There was a quiet buzz about the opening of Locke’s first Lisbon location, and the property undoubtedly lives up to the hype. A project that’s been five years in the making, the creation of Locke de Santa Joana meant setting to work on the restoration of the old convent. During this time, between 20,000 and 40,000 artifacts were found, which undoubtedly helped shape the hotel as it is today. There are touches throughout that remind you you’re in Lisbon: the restored tiles that were found during excavation, the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, Castro’s, which scents the whole room and proudly displays pasteis de nata, and—mercifully for all—a wonderfully separate co-working room, that allows those with laptops to have some quiet as they work, and everyone else to not feel as though they’ve walked into an office.
There are 11 different room categories, ranging from a simple room with no kitchen facilities to a large suite with a dining and living area. Rooms are well-equipped for both short and long stays, with almost all room types including an oven, hob, fridge, and washing machine. It’s the preserved original features and high ceilings that give them their special touch, and add a homely feel to what could easily have felt more generic.
Locke de Santa Joana is already becoming a gastro spot in the city in its own right thanks to restaurants and bars from White Rabbit Projects and Spiritland. The larger Santa Joana brasserie restaurant showcases original convent flooring and a large, open space with a balcony overlooking the tables below. The menu, led by chef Nuno Mendes, is fresh, flavorful, and creative, and already topping many best restaurants in Lisbon lists. The Kissaten bar, meanwhile, boasts Lisbon’s largest whisky collection, while O Pequeno is an intimate Champagne and Martini bar, open to guests and outside visitors.