Hotel Portugal in the Rossio District of Lisbon

On my recent trip to Lisbon, I stayed in the Hotel Portugal, a boutique 4 star hotel in the Rossio district.

Tucked away down an otherwise uninteresting street (a dive kebab place and a few junky boarded up shops) yet only a few hundred feet from the metro station and a beautiful plaza (Rossio), Hotel Portugal is unassuming yet elegant. Once inside the big glass doors (which will be opened, royally, by the doorman) lead to a modern yet posh interior.

The rooms are comfortable, with nice beds and linens, mirrors that double as televisions and roomy bathrooms.

Breakfast is included in room rates, and is a breakfast buffet with plenty of options (this is key for me since I can’t eat the breads or cereals) including eggs, sausage, beans, pastries, smoked salmon, cheeses, deli meats, fruits and cereals. You can also have espresso or macchiato type beverages in lieu of the American coffee they serve automatically, if you ask.

Since breakfast is available for four hours (7-11) it’s very easy to get to whether you’re an early or a late riser.

 

 

The Pro’s:

2 minutes walk from the metro

5 minutes walk from the Rossio Train Station

Friendly and helpful staff-available at all times. Four Star service (toothpaste and toothbrushes if you need them, etc)

Great breakfast buffet with long enough hours to make it easy to get to

Nice rooms with comfortable beds and linens

Restaurant on site

The Cons:

Hit and miss wifi (though no major long term outages it was a bit spotty).

Conclusion:

If you aren’t traveling for work, and want a posh hotel with comfy beds, good breakfast (that goes late) and friendly staff near the metro and train station this is a great choice.

Also, you are very near to the barrio alto (neighborhood) which is a great neighborhood to walk around. Get out of Rossio Plaza (very pretty but it’s mostly high end shopping and touristy restaurants) and take a walk over to the train station. Climb the streets (and stairs) behind it and you’ll find yourself on narrow cobbled streets with cute little cafes and restaurants. There are also many charming plazas, statues, and museums.

And, if you’re tired of walking up and down hills (Lisbon is a very hilly city thus the street elevators you’ll find in each barrio) jump on the #28 Tram and take a ride through the scenic areas of Lisbon.