Live the high life in Lisbon’s bold and beautiful Myriad by SANA Hotels – a unique architectural design hotel, that’s also home to Fifty Seconds the acclaimed Michelin starred restaurant, writes Andrew Forbes (The Luxury Editor).
Towering over the shores of the mighty Tagus river, Myriad is at the heart of Lisbon’s contemporary Parque das Nações district. The tower has 176 rooms and 10 suites, each confidently decorated in black, silver, grey and red making for a high impact style that echoes the striking architecture.
Guests can expect a luxe Sayanna Wellness Spa on the 23rd floor (think sauna, pool and treatment rooms with floor to ceiling glass windows with panoramic views), the River Lounge Restaurant and Bar (again, those stunning uninterrupted views of the impressive Vasco da Gama bridge), and to top it all, the FIFTY SECONDS by Martin Berasategui restaurant at the very top of the emblematic Vasco da Gama Tower.
Superior Service
Yet these remarkable credentials were eclipsed by the most impressive element of my stay – the truly personalised and welcoming service. SANA Hotels prides itself on the development of their teams and that is clearly evident at Myriad.
Since almost all guests make advance reservations with hotels, this provides a perfect opportunity for properties to prepare a personalised welcome. Yet all too often hotels miss the mark and start the experience with the impersonal opening line of ‘Do you have a reservation?’.
That’s not the case with Myriad! Here the doorman was the first to warmly greet me personally, before helping me with my luggage and leading me to the front desk – it really set a very positive tone
Check-in was friendly, swift and contactless and then I was taken to my suite. There I found an exquisite welcome amenity of petit fours (by the talented pastry chef Carlos Pinto), as well as local wine and cheese. Such wonderful presentation. It immediately made me feel this was going to be a special, memorable stay.
In fact, throughout my stay the attention to detail, and service was superb. It really was the stand-out feature of Myriad.
Leisure & Business
There is a growing trend to combine leisure and business travel on the same trip – so it’s increasingly important to have a property that offers services for both types of traveller.
As a leisure traveller, Myriad allowed me to relax, eat well and be pampered. The hotel also gave me a contemporary perspective of Lisbon. On past visits I would typically find myself in one of the old quarters of the Portuguese capital, but this time I was on the shores of the Tagus and it was great to be enjoying a new vibe, a part of Lisbon that is close to all the cultural and leisure attractions that Parque das Nações has to offer, from concert venues to Europe’s biggest aquarium.
For business travellers, Myriad is at the nexus of Lisbon’s new city district, with a choice of world-class venues and arenas. In addition Myriad has its own meeting spaces in the hotel and a further choice of flexible meeting areas in the Myriad Crystal Centre, directly accessible by a glass enclosed ‘bridge’ from the hotel. Here there is a modern Conference and Event Centre with another 7 meeting rooms, 5 boardrooms, foyer, and terrace.
Sayanna Spa
Wellness is now an expected part of all hotel experiences and at the Myriad it’s much more than just an add-on to the hotel – it’s an integral part of the experience. You can expect a vitality pool with beds and hydromassage chairs, bi-thermal shower, Turkish bath, panoramic sauna and 4 treatment rooms. Everything is orientated out towards the view from the 23rd floor, including the pool, the sauna, and the treatment rooms. I had a superb massage with therapist Ines and afterwards as she left me to sip my herbal tea, I was able to look out across the water and the Parque das Nações. Spectacular.
Spa manager Silesia will be happy to propose exclusive and signature treatments, including a VIP treatment room for couples, using products by Aromatherapy Associates London.
Suites and Guest Rooms
The hotel is immaculately maintained and nowhere is that more evident than when arriving at your room. As a certified ‘Clean and Safe’ property, each guest room at Myriad is closed with a Clean and Safe seal after preparation. It gives you that extra bit of confidence.
There are three main room categories, Deluxe, Premium and Suites. Each has striking and impactful interior design. Yet one’s eyes are immediately drawn to the windows and the expansive views beyond, out over the estuary.
Rooms are well appointed with cool features like a hammock chair, as well as an excellent minibar, a coffee machine, and upscale Aromatherapy Associates amenities in stylish the bathroom.
I was fortunate to stay in one of the nine suites , which had a super king double bed, spa bath and shower with massage jets, separate lounge area with dining table, and a work area, with multimedia connection for MP3 player and laptop.
Destination Dining – FIFTY SECONDS by Martin Berasategui
Taking the lift to the top of the 120 metre Vasco da Gama Tower, adjacent to Myriad, takes a mere 50 seconds. Yet as one climbs, the anticipation builds for what is set to be an extraordinary evening of gastronomy. Headed by world-renowned Chef Martin Berasategui (the most Michelin-starred chef on the Iberian Peninsula), the panoramic restaurant is led by a highly talented, permanent team.
Head Chef Filipe Carvalho delivers his personal signature style from the moment the pre-starters arrive, whilst Head Sommelier Marc Pinto creatively pairs each dish with exceptional boutique wines (and sometimes even a cider!) The flawless service is led by Inacio Loureiro.
For the new season, diners can look forward to a spectacular 360 degree cocktail bar above the restaurant with vertical gardens and wow factor views!
Information
MYRIAD by SANA
Address: Cais das Naus, Lote 2.21.0, Parque das Nações, Lisboa 1990-173
Website: www.myriad.pt/en
