[LISBON, PORTUGAL] — Here’s a great boutique design hotel to stay in Lisbon. The Lisboans.

When I got out of the taxi, I noticed the small, discrete sign out front, The Lisboans. I rang the doorbell and was buzzed in. A gregarious Mario welcomed me like a brother “You’re Dan?, we’ve been waiting for you, welcome to The Lisboans“.

He brought me through a small door into a room full of six or so people at open desks, working on their computers.

“Everyone, this is Dan.”

“Hi Daaan.” they all replied, with smiles.

“Welcome to our Nerve Center where everything happens'”.  Everyone goes back to clacking away. Reservationists. Web people. Housekeeping. All right there. So refreshing.

On the wall was a big grid on a whiteboard, listing room numbers, check-in and check-out dates, and names scrawled next to each. First names only. Thomas. Rebecca. Karl. Patric. Antonette. Like a snapshot of Europe, right there on the wall. And there was my name, next to 1B. Dan.

“Would you like something to drink? There’s an open bar cart right there. Stop in anytime during your stay.”

I’ve stayed in some nice hotels in Lisbon, and there are a lot of great boutique hotels. And even more full-building Airbnb apartments that have spread like wildfire across all the old abandoned buildings in once-desolate Central Lisbon.  Most have been renovated over the past five years.  But The Lisboans is like the best of both worlds — it’s an “apartment hotel”, like an Airbnb but with guidance and advice from a super friendly staff.

The building is a renovated old commercial building, recently turned into 15 stunning apartments, with living rooms, bedrooms, baths and cool furnishings. Each comes with its own kitchen that they stock with all the essentials for you. Like coffee, fruit, granola and they drop off fresh baked goods every morning before 8am.

Four entrepreneurs — two former advertising art directors, a lawyer and an architect, “The Lisboans” — created this special idea when they found this classic old building and came up with the whole-building concept of well-designed, serviced apartments, a gourmet grocery store and a fine dining restaurant, all under one roof.

I had a cool two bedroom with gigantic soundproof doors that close to be totally quiet. A huge living room, with comfortable chairs and stocked with books. I’m bummed that I was only able to stay here one night, just and in-and-out stop from my trip to Alentejo. I had to wake up at 3:30am to make a 6am flight home.

I’m coming back.

The Rooms at The Lisboans

One review I read said “This is a five star experience without paying a five star price.” With rooms that are double the size, at a fraction of the cost.

You Should Stay Here.

The Restaurant “Prado” at The Lisboans

In the same building are sister businesses. A gourmet grocery. A surprising fine dining restaurant called Prado.  I wasn’t there long enough to see the little market grocery, but did get to stumble upon an incredible meal at their sister restaurant Prado, next door. If you stay at The Lisboans, you can get a 10% discount here. More about that place in my other post.

 

The Neighborhood Around The Lisboans

My favorite was the cool custom map they hand out with all their favorite places to skip the endless crowds. Cool local restaurants (and the best famous ones), great shops, underknown views and out of the way places.  You can download it here!

 

More Information on Lisbon and The Lisboans Apartments

Here’s the listing where I found and booked The Lisboans, in the always reliable and selective Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels. And The Lisboans website. Absolutely stunning photos of The Lisboans in Pretty Hotels review. And a beautiful review by the beautiful Georgia Hopkins on A Hotel Life.

The Lisboans is often booked, there’s a similar hotel that friends have stayed at and loved.  Baixa House.

Five star reviews on TripAdvisor.  Here’s a great feature on The Lisboans and top things to do in Lisbon in Vogue.  And a listing and honest review in one of my favorite boutique hotel sites i-Escape.

Here are other posts I’ve made all about Lisbon. Boutique hotels, restaurants, things to do. And a great article in The Guardian on the best new restaurants in Lisbon. And a perfect roundup of Lisbon’s top restaurants in the UK Conde Nast Traveller.

Here are the best views in Lisbon on CultureTrip. And on LisbonLux. And on the rapidly evaporating Time Out. And Handluggage Only