MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites, a hotel in the SANA group, held its soft opening on December 18, following an investment of 45 million euros. Located on Rua do Ouro in Lisbon, the hotel was created through the renovation of the former Millennium BCP bank and bills itself as “the first hotel in Portugal to offer Golden Sleeves Butlers service.”
During a visit to the hotel, we spoke with Marie-Hélène Moreira, the general manager, who explained that MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites strengthens the group’s presence in the luxury and leisure segment and was designed to offer “the utmost comfort and sophistication.” The 5-star boutique hotel features 48 suites, categorized as premium rooms, junior suites, deluxe suites, grand suites, master suites, and MYTHIC suites. “All our rooms range in size from 39 square meters to 72 square meters. They are extremely spacious, elegant, and comfortable, suitable for stays ranging from a single day to a month,” she said.
The interior design was handled by architect António Pinto, who opted for warm colors, golden tones, and gold leaf on the walls, “applied one by one.” This is complemented by a “modern, elegant, and understated” design featuring brown wood, which conveys “comfort” and “sophistication.”
Golden Sleeves Butlers
Although it does not have a spa, MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites stands out for its Golden Sleeves Butlers—highly specialized professionals available 24 hours a day. Under the leadership of a Senior Butler, a member of the Chaves de Ouro Portugal organization, MYTHIC SANA offers privileged access to culinary and cultural venues, as well as exclusive amenities such as fast-track access to airports.
“We are the first hotel in Portugal to have an exclusive team of butlers—certified by Turismo de Portugal—who work on a floor-by-floor basis. In other words, each floor has 9 to 10 rooms, and each room receives full butler service from check-in to check-out. Before the guest arrives, we send a ‘Golden Prelude’ questionnaire to the agency that made the reservation to learn more about the guest and their preferences—such as room temperature, favorite beverages, any allergies, or whether they’d like to take a tour of the city.”
As soon as the guest arrives at the hotel, he adds, “the butler will personally greet them and escort them directly to their room. Check-in takes place right in the room, which is equipped with a tablet featuring the various services and experiences we offer. For example, if they want to book a city tour, they can do so via the tablet or even at the Golden Prelude—and we’ll take care of everything. Our goal is for them to have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
There are also several in-room experiences, such as the Fragrance Lalique Butler, where, before dinner, guests can call the butler for a sensory fragrance experience. There are five options for women and five for men, allowing guests to choose the evening’s scent, which is applied with a light spray.
“We have another experience, called Dusk Mix 6 to 7, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Our butlers are invited to prepare a cocktail in the room, right in front of the guests, and serve it with canapés. The cocktails change daily, depending on each guest’s preferences. In the rooms, we also offer a Golden Courtesy Amenity—that is, a private bar at your disposal, featuring Port wine, local gin, and champagne. So, our service is tailored to the quality we aim to provide,” explained Marie-Hélène Moreira.
In terms of amenities, MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites partners with the Lalique brand and provides a Vanity Kit containing only the essentials. “If the guest requests it, the butler will supplement the kit with necessary items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor, or even a comb, creating a true personalized grooming ritual.”
Among the experiences offered, highlights include luggage packing and unpacking services, shoe shining, a bathing ritual, and a personal shopper.
Black Moon Gastrobar
Rounding out the experience is the Black Moon Gastrobar, an intimate and sophisticated space that promises “a sensory journey through a premium selection of gourmet nibbles, fine wines, and champagnes.” With just 32 seats (24 at tables and 8 at the bar), every detail has been designed to “transform the meal into an intense, immersive, and memorable sensory experience.”
Luis Ortiz is the chef behind this new venue, which promises a global cuisine of contrasts. Inspired by Mexico and memories of his grandmother, Luis combines tradition and innovation, transforming simple ingredients into “extraordinary gastronomic experiences.”
According to Marie-Hélène Moreira, each dish is paired with a carefully curated wine selection—with a strong Portuguese focus—signature champagnes, or exclusive cocktails created by Hugo Carvalho.
The day begins with the Signature Mythic Breakfast (€45), a semi-à-la-carte breakfast “inspired by the great icons of international hospitality.” Starting at noon, the gastrobar offers sophisticated snacks, light dishes, wines, and champagnes, keeping pace with the city’s rhythm. In the evening, between 10:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., the atmosphere becomes “more intimate and provocative,” with a “bold menu” of desserts and cocktails. Pedro Caldas, for his part, is responsible for the strategic curation of the wine list.
Marie-Hélène Moreira emphasized that Black Moon is not just about the food, but also about beverage pairings. “Customers can choose whether or not to follow the suggested pairings, but each dish comes with a cocktail, wine, or champagne specially selected to accompany it. Thus, every meal becomes a true storytelling experience. Unlike traditional wine pairing, here we go beyond wine: we also include cocktails and champagnes. We have a Champagne Bar with over 20 brands and 9 glasses available. It’s a whole experience of ‘bubbles and pearls,’ as I like to call it, combining caviar, champagne, and the entire atmosphere that surrounds it,” she said.
The average price per night varies depending on the room type. Rates start at 600 euros for premium rooms, 1,800 euros for master suites, and 5,000 euros for the MYTHIC suite, which consists of three suites that can accommodate family and friends. Marie-Hélène Moreira explained that prices will remain stable during both the low and high seasons. “The services and quality we offer in the rooms ensure that prices don’t vary much, whether it’s the low or high season. Therefore, there won’t be much price fluctuation.”
Goals and Challenges
Regarding the main goals for this hotel, Marie-Hélène Moreira said that, in terms of operations, the aim is “to become a benchmark in Lisbon and Portugal thanks to the concept we are creating and implementing, which is unique.”
“We’ve created a foothold in the leisure segment here. I think other hotels with a similar concept will emerge, which I consider a positive development. In fact, I hope Lisbon will also begin to operate at a high level of service and consistency. Over time, our goal is to become a benchmark in Lisbon and Portugal—and even abroad.”
The manager did not identify any challenges associated with the hotel’s location, stating that she sees only advantages. “We’re well located, which allows guests to get around on foot and provides easy access to public transportation. Despite the dynamic and bustling surroundings, the boutique hotel concept allows for an immediate change of pace: upon entering, guests find a welcoming and personalized atmosphere where they feel well received and cared for. I don’t see any disadvantages to being in the center of Lisbon. On the contrary, we benefit from our proximity to major cultural and commercial areas, such as Avenida da Liberdade and Praça do Comércio.”
Profile of Marie-Hélène Moreira
A native of France, Marie-Hélène Moreira holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages and International Trade from the University of Poitiers and a degree in Hotel Management from Stonebridge Associated Colleges. She began her career in the hospitality industry in France and later joined the Orient Express team, where she worked for six years as general manager of a resort. She then moved to Portugal, where she took on the role of Room Division Manager at the Corinthia Lisbon and, later, that of General Manager at the Madeira Atlantic Resort & Sea SPA in Funchal.
In 2020, Marie-Hélène Moreira joined the SANA Group as Director of Luxury Project and Concept Development, a position she still holds today.