Lifestyle aparthotel brand Roc entered Portugal this summer with the opening of its 16th hotel, Roc de Santa Joana in Lisbon. The new urban destination is located in the vibrant heart of the city, just steps from Lisbon’s iconic boulevard, Avenida da Liberdade. Roc de Santa Joana is the group’s largest hotel to date and comprises 370 apartments, hotel rooms, suites and penthouses over nine floors, as well as social spaces including co-working spaces, event and meeting spaces, a museum and a landscaped courtyard pool with sun terrace, plus a host of new food and beverage options in partnership with White Rabbit Project and Spiritland.
True to Rock’s regionally rooted design philosophy, acclaimed design studio Lázaro Rosa Violán joined forces with Post Company to lead the transformation of Rock de Santa Joana, a 17th-century convent converted into a contemporary, design-driven, purpose-built hotel, with a sensitive approach and careful blend of old and new to reinvent this significant historic building. The design concept for the public areas, overseen by Lázaro Rosa Violán, takes inspiration from its history, referencing the convent and auxiliary spaces to retell the site’s multi-layered historical story for a modern audience, while the vibrant social spaces maintain their own unique character.
room
Celebrating culture and the arts, the rooms have been thoughtfully designed by Post Company. Each unit’s playful interior combines historic architectural fragments with the modern comfort of natural tones and tactile materials. Local textiles, ceramics and stone finishes – all quintessentially Portuguese materials – are matched with contemporary lighting, bespoke furniture designs and fully equipped kitchens. Every aspect of the design alludes to the building’s heritage while maintaining a strong connection to the modern, evolving city in which it is located.
Restaurants and Public Spaces
An emerging cultural destination for tourists, business travelers and locals, Roc de Santa Joana offers excellent food and beverages with multiple on-site venues, including bars and restaurants serving fresh local produce, buzzing with music and culture, and co-working spaces offering the perfect balance between work and play. A standout feature of the hotel is its lush courtyard pool and outdoor lounge space, where guests can unwind and enjoy the city’s warm weather in comfort and style.
In July 2024, the first phase of restaurants and bars by White Rabbit Project and Spiritland will open at Roc de Santa Joana.
Santa Marta is the hotel’s contemporary all-day restaurant inspired by the diverse flavors of the Southern Mediterranean. Santa Marta consists of a 60-seat restaurant, including counter seating, and a large outdoor terrace and bar overlooking the hotel’s pool. Dishes include appetizers such as Presunto de Campo Iberian charcuterie, charbroiled clams, and pastel de massa tenra (Portuguese fried pastry). Handcrafted pastas include yellow zucchini tagliolini, pappardelle with beef ragu, São Jorge cheese, and gremolata, and Neapolitan pizza with Alentejo ham, Parmesan, arugula, charred onions with peppers and anchovies. Grilled dishes include charbroiled beef Alcatraz steak, charred red shrimp, and whole sea bream acqua pazza. Open for lunch and dinner from 11am.
Cafe Castro is the hotel’s intimate café and co-working space, conveniently located at the hotel’s entrance with street-facing seating. Café Castro is open daily from 7AM to 4PM and offers dine-in and takeaway options, serving a menu of sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, fresh fruit, grain bowls and sandwiches such as grilled zucchini, mozzarella, spinach, almond romanesco and chicken with spring cabbage and honey-mustard slaw, all wrapped up in locally sourced ciabatta bread. Freshly pressed juices and smoothies of the day are complemented by a wide selection of organic teas and coffee from Olisipo’s local partner.
The second phase, scheduled for fall 2024, will introduce several new bars. Spirit LandAn underground music-focused space, Coffee shopA bar with the largest whiskey collection in Lisbon. Oh, Pequeno, and an intimate Champagne and Martini bar; all designed and overseen by London-based music and cultural operations company, Spiritland. To complete the food and beverage offerings at this unique venue, White Rabbit Project has partnered with internationally renowned chef to open a Portuguese brasserie, Santa Joana, in the main Convent space.
Prices for a rock room with balcony start from 200 euros per night. For more information about Rock de Santa Joana, lockeliving.com/en/lisbon/locke-de-santa-joana
