The best boutique hotels in Lisbon

With a lovely location in the old Palace of the Counts of Paraty, Hotel da Estrela enjoys something many hotels in Lisbon don't: outdoor space. The gardens of this modest luxury stay are beautifully kept, with a circular pond in the centre, and made private by the surrounding trees. There are only 19 rooms here, so exclusivity is the name of the game, and the staff will make you feel just as special.

The five-star Altis Avenida harks back to the sumptuous design of the 1940s. Rich gold trim and slabs of marble run throughout, with lovely modernist touches. Despite the retro glamour, you can rest assured that they have all the mod cons. Enjoy an elegant lobby bar, rooftop restaurant (Rossio) and 24-hour room service. Plus they're pet-friendly, so you can bring Fido along (so long as he's under 15kg) and they'll provide a bed and bowls.

Alma Lusa is modern and relaxed, geared towards a young crowd. It does have some elements of Portuguese history in its identity – the Alma Lusa Hotels group logo, for instance, is a traditional Portuguese knocker (no pun intended).

Situated in one of the finest spots in Lisbon, Memmo's third hotel offers an unbeatable view of the city from the sweeping terrace of their restaurant/cocktail bar. Named after the nineteenth-century Portuguese King D Pedro V, this place certainly feels fit for royalty. Guests can enjoy sleek modern design, secure parking with valet service and a free walking tour that leaves from reception daily at 5pm.

Eighty-four rooms, and no two are alike. Some are Art Déco, others are classic, others modern and one of them even has a sloped ceiling as if it were an Alpine cabin. Brown's Central is everything but dull. Despite being located in the middle of Pombaline dowtown in an old building, it does not seek to impress through its link to the city's history. Instead, it breaks through the stigma of the hotel as a closed-off space to be a meeting point and an arts venue. 

A 19th century building with artistic flair, this rennovated boutique hotel merges original features with a bold aesthetic. Located in Avenida da Liberdade, you can expect everything from fine china and old tapestries to contemporary artworks from abstractionist, Vieira da Silva. The 25 rooms vary in shape and size, however even the smallest have large bathrooms complete with a glorious tub. Bubble baths, incoming.

Upon entering 4 João das Regras you will find an unusual lobby, with brass walls and marble columns welcoming you to the Boutique Hotel. Inside are 53 rooms in a contemporary style, low on frills but high on comfort, most of them facing the João das Regras street – named after a nobleman whose actual surname was João de Aregas; in the great game of telephone of history, the original Aregas became a rather more colourful 'Regras', the Portuguese word for 'rules'.

Graça Viterbo, one of the busiest interior decorators in the country, was tasked with turning a palace where writer Eça de Queirós once lived into a boutique hotel. Mission brilliantly accomplished: the result is there for all to see at the welcoming As Janelas Verdes, a 29-room manor where every corner has traces of the literary and artistic heritage of one of Portugal's most important novelists. There is a friendly mood to the place, perfect for lovebirds looking for the romantic side of Lisbon. 

There can be no greater luxury than staying in the city centre while keeping the urban noise at bay and enjoying country-style tranquility. At Torel Palace, a boutique hotel consisting of two old palaces, you will find the best of two worlds: the speedy pace you would expect from a capital city and the peace and quiet you only obtain in a rural environment. One of the main features? Its unbeatable, instagrammable view: no other hotel spreads itself down a hill with such a fantastic view of the São Pedro de Alcântara Viewpoint, overlooking the Tagus and the Pombaline city centre.

At first, it seems a nondescript building. But it's like a Kinder chocolate egg – plain on the outside, full of surprises within. Upon stepping into the lobby, you will realize the hotel is much more ambitious than you might have previously thought. Don't expect gold-plated walls, but this utilitarian hotel has earned a positive reputation for its good taste and friendliness.

When you think of boutique, you think small but luxurious, which is precisely what Palacio Ramalhete offers. There are only nine rooms and seven suites, so there's an air of exclusivity too. The decor is all very chic, almost regal in fact, and the location on Janelas Verdes Street is as pretty as the hotel's name, which means Bouquet Palace. There's also an outdoor pool, which is heated for those slightly cooler Lisbon nights.

The ideal spot for lovebirds aged 20 to 30 who want to be in the heart of Lisbon's nightlife – the Cais do Sodré. Young and stylish enough, this 45-room boutique hotel is located in the nexus between the Chiado and the renewed Ribeira das Naus (a riverside “beach” of sorts). It is geared at young folks, to whom it caters with an artsy but relaxed vibe. 

They say people are what's most important in a place, and they may be right. Santiago de Alfama might be valuable all by itself, but it would not be the same if not for the friendliness and warmth of the staff in charge, a fabulous experience would be downgraded to a merely nice one – that's not necessarily bad but it would not be the same. The Santiago's charm also comes from architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade's decision to maintain the original fifteenth-century design of the building, preserving the Roman fragments found during the renovation, uniting past and present under the same roof.