This impressive Pombaline building (mid-to-late 18th century) occupies the corner between Rua Augusta and Rua do Comércio, just before the triumphal arch that serves as a gateway between the Baixa area and the Terreiro do Paço square. It’s precisely at this point – one of the city’s most symbolic – where we find the new Pestana Rua Augusta, a hotel in Lisbon center that also welcomes casual visitors.
Open invitation
Inaugurated in the summer of 2023, this is an elegant and comfortable hotel that also offers the right measure of fun and relaxation. Facing Rua do Comércio, the lobby itself is an open invitation to discover the hotel. The first thing visitors see is not a reception desk, as you might expect, but rather a large, mirrored bar, set in the middle of the main entrance and a bold affirmation of the hotel’s identity.
Nery’s tiles
The room that houses the bar, lounge and reception area is clad with fine tiles created by Eduardo Nery, whose name is given to the bar and a rather fetching blue cocktail called Nery’s Tiles. The acclaimed Portuguese artist (1938-2013) bequeathed a legacy in several areas, from painting and tapestry to stained glass and photography. With regard to tiles, he established himself with a number of architectural and urban projects throughout Portugal from the 1960s onwards. The blue and white mural featured here is an example from that period and very much a priority of the restoration project. It also constituted a starting point for Jaime Morais, the architect responsible for the hotel’s interior design and decoration.
Meticulous
Construction took around a year and a half, with an on-site restoration team working on thousands of tiles, one by one. Grupo Pestana was absolutely committed to respecting the building’s cultural heritage, preserving all the tiles while organising the surrounding space (e.g. no furniture can be in direct contact with the tiles).
The next level
While the changes on the ground floor were moderate and focussed on preserving the building’s history, it was quite a different matter for the upper levels, where the work was structural. The building also grew in stature, gaining a new (fifth) floor. The 89 rooms now on offer are decorated in a combination of suave tones and darker features, which contrast with the eye-catching, nature-inspired wallpaper.
The Olive restaurant
Facing Rua Augusta, the Olive restaurant provides an informal and cosy atmosphere, combining wooden features and botanical motifs that offset the tiled walls.
From the restaurant’s interior dining room, guests sense the city buzz through the glazed façade, while the view from terrace, which seats around 20 people, is sublime: we’re almost touching distance from the triumphal arch.
Open from 10am to 7pm, the Olive’s menu matches different parts of the day. There are breakfast and brunch options, snacks to eat in or take away, lunch, late afternoon snacks, not to mention a selection of wines that guests can enjoy in the restaurant or take home. The same can also be said about the dozens of items displayed in the old grocer’s vitrine, which contains biscuits, preserves, craft beers and olive oils, among other items. Everything is Portuguese and ready to be enjoyed in the very heart of Lisbon.
City of seven hills
Located in Lisbon’s Baixa district, the hotel is busy throughout the day and offers excellent access to various points of interest, many just a short walk away. To the east, there’s Lisbon’s Sé Cathedral, the Portas do Sol viewpoint and São Jorge Castle; to the west, there’s the Chiado quarter, Ribeira das Naus and the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint. Although everything is relatively close, it’s a good idea to wear comfortable footwear. Lisbon isn’t known as the “city of seven hills” for nothing.
