I needed a relatively cheap-ish, central place to stay in Lisbon over a long weekend on my way to another European capital and I found this by almost accidentally googling for hotel-price-location, I'm ashamed to say - I should definitely have come here first but I was in a hurry and my connectionthingy kept breaking down. So here I am, prepared for a refurbished version of a pensão. Instead I find myself in a hidden gem of a place. Accessible from 2 Metro/Underground stations but awkward for cars to navigate so take a taxi at your own sense of adventure.
Havving gotten there, it seemed out of this world. Built in the 1950s, completely renovated early this century. Rooms available for all sorts (family-suite-like, double beds, twin beds and so on) and my sort had a single room. It was spacious enough, wardrobe-space enough, about 40 cable tv channels, very decent a/c and all spotless and cleaned to pristine standards every day when I wasaway.
Staff couldn't be friendlier or more bilingual (polyglots, I suspect, but I only go as far as speaking 2 languages in any degree of fluency and I was very much at ease thanks to the effortless fluency at he reception, breakfast room, outdoor patio-esplanade). Extremely helpful as well.
Not expensive, clean, friendly, good value for money, nice mix of nationalities staying and working there. Plus heaps of advice on things to do in Lisbon both touristy and a bit more alternative, local, typical in a true sense.
Pratically 5 stars but the one I didn't give is more to do with the poor bus links and the bafflement of taxidrivers. The underground stations are ideal for families with young kids, singles up to 60 and couples ditto. If you are older, more obese or in some other way handicapped, ask for the nice people at reception for advice.
Wi-fi available in the most expensive rooms.
General ambience, atmosphere & architecture are a triumph of ageless comfort amidst all the new modernist condos and run-down townhouses in the vicinity.
Kudos to all working there and what a happy compromise between tradion and modCs
- Hotel Residencial Italia
- Residencial Italia Lisbon
