Pestana Palace Lisboa

We spent a day at the hotel in January and had an exceptional experience, which is why we chose to return in July during our wedding week. Unfortunately, the experience could not have been more different. From the moment we checked in, the service was disappointing. I had to repeatedly ask the bellman not to leave my wedding dress on the street at the hotel entrance, next to cars and arriving guests. I don’t think requesting that a wedding dress be brought safely inside the hotel, away from car exhaust and heavy foot traffic, should have required multiple conversations. In the weeks leading up to our stay, I sent several emails informing the hotel that we were getting married and requesting permission to take pre-wedding photos on the property. Those emails went unanswered until less than 24 hours before our arrival, when I received only a generic welcome email. With no timely substantive response from guest services, we proceeded with our photos, only to be confronted and reprimanded by management. The entire situation was avoidable and resulted solely from the hotel’s lack of communication and responsiveness. For a luxury hotel, I expected proactive service, especially for a wedding stay. Instead, what should have been a memorable experience became an unnecessary source of stress. Thankfully, we chose a different five-star hotel for our wedding guests, where the level of hospitality matched both the price and the occasion. Based on this experience, I would not return to this hotel, nor would I recommend it to couples planning their wedding in Lisbon.

We had a wonderful stay at Pestana Palace Lisboa. The hotel is incredibly beautiful and feels like a real historic palace, filled with paintings and elegant details. You can feel its history in every corner. The rooms were spotless, the food was fresh and plentiful, and the service was excellent. A special thank you to Elizabeth, who welcomed us every morning and throughout the day with her warm smile, kindness, and wonderful energy. She and the entire team made our trip even more special and memorable. Highly recommended!

If staying in a palace is on your bucket list, check it off here. The main building is the palace and the rooms and setting are a tribute to a different time. The rest if the property has two wings that offer traditional hotel rooms. Pool and grounds are nice. Location is about a 15 minute taxi ride from the center of town were most of the action is. Breakfast was included and offered an enormous spread of options.