Sippable City Stories: Introducing Ritz Bar's Monthly "Tales of Lisbon" Cocktails at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Move over Margaritas and step aside Sidecars: summer has arrived at Ritz Bar and she’s brought a shiny new city-inspired cocktail concept with her, the monthly-changing "Tales of Lisbon" cocktails.

Each month from May onwards, the epic mixologists at Ritz Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon – headed by the ever-imaginative Sandro Pimenta – will be showcasing a brand new signature special that celebrates the delicious ingredients, changing seasons, rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Portuguese capital and its surrounding area.

A favourite among locals and guests alike, Ritz Bar sets the mood for ambient evenings infused with artsy, contemporary style, in a cosy setting. Discover the stories of the city in sublimely sippable form…

May

May’s suggestion offers a bloom of purple passion, inspired by the seasonal bloom of Lisbon’s 2,000 jacaranda trees. Bringing the delicate blossoms of the outside in, this ultra-violet vodka-based concoction is complemented with blackberries and blueberries and best enjoyed from Ritz Bar’s terrace, which offers colourful views of the jacaranda trees in Eduardo VII Park.

June

O Japones restaurant is the tantalising inspiration behind June’s sake-based speciality: a fusion of flavours inspired by the entwinement of Japanese and Portuguese cultures. Did you know, for instance, that Japan’s tempura techniques hailed from 16th century Portuguese expats preparing traditional fried fritters?

July

Sweetening summer days, July’s fruit-infused, golden-hued favourite pays homage to Poncha – a distilled alcohol nectar made from sugar cane juice and golden honey – that originated among the rugged hills of the volcanic Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. Prepare for zesty citrus flavours, served with Madeiran sweet bread, bolo do caco.

August

Take tea with a boozy twist with August’s brew: a celebration of goreana tea cultivated on the Açores Island (São Miguel), the oldest tea plantation in Europe, dating back to 1883. Forget what you’ve learned about tea being a British tradition - it was introduced to them by Catherine of Braganza, who became Queen upon marrying King Charles II.

September

September’s honeyed joy marks the 111th anniversary of Moscatel wine from Setubal, just beyond Lisbon across the River Tagus. Join the tour to explore the sweeping stretch of award-winning Arrábida vineyards spanning valleys, coasts and limestone hills, before returning to savour it in cocktail form, blended with mandarin, grape, apricot and caramel.

October

October’s artisanal delight takes inspiration from the creations of Portuguese modern artist Almada Neigreiros, whose famous centaur tapestries greet guests in the Hotel's lobby; one of a vast in-house collection discoverable via its dedicated art app.

November

November brings with it the Hotel’s 60th anniversary, and with it a sparkling cocktail worthy of the city’s most iconic hotel and reminiscent of the fun of the Hotel’s opening party in 1959. “It was a huge affair that had the whole of Lisbon talking,” General Manager Guilherme Costa shares.

December

‘Tis the season to surrender to decadence, and Ritz Bar's Christmas cocktail will be no exception, paired with Portugal’s festive favourite, bolo rei (king’s cake), this crowning glory to the year of monthly cocktails promises an intriguing blend of crystallised and dried fruit among other seasonal sumptuousness.

Each cocktail will be served for one month, during Ritz Bar open hours: 9:30 am – 1:00 am.

To find out more or reserve a table at Ritz Bar please contact: (+351) 213811400 or download the Four Seasons Mobile App and make a request via chat.