Bomporto Hotels Brings the Cult-Classic Electric MOKE to Portugal

Luxury hotels have been competing over destination spas and Michelin-starred restaurants for ages. Now they're getting smart about how guests actually move through a destination. Bomporto Hotels, the independent Portuguese hospitality group behind three gorgeous boutique properties in Lisbon and Porto, has teamed up with British automotive brand MOKE International to bring their fully electric vehicles to its hotels. It's a seriously stylish way to explore Portugal's two largest cities — and I am here for it.

If you haven't heard of a MOKE yet, you're in for a treat. It's an open-air, doorless beach buggy with the most unmistakable retro styling. Originally dreamed up in Britain during the swinging '60s, this little vehicle became an unlikely luxury icon after showing up on the French Riviera, at Caribbean resorts, and cruising through California beach towns. Major main character energy.

Today's MOKE keeps that playful silhouette we all love but swaps the old petrol engine for a fully electric powertrain — so it's eco-friendly too! For the first time, visitors to Portugal can rent these cuties by the hour or by the day to explore two of Europe's most walkable and increasingly design-conscious cities at a beautifully slow pace. Available at The Lumiares Hotel & Spa and The Vintage Hotel & Spa in Lisbon, plus The Rebello in Porto, vehicles can be reserved directly at each hotel, with rates starting at €50 per hour or €225 for a full day. And Bomporto doesn't just hand over the keys — each rental comes with curated driving routes, neighborhood recs, and locally inspired experiences that encourage you to venture way beyond the standard tourist trail.

Great hotels have always known where to send their guests. But increasingly, they're also paying attention to how we actually get there. For Bomporto, that means swapping the usual boring rental car for something with way more personality — encouraging travelers to slow down and trade a tightly packed itinerary for an afternoon following the Douro, lingering over lunch by the river, or accidentally discovering a neighborhood you never planned to visit. It's a subtle shift, but honestly, it makes the drive feel just as much a part of the experience as the destination itself.

The vehicle's story is almost as captivating as its design. Originally conceived in Britain during the early 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis — the same genius behind the original Austin Mini — the MOKE was first meant to be a lightweight military vehicle before finding a way more glamorous second life. By the late '60s, it had become synonymous with the French Riviera, Caribbean islands, and California beach towns, attracting fans ranging from The Beatles and Brigitte Bardot to James Bond himself. Today, each MOKE is still hand-built in Northamptonshire, England, right where the original cars were produced — marrying that unmistakable heritage styling with contemporary electric engineering. How cool is that?

For MOKE International, Portugal is the latest addition to a growing collection of destinations where the brand has evolved from a nostalgic collector's item into something way closer to a lifestyle accessory. It's already a familiar sight in places like St. Barth, St. Tropez, Miami Beach, and Waikiki — where its open-air design feels less like transportation and more like part of the vacation itself. And honestly? It absolutely is.

The brand's easygoing character makes it a total natural fit for Portugal, where Lisbon and Porto reward travelers who prefer to wander rather than rush. In Porto, guests staying at The Rebello — a stunning conversion of riverside warehouses overlooking the Douro — get access to self-guided driving routes that trace the river toward the Atlantic, climb to panoramic viewpoints across Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, and wind through seaside neighborhoods including Foz and Matosinhos. Pure magic.

Lisbon's suggested itineraries are just as dreamy. Guests at The Lumiares Hotel & Spa, tucked inside a restored 18th-century palace in the city's vibrant Bairro Alto, can leave Portugal's capital behind for the Atlantic beaches of Cascais and Guincho, or just spend the day wandering the city's historic quarters at their own pace. The Vintage Hotel & Spa, meanwhile, offers a super stylish base near Avenida da Liberdade for weaving between Belém's riverside landmarks, the converted warehouses of LX Factory, and residential neighborhoods like Lapa and Marvila, where some of the city's best cafés, galleries, and wine bars reward those willing to just wander. I'd totally get lost there on purpose.

Hotels are getting more and more creative in how they help guests experience a destination. For Bomporto, that now goes way beyond the concierge desk and straight behind the wheel of a MOKE. The goal isn't really about transportation — it's about encouraging spontaneity, local discovery, and the simple pleasure of taking the long way around. In Portugal, checking into a boutique hotel might now come with something way more memorable than a room key: the chance to explore Lisbon's hills or Porto's waterfront behind the wheel of one of Britain's most enduring automotive icons. Sign me up!

All photos courtesy Lydia Harper (@lids_harper)for Parc Fermé.