In the heart of Lisbon, a few steps from Parque Eduardo VII and the bustle of Avenida da Liberdade, a new address is rewriting the rules of lifestyle hospitality in Portugal · the ME Lisbon. The first ME by Meliá property in the country, opened in August 2025, it positions itself immediately as a must for travellers seeking a singular experience combining contemporary design, commissioned art and gastronomy. We booked two nights in a Beyond ME+ suite and put it to the test, from the lobby to the rooftop, through the restaurant and the spa.
The tone is set from the very first step inside. Glass facade across twelve floors, a discreet setback from the avenue, Lacoste-designed uniforms on the teams · ME Lisbon makes no attempt to imitate a classic palace. It proposes something altogether different: an urban retreat where avant-garde design meets local culture, where every artwork was conceived for the space, where every technological detail remains unobtrusive. Our verdict after this stay: a score of 9/10, rewarding the coherence of a genuinely accomplished lifestyle proposition.
Arrival and architecture · jacarandas and a glass facade
The architecture of ME Lisbon is the work of Studio João Paciência, which plays masterfully with light and transparency. The glass facade stretches across twelve floors while the lobby, the hotel’s centrepiece, impresses with its six-metre ceiling height. The interiors, orchestrated by Broadway Malyan, adopt delicate lilac tones · a deliberate reference to the jacaranda trees that punctuate Lisbon’s streets with blazing blooms each spring. The welcome is attentive without excessive formality, in keeping with the spirit of ME by Meliá.
Art as a constant presence · a collection curated by Guta Moura Guedes
Art is far more than decoration at ME Lisbon: it is a core component of the hotel’s identity. Curator Guta Moura Guedes meticulously orchestrated an artistic itinerary punctuated by pieces specifically commissioned for the space · a rare approach in contemporary hospitality. A few standout works encountered during our stay:
- “Onda” by Fernanda Fragateiro, at the entrance · a metal and stone sculpture evoking the movement of water and the wavy patterns of Portuguese cobblestones.
- “Sunny”, an acrylic mural by Studio Silvadesigners in the lobby · a celebration of Lisbon’s distinctive light.
- “Everything I Couldn’t Leave Behind” by Studio Astolfi · an open suitcase from which 33 everyday fabric objects spill out, including a pastel de nata.
- Ceramics by Elsa Rebelo, Oficina Marques and Anna Westerlund in the common areas.
- Photographs by Alberto van Stokkum in the corridors · the Portuguese azulejo revisited.
The 213 rooms and suites · from Always ME to Ultimate ME+
Spread across ten floors, the 213 rooms and suites range across six distinct categories, from 23 to 138 m². From the Always ME room to the opulent Ultimate ME+, all share exceptional luminosity and a palette of neutral tones accented with lilac touches. Each space features large windows flooding the interior with natural light, carefully selected original decorative objects and understated furniture. Depending on the floor, views vary: perspectives over Parque Eduardo VII, the Marquis of Pombal statue, Castelo São Jorge, or the vast expanse of the Tagus.
Our Beyond ME+ suite · 62 m² urban loft spirit
We booked a 62 m² Beyond ME+ suite, which perfectly embodies the urban loft spirit the property seeks. King-size bed with premium bedding, latest-generation Smart TV, a spacious walk-in wardrobe, intuitive home automation for controlling lighting and temperature · the comfort is total. The decor blends modernity with nods to Portuguese culture: ceramic swallows on the walls, large-format art photographs, a curated bookshelf where we leafed through a coffee-table book on New York optician Moscot. The dominant impression: a design apartment you would want to stay in longer than planned.
The marble bathroom · drapes and C.O. Bigelow fragrances
The bathroom deserves special mention. Concealed behind elegant drapes, it opens onto a marble space brimming with comfort and refinement: double rain shower, a deep bathtub inviting relaxation, a lit mirror, matte-black fixtures. Fragrances from New York apothecary C.O. Bigelow complete this wellness interlude. Worth noting: the hairdryer is a Dyson, and the selection of essential oils is considerably more generous than average.
Fismuler · seasonal Nordic cuisine by La Ancha
On the ground floor, accessible directly from the street, Fismuler marks the first outpost outside Spain for Familia La Ancha. Under the supervision of chef Nino Redruello, the fourth generation of this family of restaurateurs, and in the day-to-day hands of resident chef Nuno Dinis, Fismuler offers seasonal Nordic cuisine centred on sharing. On the menu during our visit: courgette ceviche and roasted beetroot, lightly cooked john dory with almonds and red grapes, Basque turbot with snap peas, squid carbonara with guanciale and pine nuts. The unmissable San Román escalope, breaded and served with an egg and truffle, is so generous it comfortably serves two.
Attiko · Pan-Asian, sushi bar and panoramic terrace
The second restaurant, Attiko, marks the European debut of Sunset Hospitality’s concept, a sister to Attiko at W Dubai. Under the direction of Chef Moon, the pan-Asian menu opens with delicate preparations: red tuna carpaccio with truffle soy, yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-caviar, before moving towards the smoky flavours of the robata and josper. On the menu: grilled octopus with wasabi-mild soy, lamb chops with sesame, Japanese A5 wagyu served in hundred-gram portions. An elegant sushi bar rounds out the offering. The panoramic terrace running along the facade offers one of the finest elevated views in the city, particularly at dusk. Attiko opens from 6:30 pm for aperitivos and keeps the evening going in a chic, lively atmosphere.
Korpo Wellness & Sports Club · 35-m indoor pool
The wellness offering finds its setting at the Korpo Wellness & Sports Club, accessible to hotel residents and non-residents alike by registration. The space features two intimate treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam, a sensory shower and a magnificent 35-metre indoor pool, one of the longest in any Lisbon hotel. Treatments are carried out using Thalion and Scens products. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the fitness room equipped with the latest Technogym machines, open 24 hours a day to suit any schedule. The Radio Bar, on the hotel rooftop, completes the wellness offer with a seasonal outdoor pool, sweeping views over Lisbon and memorable sunsets.
The neighbourhood · Avenida da Liberdade, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Belém
Beyond its walls, ME Lisbon offers an ideal base from which to explore the Portuguese capital. For luxury shopping, simply head down Avenida da Liberdade, the local equivalent of the Champs-Élysées, lined with designer boutiques and shaded terraces. Higher up, the Alfama reveals its medieval labyrinth where laundry dries on balconies to the melancholy sound of fado. Bairro Alto shows its bohemian face, quiet by day and a temple of nightlife by evening. Culture enthusiasts will head to Chiado, the elegant literary quarter home to Bertrand, the world’s oldest bookshop still in operation. And of course Belém, facing the Tagus, for the tower, the monastery and the irresistible pastéis de nata from Confeitaria de Belém.
What to know before booking
- Location: Av. António Augusto de Aguiar Nº2, Lisbon · steps from Avenida da Liberdade and Parque Eduardo VII
- Category: 5 stars, ME by Meliá brand · first property in Portugal, opened August 2025
- Rooms: 213 keys from 23 to 138 m², six categories from Always ME to Ultimate ME+
- Architect: João Paciência · Interiors: Broadway Malyan · Artistic direction: Guta Moura Guedes
- Restaurants: Fismuler (seasonal Nordic · La Ancha) · Attiko (pan-Asian · Sunset Hospitality, sister to W Dubai)
- Rooftop: Radio Bar with outdoor pool and panoramic views
- Wellness: Korpo Wellness & Sports Club · 35-m indoor pool, sauna, hammam, Thalion & Scens treatments, Technogym fitness 24/7
- Starting rate: from €380 per night in an Always ME room
Our verdict and final score
ME Lisbon succeeds in its ambition: delivering an accomplished lifestyle experience in a city that had been missing a contemporary address of this calibre. The coherence is total, from lobby to rooms, from restaurants to spa · every detail, including the commissioning of original artworks, serves a clear identity. The Fismuler table is a genuine success, the Attiko terrace offers one of the finest views in the capital, and the Korpo Wellness pool was clearly what serious swimmers in Lisbon had been waiting for. We award ME Lisbon a score of 9/10, and recommend the hotel to travellers seeking more than a classic palace · an urban retreat conceived as a genuine cultural proposition.
