The Lisbonaire Apartments

The Lisbonaire Apartments in Lisbon, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise from guests for its unique blend of apartment-style comfort and hotel-like amenities.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Lisbonaire Apartments is overwhelmingly positive, often described as "wonderful" or "exceptional" by guests. The property boasts high guest scores, including a 9.3 rating on Booking.com and an "Overall Experience" score of 18.7 from the MICHELIN Guide's verified guests. Reviewers frequently express a desire to return, highlighting it as a top choice for their stays in Lisbon.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of The Lisbonaire Apartments:

• Location: Its central yet quiet downtown location is a major draw, allowing easy access to major attractions.
• Service & Staff: The staff receives continuous commendation for being friendly, helpful, professional, and attentive.
• Design & Comfort: The modern, clean, and spacious apartments, each with unique artwork, contribute significantly to guest satisfaction.
• Amenities: The well-equipped kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and inviting common areas like the rooftop terrace, gym, and lounge with a pool table are highly appreciated. The property is also noted for being kid-friendly and pet-friendly.

3. Room Quality

The Lisbonaire offers 19 studio and one-bedroom apartments, housed in a rebuilt 1960s modernist building. Each apartment is a unique "crash pad for the modern traveler," decorated by one of 19 different Portuguese artists and designers, often with a focus on typography.

Rooms are described as spacious, clean, and very comfortable, featuring king-size beds (or twin beds) with orthopedic mattresses. They come fully equipped with kitchens including a full-size fridge and freezer, microwave, oven, cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, toaster, and kettle. Additional comforts include air conditioning, free high-speed Wi-Fi, cable TV, Google Home assistants, USB outlets, and room toiletries. While individual apartments include a washing machine, a shared dryer is available in the basement. Some apartments also feature a two-floor arrangement, providing ample space for families.

4. Dining Experience

As an apartment-style property, The Lisbonaire Apartments does not feature an on-site restaurant or offer a standard breakfast service. However, the fully equipped kitchens in each apartment allow guests to prepare their own meals. For those desiring breakfast, delivery can be arranged in advance through a partner for an additional cost. The property also provides an honesty bar in the common lounge for affordable drinks.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at The Lisbonaire Apartments are consistently highlighted as a strong point. Guests frequently describe them as "super friendly and professional," "extremely helpful," "attentive," and "welcoming." They are praised for prompt responses and for going above and beyond to assist guests. Although the front desk operates from 8 AM to midnight, a customized digital key code system provides guests with 24-hour access to both the building and their individual apartment, eliminating the need for physical keys. The property is also very "kids friendly," offering amenities like cribs, high chairs, baby bath tubs, and even toy boxes upon request.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Lisbonaire Apartments boasts an "excellent" and "incredible" central location at Rua da Glória 16 in downtown Lisbon, positioned on a quiet street. It is considered an ideal starting point for exploring the city on foot.

• Attractions: Many major points of interest, including Avenida da Liberdade, Rossio Square, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and the Castle, are within easy walking distance. The Santa Justa Elevator is also just an 8-minute walk away.
• Public Transport: The Restauradores Subway Station (Blue line) is only 656 feet (approximately 2 minutes) away, and Rossio Train Station is 820 feet away, providing convenient connections for exploring beyond the immediate city center, such as Sintra. The historic Tram 28 stop is also nearby.
• Airport Access: Lisbon's Portela Airport is approximately 8 km (5 miles) from the property, with a taxi ride costing around €12.
• Considerations: While the location is superb, it's worth noting that the property is situated on Rua da Glória, which involves a small uphill walk, potentially a consideration for guests with mobility challenges.

7. Value & Pricing

The Lisbonaire Apartments is generally considered to offer "great value for money." Prices can vary depending on the season and day of the week, but recent bookings on KAYAK showed a range of approximately $136. Expedia indicates prices starting from around £81.16 or $104-$131 per night for a stay for two adults. The lowest prices are typically found in December and January, and for stays on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor criticisms and issues noted by guests include:

• Laundry Facilities: While apartments have washing machines, there is only one shared dryer in the basement for all apartments, which some guests found insufficient or not strong enough to meet demand.
• Parking: On-site indoor parking is available for an extra cost (€15 per day) and is subject to availability, with a limitation on car length (4.60m). This might be restrictive for larger vehicles.
• Noise: Although the property is on a quiet street, some older reviews mentioned potential for street noise or noise from other apartment dwellers, though this isn't a widespread recent complaint. One review specifically noted a "nightmare" experience in ground floor rooms, recommending rooms above the ground floor.
• Dining: The absence of an on-site restaurant might be a minor inconvenience for those preferring traditional hotel dining.
• Fitness Room: The gym is described as small and with limited equipment.
• Kitchen Equipment: A few guests suggested the kitchens could benefit from more pots and pans.
• Front Desk Hours: The front desk is not 24/7, operating from 8 AM to midnight, though the keyless entry system mitigates this for access.
• Uphill Walk: The short uphill walk to the property on Rua da Glória could be a concern for guests with mobility issues.

Sources

1. michelin.com
2. booking.com
3. booking.com
4. oyster.com
5. hotels.com
6. hotels.com
7. matraqueando.com.br
8. expedia.co.uk
9. booking.com
10. visionaireapartments.com
11. kayak.com
12. expedia.com