IIn a city that exudes a harmonious fusion of old and new, there’s
an address in a town that perfectly captures that intangible mag-
ic. Tucked among the time-telling traditions of tile merchants
and pastelarias, down a honey-hued corridor, which opens onto
the larger city escape, is the Memmo Príncipe Real, a modern ode
to the particular charms of Lisbon. Located in the neighbour-
hood of Príncipe Real, from which the hotel borrows its name,
is a refuge of exploding greenery and colourful, sun-worn pala-
tial estates that boldly stand to tell of the neighbourhood’s regal,
residential past. Both hotel and district bear the name of Queen
Maria II’s first son, the Royal Prince. Here, the aristocratic man-
sions and palaces of the 19th century, once home to the city’s
elite, have been reclaimed by spirited young entrepreneurs and
artisans, and the doors thrust open wide for the people of Lisbon.
What used to be an equestrian riding centre is now an unassum-
ing corridor that guides guests to the hotel and opens up a hori-
zon of stacked red rooftops. Here, guests are escorted by brick
and limestone to the Memmo Príncipe Real. A dramatic and dig-
nified study in period contrasts, the 41-room hotel of white plas-
ter, expansive glass, and natural oak wood practically levitates
above the bustle below.
Architect Samuel Torres de Carvalho was tasked for the new
build of the Memmo Príncipe Real. Known for his spectacular
modernism, The Madrid-born Portuguese architect created a
sleek four-story geometric building of stark white with a long,
rectangular silhouette. With a masterful understanding of the
balance, it blends both contemporary and classic forms.
Guests enter through a glass atrium framed by a curved wall of
slatted wood and the industrial black columns that stabilise the
structure’s 1960s futuristic eastern wing. A seductive ground
floor of rounded lines is entirely walled on one side by floor-
to-ceiling windows and uninterrupted views of the sultry city.
Limestone throughout this floor’s reception, restaurant, bar, and
terrace pay tribute to traditional Portuguese masonry and lay
way for the overall air of vintage L.A. ease.
A contemporary elegance and custom-crafted simplicity carry
through all 41 rooms of the hotel. A serenely neutral palette of
taupes, sage green, and wood hues are sharpened by the same
black steelwork seen in the hotel’s exterior structure. Natural
oak wood, used extensively in the rooms, features strongly in the
form of custom-built cabinetry, walk-in closets, headboards, and
sliding separation doors, while the dark finishes of the floors root
the entire design. Subtle neutrality continues with the textiles:
flax-toned floor to ceiling curtains frame the dramatic views that
when parted, let the golden Portuguese sun flood the ambience.
Let yourself embrace this sun kiss while enjoying a crafted luxury
experience that is seen in the smallest details and stands as a tes-
timony of the country’s ambition in highly skilled trades.
PRINCIPE REAL
LISBON, PORTUGAL