[LISBON] — Coming back through Lisbon on the flipflop back to the airport, got to spend a night at the Lapa Palace, a fancy Old School hotel in the Lapa District, the Embassy quarter high above Lisbon. Best part about the hotel is the expansive grounds and pool stepped below the rooms overlooking the city.  

They were very friendly, even though I had to jostle rooms so I could stay an extra night on the cool coast.  But still, they upgraded me to a suite for some reason, enormous and something my parents would have raved about.  

Definitely elegant Old School, especially is you like mauve. Nice balcony.  There’s an old wing and a new one, the rooms in the new one feel like they’ve been around.  

It is movie-quality, like a CIA meet up place or where they’d film an Embassy party in a spy film.  And great to come back for a dip after traipsing all over the hills of Lisbon.

One other surprise: I got in late and had a 4am wakeup, so I decided to treat myself to Easy at the extremely elegant restaurant in the lobby, with a terrace overlooking the pool, the cool shade of the trees and Lisbon off in the distance.

Really a fine meal and quite honestly, for the one-star level of service and food, it was pretty reasonable. White dinner-jacket service, cocktails, several courses, wine and port for around $70.

The Lapa District — Home of Embassies

Lapa is a very nice district, if somewhat removed from the rest of the heart of Lisbon.  Many embassies, consulates and nice mansions, but definitely I’d put it as a destination neighborhood.

— Last Visited July 2013 —