Previously known for the vividness of its winding streets, the UNESCO World Heritage sites scattered across its 100 square-kilometers surface, its genre-bending architecture, and pastel de nata — moreish baked custard tarts worth the trip alone — Lisbon has lately risen as one of the hottest art and design capitals. With lower rental prices than most European countries and tax incentives established to attract global talent, the city is a cosmopolitan breeding ground for creativity. Playing host to trailblazing events such as ARCO LISBOA Contemporary Art Fair, Lisbon by Design, and Lisbon Design Week, and home to innovation-focused institutions like the Museu do Design (MUDE) and Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), the city should be on every culture aficionado's bucket list. As if it weren't enough, a pleasantly temperate climate blesses it year-around, making it a go-to solution for those traveling outside of traditional holiday periods.
Now, what if I told you I know of a hotel that allows you to continue soaking in Lisbon's artistic pulse from its rooms, expanding on the local cultural heritage rather than disrupting it? First unveiled in July, the debut Portuguese property of lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke, Locke de Santa Joana, does just that. With 370 rooms ranging from standard rooms to apartments, penthouses, and suites, it brings warmth, comfort, and unexpectedly generous proportions to hotel design. Located within close proximity of Lisbon's tree-and-tile-laden boulevard Avenida da Liberdade, Locke de Santa Joana is ideal for vacationers curious to discover what the country's biggest city has to gift, travelers keen to break free of the disposable logic of fast tourism through longer sojourns, and professionals wanting to infuse their business trips with design-led inspiration.
