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Pensão Amor in Lisbon, Portugal

Walk down Pink Street in Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré and you’ll eventually find a door that looks like it has secrets. Pensão Amor building is a former brothel that has been transformed into a surprising space in Lisbon's port district. Cais do Sodré was once the sailors’ quarter, where seamen fresh off the boats mingled with writers, fado singers, artists, prostitutes and the occasional spy. Pensão…

Pensão Amor in Lisbon, Portugal

Pink Street in Lisbon's Cais do Sodré neighborhood is home to Pensão Amor, a former brothel reimagined as a vibrant entertainment venue. The building's intriguing history as a sailor's haunt attracts writers, artists, performers, and the occasional spy. Pensão Amor embraces this legacy with a lively bar featuring burlesque, pole dancing, live music, poetry, and theater in various weekly lineups. The establishment openly celebrates its past by displaying the historical room names on the walls.

Recently, Pensão Amor has expanded its offerings to include Madam's Lodge, a 22-room hotel situated on the upper floors. Opening in 2023, the hotel features rooms with unique backstories, each penned by screenwriter and director Roger Mor. Drawing inspiration from the building's archives and local surroundings, Mor imaginatively attributes a backstory to every room.

Illustrator Nuno Saraiva brought these narratives to life through his artistic contributions, adorning the walls with characters and designs that imbue even the spaces with personalities.

Guests in Madam's Lodge can expect a memorable stay, with rooms equipped with poles for dancing, strategically placed mirrors, two-person bathtubs, and minibars stocked with adult amenities. This combination of historical ambiance and contemporary amenities creates a distinctive experience for visitors to the Cais do Sodré district.

Written by urgent.news from Atlas Obscura's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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