The Lumiares hotel - Lisbon, Portugal

Perched on one of Lisbon’s seven hills in the charming Bairro Alto district, where cobbled streets are framed by tiled façades of pinks, blues and ochre yellows, The Lumiares looks across the capital’s red roofs up to the ancient castle of St George, which dominates the city’s skyline.

Within the old walls of the palace, local architects Metro Urbe have skilfully blended the 18th and 21st centuries to feature 53 guestrooms, a spa, two restaurants and a bar, with dramatic effect. The original sweeping stone staircase takes centre position under a Beau McClellan-designed cubic brass lighting installation that echoes the geometric black and white flooring in the lobby and the bespoke hand-woven tapestries from rug brand Ferreira de Sá in every room.

Food comes courtesy of chef Miguel Castro e Silva whose sea bass with orange and fennel is a must at the rooftop restaurant, Lumni.