Torel Boutiques
Experience. Exceptional. Excellence.
Torel Boutiques is a collection of four prestigious hotels in Portugal. We enjoy creating unique places with a character, breathing new life into impressive buildings with tailored and hand-made portuguese art and interior design. Known for distinctive narrative-hotel creations, we dedicate our imagination to the modern and curious traveler who seeks more than a room key – an exclusive lodging with a twist. This spirit has made Torel Boutiques a brand in Portugal and beyond.
All our hotels encompass the spirit of comfort and refinement, providing dedicated service, and hosting our guests in a very personal manner. We believe in a friendly atmosphere and a relaxed environment for our guests to feel truly at home.
Torel Boutiques is also the story of three people who decided to change their lives, and whose paths crossed in Lisbon
In 2013, the Portuguese-born Joao Pedro Tavares, who had left a career of over 20 years in banking, decided to start a new project. He rented a beautiful, but abandoned villa on top of the Santa´ana hill in the heart of Lisbon and transformed it into a bed and breakfast – Torel Palace Lisbon was born.
In early 2014, Barbara Ott from Austria visited Torel Palace Lisbon as a guest, and was smitten by the charming palace – and by Lisbon. After a few months of reflection, she decided to leave Austria, settle in Portugal – and become a partner in Torel Palace Lisbon. Together, Joao and Barbara renovated the second building next door, which in the spring of 2015 became part of Torel Palace Lisbon.
In the autumn of the same year another Austrian, Ingrid Koeck, who was looking to establish a Bed & Breakfast in Portugal, walked into the bar of Torel Palace Lisbon, where she met Barbara. It was only a matter of time before she became the third partner in what has become a slowly but steadily growing hospitality business marked by a passion for people, dedication to personal service, and a joy of living.
Today, Torel Palace Lisbon offers in its three elegant and charming villas, 25 rooms, one villa and five exquisite apartments. In 2016, the three partners decided to expand the Torel Palace Lisbon project with projects in Porto.
Torel Avantgarde is an award-winning five-star boutique hotel in the center of Porto, opened in September 2017, which celebrates Portuguese art, design and art. Each of the 47 rooms and suites at this new hotel is dedicated to a cutting-edge artist.
In February 2019, the doors of Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments - which already won the Surface Travel Award in its first year - opened to offer 12 luxury rooms and suites and 11 exclusive apartments. The stunning palace dates back to the year 1884 and we fill it with the spirit of Portuguese explorers.
Torel Palace Porto is our new and elegant five-star boutique hotel in the heart of Porto, with 24 rooms and suites, opened in February 2020. Torel Palace Porto aims to honor the most iconic Portuguese writers and poets.