At the end of a short break we stayed for 2 days at the Lapa Palace. We chose it over newer hotels like the Bairro Alto because of former (way before Covid) stays, their gardens, pool and quiet setting.
Hectic and overtouristed Lisbon center is a 15 minute taxi ride away.
The hotel is a former grand dame without the facelift. The smell in the room, the inefficient AC, the unattended chips and blunders, the general state of decay once you look at the details all point towards a hotel past it's prime.
The bed was from the 60ies, woolen bed covers, hard and rough linens ( outside temperature was 33°) rounded up that this was a trip down memory lane.
Not a lot of occupancy, a lot of bored personnel trying to ride the fine line between high service expectations and "we are working in a palace snootiness".
Mostly the service was ok though.
Our room had a big terrace with sunbeds, a table and 4 chairs and a sofa bench.
All these were supposed to have covers and pillows. After searching the room for these I found some stuffed away in a corridor and dragged them over. The rest was absent until we left.
Old, smelly bathroom, no separate toilet, and slippery enough for a disaster waiting to happen.
One dinner at their restaurant, 2 tables only occupied, good service, far from stellar food.
Breakfast as to be expected, again in a setting like the 80ies. Other areas of the hotel looked more like the 60ies.
A lot of families with small children which sort of marred the pool experience but we tend to say that it is not the fault of the children but the educational failure of their parents which is to blame.
In general: slendor of the past that needs serious updating and renovation. This is not a modern luxury establishment
