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Santiago de Alfama

Santiago de Alfama

Lisbon, Portugal

Nestled within the heart of Lisbon’s historic Alfama district, the Santiago de Alfama is an elegant boutique hotel housed within a former 15th-century palace. The grand stone entryway and impressive vaulted ceiling leads to 19 rooms and suites that have been expertly renovated to provide a tranquil and sophisticated base. Each room is unique in its layout due to the historic nature of the building, though many boast wooden floors, original tile work, panelled ceilings or huge floor-to-ceiling windows. The stylish, modern bathrooms are all beautifully finished.

On the ground floor you’ll find Audrey’s Café, an atmospheric spot filled with quirky decor, where you can enjoy breakfast each morning. If weather permits, there is also a small terrace outside which is an ideal place to people watch. Next door, Manny’s Bar, with its dark brocade walls and elegant furnishings, offers a range of drinks as well as a fantastic seasonal menu of Portuguese cuisine based around locally-sourced produce. There is also a beauty bar offering facials, body scrubs, massages and beauty treatments if you’d like a little extra pampering during your stay.

OUR OPINION:

We love the atmospheric nature of the Santiago de Alfama; it’s a secluded oasis of calm in the winding streets of Lisbon’s oldest district.

OUR RATING: First Class

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who's been there
Audley Travel specialist Cara

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Portugal specialists

Rooms

Due to the historic nature of the property, the rooms at the Santiago de Alfama are all unique in their layout and design. Each one has been beautifully appointed in a sophisticated style, the uncluttered design and pale tones conveying a sense of refined tranquillity. The decor takes advantage of the building’s original features and traditional tiling and panelled woodwork, combined with wide floorboards and large windows that bathe the rooms in light. The stylish, modern bathrooms are all expertly finished — most offer rain showers and there are a handful of deluxe rooms that also feature freestanding bathtubs. Air-conditioning and high-speed internet access come as standard across all room categories.

Location

Surrounded by the meandering lanes of Lisbon’s historic Alfama district, the Santiago de Alfama is perfectly located for exploring the city on foot or by one of the area's traditional trams. The Castelo São Jorge can be reached on foot in around five minutes for sweeping views across the city, while the Baixa district and the Praça do Comércio are around a 20-minute walk away.

Food and drink

Breakfast is served each morning in Audrey’s Café on the ground floor. It's a bright and cheery spot decorated in a traditional style but with a contemporary twist. Food is served here all day and on a warm day you can sit on the small outdoor terrace and watch the world go by. Next door, Manny’s Bar is more intimate with dark walls, warm woods and an elegant atmosphere. It's a great spot for evening drinks and also serves an innovative menu based around Portuguese classics and local, seasonal produce.

Facilities and activities

The hotel offers a small beauty bar where you can enjoy facials and body scrubs along with massages and beauty treatments.

Tour ideas in Lisbon

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Santiago de Alfama as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

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    • Évora and the Alentejo: wine and gourmet tour
      Grape vines, Alentejo

      Évora and the Alentejo: wine and gourmet tour

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    • Mafra, Óbidos and Batalha
      Palace of Mafra, Portugal

      Mafra, Óbidos and Batalha

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      Get to grips with Portuguese history with the help of a private guide on this full-day tour from Lisbon that takes in the 14th-century Monastery of Batalha, a medieval hilltop village and the flamboyant Palácio Nacional de Mafra.

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    Lisbon and nearby places