Residência Mar dos Açores
Rua Bernadim Ribeiro 14, Lisbon, 1150-071, Portugal
Why We Like It
This guesthouse is a good option for a budget stay in Lisbon, within walking distance of many attractions, but far enough off the beaten track to offer a real local flavor. Staff are friendly, the Wi-Fi is fast, and it's walking (or cycling) distance to Intendente, one of Lisbon's current hipster hotspots.
Fodor's Expert Review
A short walk from the Avenida da Liberdade in one direction and Saldanha in the other, this family-run pensão is far from luxurious, but it offers comfortable accommodation for a very low price. The hotel has been recently renovated, but retains some pleasingly old-fashioned touches, such as ornate tile work. There's a small kitchen for guest use, and while there's no bar or restaurant... they do have vending machines. So, there's... that. Anyways, some rooms have private terraces and the hotel also offers free luggage storage, so guests can explore the city after check-out. Due to the low price, the hotel tends to attract a fairly young crowd.
Tip If you come in winter, ask for one of the rooms with heat as well as A/C.
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Room
Rooms are small and simply furnished, but all have A/C and speedy Wi-Fi. All but the very cheapest have private bathrooms. There's also a larger "apartment," sleeping up to 8 people, with a living room and fully-equipped kitchen as well as a private terrace.
You Should Know There's no soundproofing, so street noise can be an issue.
Bathroom
Most rooms have private bathrooms, but the cheapest have shared facilities. Bathrooms are simple but clean, with stand-up showers, bidets and more of those traditional tiles.
You Should Know Don't expect luxuries at this price level-bring your own toiletries, and make sure you ask for a room with private bathroom if sharing is a deal breaker.
Lobby
The small lobby has a 24-hour reception, traditional Portuguese decor with some interesting framed artworks, plenty of leaflets about nearby sights, tours and events, and a luggage room where guests can safely stash their belongings and enjoy a spot of pre-checkin or post-checkout sightseeing.
Dining
Guests can prepare meals-including breakfast, as the hotel does not provide one-in the shared kitchen, and vending machines have the usual sweet and savory snacks to stave off hunger pangs.
Tip There are plenty of inexpensive places to eat in the vicinity of the hotel, including several breakfast spots for coffee and pastries.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The guest house is a little off the tourist track, but within walking distance of the historic center and its many attractions. Staff can also arrange bicycle rental for those keen to see the city on two wheels. The airport is less than six miles from the airport, and shuttle buses stop nearby. The nearest metro station is Picoas, a five-minute walk from the hotel, and provides quick links to the Baixa and the waterfront.
Restaurants
The dining options in this part of town include plenty of pastelirias (coffee and pastry shops) and simple spots offering set lunches and dinners, but there are some jazzier spots within walking distance. The cafe at the excellent Gulbenkian Museum (20-minute walk) has a terrace set in lovely gardens complete with waddling ducks and water features, and is a popular spot with families as well as culture vultures. Hungry carnivores, meanwhile, might want to visit Fogo de Chão (25-minute walk or 10-minute cab ride), a Brazilian export which sees waiters bring endless slabs of just-grilled meats to diners at their table, while a heaving salads-and-sides bar keeps vegetarians happy.
Bars
A short walk from the hotel, the Intendente neighborhood is a newly-gentrified spot that is increasingly popular with hip young Lisboetas. On the neighborhood's lively main square, Casa Independente (15-minute walk) is an achingly cool hangout with a lovely interior courtyard, serving coffee and snacks by day, and cocktails with a live music backdrop by night. Nearby, Bar 1908 (15-minute walk), the bar at the fashionable 1908 Hotel is open to non-guests and serves delicious cocktails and equally good finger food in a chic setting, with a pleasant terrace for al-fresco sipping and socializing.
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