Hotel Britania opened in 1944 in a building designed by the Portuguese modernist architect Cassiano Branco — one of the most significant commissions of his career — and remains the only surviving example of his distinct late art deco style operating as a hotel in Lisbon. The property sits on a quiet side street a half-block from Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon's principal boulevard, placing it a short walk from the Avenida metro station, upscale shopping, and the Marquês de Pombal roundabout.
The 30 rooms are decorated with period-faithful art deco furnishings — original or carefully sourced — dark wood panelling, leather headboards, and compact bathrooms with intact 1940s tilework. The small room count gives the hotel a genuinely boutique character; there are no conference rooms, banquet halls, or large public spaces. Common areas consist of a wood-panelled bar lounge and a breakfast room, both preserving the building's original finishes.
The bar is well-regarded as a quiet spot for an evening drink in an atmosphere that has changed little since the hotel's opening. Breakfast is served each morning but there is no restaurant for lunch or dinner. The Avenida da Liberdade and Marquês de Pombal areas offer a wide range of restaurants within a five-minute walk.
Hotel Britania is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and attracts architecture enthusiasts, design-conscious travellers, and guests who prioritise character and quiet over resort amenities. The hotel is not family-oriented given its compact rooms and limited in-house facilities, but suits couples and solo travellers who value its heritage credentials and low-traffic central location.
Room types
- Classic Room
- Superior Room
- Deluxe Room
- Junior Suite
Amenities
- Art deco design
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- 24h room service
- Air conditioning
- Laundry
Location
R. Rodrigues Sampaio 17, 1150-278 Lisboa
38.7181, -9.1453 View on map
Highlights
- 1944 Cassiano Branco art deco building, the only surviving example of his hotel architecture in Lisbon
- Meticulously preserved art deco interiors including original tilework, panelled bar, and period furnishings
- Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with only 30 rooms for a genuinely boutique scale
- Half a block from Avenida da Liberdade with Avenida metro station a short walk away
Tips for visiting
- The wood-panelled bar lounge is an excellent spot for a pre-dinner drink — it retains its original 1944 atmosphere and is not crowded in the way of hotel bars in larger properties
- Avenida da Liberdade itself has limited interesting dining; explore the streets behind it toward Príncipe Real for better independent restaurants within walking distance
- The hotel's compact rooms mean the ambiance is in the architecture, not the room size — guests who expect spacious contemporary interiors should consider an alternative property
- Taxis and rideshare pick-up from the Avenida da Liberdade end of Rua Rodrigues Sampaio is faster than waiting at the narrow side-street entrance