’ll be left to your own devices, but staff are happy to help with any requests, including arranging trips to nearby attractions like the towns of Sintra and Cascais.

Eco effort

The brand’s sister Comporta property feels particularly sustainability-focused, but I felt the Lisbon property lost this a little. Still, Sublime is committed to creating something sustainable and using local products wherever possible. Staff are hired locally for the most part and bring great knowledge of the area.

Accessibility

The property has one adapted room, and its restaurant is accessible from street level.

For families

This certainly isn’t a hotel aimed at children, but that’s not to say they won’t delight in the huge, comfortable beds. For the most part, it’s probably better suited for adults.

Anything left to mention?

While the building is small, there are little pockets of places to relax. The library, which has just a handful of seats, is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours, whether you’re reading or working.