Bairro Alto Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal

Like an exotic ballerina plying her luxuriant trade on a street corner, the Hotel Bairro Alto cruelly tempts gaping passers-by as they stroll along Lisbon’s landmark Praça de Camões. Whilst positively oozing sophistication and sensuality the hotel’s spartan lobby acts as a kind of decompression chamber to acclimatize the privileged few from the noisy bustling cafes and boutiques of Rua Garrett to a cool and fresh silence. It is mainly thanks to top design duo Diogo Rosa Lã and José Pedro Viera that the hotel has set an entirely new standard for Portugal in terms of architectural flair and unrivalled urban chic. The impeccable style and service would also be difficult to surpass even in Paris or New York whilst resident chef Leonor Manita has been poached from London’s Nobu to produce dainty menus fit for a Lusitanian king and eaten in the Flores patio restaurant. Spacious rooms conjure up yesteryear images of post-war screen idols like a Breakfast at Tiffany’s film set and soft yellow, ochre and pale blue pastels are borrowed from the surrounding Chiado district. Bathrooms resemble those of Anouska Hempel-inspired Blake’s Hotel. A rooftop terrace offers spectacular views of Lisbon and the Tagus estuary seen in the distance and is the perfect place to sip cocktails as the sun sets.