Hotel Ritz

Built on a hill overlooking one of Lisbon’s main thoroughfares, with prime views of the river, the Hotel Ritz building was a political project in the sense that it was suggested by the government, which wanted Lisbon to have a luxury hotel that provided all the trappings of modern hospitality, which the city severely lacked at the time. Designed by Pardal Monteiro, with collaboration from Jorge Ferreira Chaves (who designed the Pastelaria Mexicana), the Ritz is one of the most important examples of Modernist Portuguese architecture and was the city’s first purpose-built luxury hotel. Assuming its imposing site over the city, the design project was governed by the principle of functional organisation, on which the excellence of service it aspired to is based. Also worthy of note is the integration of an excellent collection of works of Portuguese artists, such as Almada Negreiros, Jorge Vieira, Querubim Lapa, Sara Afonso and Carlos Botelho. The Hotel Ritz has been exemplary in how its owners have conserved and upgraded a listed building that serves such a demanding business activity as hospitality. It remains a major reference for luxury hospitality in Lisbon.