Description
This magnificent blue and white Baroque Pousada was formerly used by the Royal Guard of the Court while resident at the Palace of Queluz, known as ‘the Portuguese Versailles’. The Pousada, opposite the palace and only twenty minutes' taxi ride from the centre of Lisbon, has been beautifully renovated and retains a charming small theatre which would have been used for private performances, complete with gilded balcony and armchairs. It has tall windows dressed with gold curtains, candlelit tables, an open fire, dark antique furniture, bronze fixtures – and there is even a splendid harp. The rooms are incredibly comfortable and of a good size, and the bar and lounge area are very homely.
The Queluz Palace has been painted in a very prominent pink colour for decades and was easily identifiable as the 'pink palace' but in fact the original building was originally been painted blue and the blue shade was eventually restored in recent years.
The Pousada's dining room, the "Cozinha Velha" Restaurant, is closed between November 2022 and March 2023 but is normally quite exceptional and located across the square, in what was the original kitchen of the palace with its bread oven and magnificent stone table. For a gastronomic experience of real Portuguese cuisine, we highly recommend the restaurant here either for a proper lunch or a romantic dinner. The restaurant also has a lovely terrace area overlooking the orange trees of the gardens - perfect for enjoying a drink in the sunshine.
Whilst Queluz is a small, quiet town and the 18th century Palace of Queluz is the main attraction, charming old houses, traditional architecture and megalistic monuments from 2500BC can also be found here. There are also local cafes, shops and restaurants within walking distance from the Pousada.
A direct train service to and from Lisbon is also only a ten-minute walk away from the Pousada. The Pousada is also easy to find from the airport, just off the motorway.