York House Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal

There’s nothing like experiencing Lisbon through the comfort of a luxury boutique hotel, especially when it’s as charming and discreet as York House. The façade is so subtle, in fact, that it would be easy to walk right by on Rua das Janelas Verdes, not knowing that you are passing one of Lisbon’s finest boutique hotels.

The facilities

The wrought iron gate at the street entrance is left invitingly ajar, and it’s easy to question if you’re in the right place as you wind up the wide stone staircase. At the top is a peaceful, leafy courtyard, and it’s up here that you’ll find the entrance to reception through a door to the right.

Although at first confusing, it’s this kind of discretion that makes York House so exceptional. Even the boutique hotel's location in the embassy district of Lapa is subdued, yet conveniently located between the tourist hotspots of Baixa and Belem.

The building originally dates back to the 17th-century when it was a Portuguese convent, and has been welcoming guests since it was privately purchased in the 1880s. It has been under the current ownership for over 30 years, but only the most recent refurbishment has brought this boutique hotel up to its current standards of luxury. Since the upgrade, the clientele tends to be on the younger side (aside from the slew of Portuguese celebrities that frequent the hotel, that is).

Operated under the same name as this boutique hotel, the recently Michelin-recommended restaurant is run under the watchful eye of Nuno Dinis. Modern Portuguese cuisine, with a strong focus on sea food, is served under the branches of the courtyard’s centerpiece – an astonishingly large palm tree. The mood here is quite romantic late at night, with candle lit tables under the stars.

The rooms

The paint is still fresh from the latest renovations, which have transformed the boutique hotel's 32 rooms from tired, traditional English style to modern comfort. Because of the building’s history, all rooms vary in size so it’s worthwhile to request a larger room upon reservation. Most have separate sitting and sleeping areas, both equipped with a flat-screen TV.

Decor here is clean and contemporary, with weathered hardwood floors and stark white walls and linens. You won’t find excessive gadgets in the room; this is more of a calming retreat than technophile’s playground. But that’s what makes it the quintessential Lisbon boutique hotel – simple, charming and steeped in history.