My Stay With The Four Seasons Ritz

From my previous post about How much I spent on a 9 day trip to Portugal, I mentioned a few of the incredible places we got to stay in. It’s hard to pick which place was my favourite, but there is one in particular I want to highlight. This one was the one and only Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon. And as you read on, you will understand why… 

I decided to book a holiday to Portugal during my birthday week! I’ve been wanting to visit this country since 2018 and I’m so glad we finally made the trip over; it was everything I ever imagined and more! Additionally, you can read more about my whole Portugal experience here.

Welcome

Upon arrival at the Four Seasons Ritz, we were greeted by two bellmen at the entrance with warm smiles on their faces. A gorgeous collection of fresh orchid flowers hung across the lobby, which made a very impression statement welcome. We checked-in at the beautifully arched reception and were delighted to hear that our room was ready. The receptionist escorted us to our room on the 4th floor, and we were just so thrilled to plop on the comfortable bed after a long morning of traveling! 

We spent the morning admiring the view from our balcony because it was coincidentally the season where the purple Jacaranda trees were in full bloom, we could see them lined up the road just outside our window! The hotel is located in the heart of Lisbon on a hill, so the main tourist attractions are very accessible via public transport or Uber. 

Dining

Our dining experience at the Varanda restaurant in the Four Seasons Ritz was nothing short of a complete gastronomic delight! On the evening of my birthday, we were invited by the hotel to a romantic and intimate dinner. The waiting staff were very attentive, gracious and made sure we were very comfortable at our table. We opted for the chef’s special dinner menu. For appetizers, we were served a very fresh octopus broccolini salsa dish that paired nicely with my glass of white wine. For entrée, I chose a beef tenderloin with potato gratin drizzle in gravy and Stephan had a sumptuous slow-cooked suckling pig. If this doesn’t already make your mouth water, we still haven’t gotten to dessert! We were served a refreshing cucumber lime sorbet accompanied by a tier of sweet confectionary on the side. And as I thought the night was coming to a close, the Four Seasons Ritz surprised me with a birthday cake! This was hands-down the best way to celebrate an intimate birthday evening. It’s safe to say that dinner at the Varanda was sensational, I would come back to the hotel just for the dining experience alone!

Gym

We heard that the Ritz was famous for their gym space, so we decided to check it out and do some exercise on one of the days. The gym is arranged with all the essential you need for a good workout; Towel, mats, bottled water, you name it. A huge plus was also the personal instructor situated on site, should you wish to have one. They weren’t kidding when they said it had a nice view. The outdoor running track has a panoramic view of Lisbon that extends around the rooftop! We thought we had a pretty stunning view from our room, but the view from the rooftop was unbeatable! 

Vintage Side-Car Tour

As mentioned in my previous blogpost, The Four Seasons Ritz really knows how to give an unforgettable experience to its guests. On the second day of our stay, the hotel organized a vintage sidecar tour for us with an English speaking tour guide. This authentic side-car tour is nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It was truly mesmerizing to cruise down the narrow cobbled streets of Lisbon. From the atmospheric surroundings of the ancient Alfama quarter to the breathtaking views of the city. Apart from other tourists snapping at the rare sight of a vintage side-car passing by (making you feel like a celebrity being photographed by paparazzi), this was honestly the most unique way to see the city - you get to see all the architecture and surroundings from a lower angle on the side-car. 

During our 4 hour tour, we were introduced to some of the most famous heritage sites and districts. One of them included the oldest bookstore in the world located in the core of the Chiado neighbourhood. I jumped on the opportunity to buy a small book as a souvenir and even got the official stamp of authenticity. This, in my opinion is definitely a souvenir I will treasure forever… Another gem also included the top Miradouro da Graça, this was a popular terrace where we witnessed a panoramic views of city rooftops & the water on the other side of Lisbon.

We stopped by at the famed Pastéis de Belém to savour the Portuguese egg tart that still follows an ancient recipe form the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. This secret recipe is only known by 3-4 chef who still continue the legacy till this day. It was incredible to learn so much about Lisbon’s rich culture and history while trying a pastry that has been kept the same since 1837! After a delicious treat, we ended the tour at the Belém Tower to enjoy a sunset view right at the harbour. I am so grateful The Four Seasons Ritz organised such a wonderful tour for us to see and get to know more about Lisbon from a unique point of view. It was truly an unforgettable experience I will encourage everyone to try it least once in their lifetime!

Book your stay with The Four Seasons Ritz here!

Have you ever been to Lisbon? If so, I would love to know what your favourite part of the city was for you. Comment below!