The Considered Guide collection – Guide books for the discerning traveller

Everyone has that one achingly cool friend who seems to always find the most gorgeous, ‘in the know’ places to stay, eat and enjoy the city when they go on holiday.

If you’re not fortunate enough to have one of these types of friends, or if you simply can’t be bothered to do the legwork yourself when planning your next European city break, then The Considered Guide travel books are for you.

Currently, the collection includes city guides on: Lisbon, Marrakech, Amsterdam, Dublin and Milan, all trendy destinations in their own right, each oozing with its own unique wow factor.

I recently came across their city guides for Lisbon and Portugal, so I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite picks that they’ve selected for each city.

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

Where to stay

• Amenjena

This luxury hotel has 32 pavilions, each with its own courtyard.

• Villa des Orangers

Part of the Relais & Chateaux family of global hotels, this beautiful hotel has breath-taking gardens to unwind in.
 
Where to eat

• Le Palace

This opulent restaurant, bar and champagne club is absolutely gorgeous and a DJ spins  until 2am. Arrive dressed to impress.

• Lotus Club

This stylish bar and restaurant features belly dancing, African dancers and a DJ who spins until 1am.

What to see

• Bahia Palace Gardens

Gorgeous gardens and a palace situated within the Medina.

• Le Jardin Secret

This tranquil garden in the heart of the Medina is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Medina.

​LISBON, PORTUGAL

Where to stay

• Memmo Alfama

This modern 42-room hotel boasts chic furnishings and a rooftop pool.

• Valverde Hotel

This stylish hotel was designed by local architecture and interiors company Bastir. The on-site restaurant Sitio serves relaxed Portugese cuisine.

Where to eat

• Bairro do Avillez

This restaurant from renowned chef Jose Avillez serves exquisite seafood and charcuterie.

• Bico do Sapato

Part owned by John Malkovich and Catherine Deneuve, this seriously stylish restaurant is one of Lisbon’s chicest hot spots.

What to see

• Praca do Comercio -  This large, stunning plaza looks onto the Tagus River.
• Mercado do Ribiera – One of the city’s favourite meeting places, this market contains a wealth of restaurants and bars.
• Parque Eduardo VII – This spectacular park affords magnificent views of the city

 The Considered Guide and Lisbon: The Considered Guide are published by ROADS Publishing. The guides are available from Amazon.co.uk (£9.99 for a paperback).

A.A. Miln
​