Fodor's Expert Review The Ivens

Urban explorers will love this vibrant, design-led boutique hotel which opened in 2021 on a charming Chiado side street. The address gives a clue as to the theme of the hotel: it sits on the corner of two streets named for the trailblazing Portuguese explorers Capelo and Ivens, whose adventures in Africa are celebrated in every pristine quarter of the property. Guests are encouraged to share their own tips for hidden Lisbon treasures in a beautifully curated coffee table in the lobby, and there are pops of tropical color in the hand-painted wallpapers and contemporary artworks. The hotel is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of independent boutique properties, but nothing about the property feels like a chain. The attention to detail is astonishing (be sure to check out the fabulously flamboyant bathrooms in the trendy hotel restaurant, Rocco), superior soundproofing makes for silent nights despite the bustling streets outside, and staff go out of their way to make every guest feel like a VIP.