Just a perfect 5-star hotel. The most ideal location, right on the border between the Old Lisbon and its newer parts (up Avenida da Liberdade), also equidistant to Mouraria and Alfama to the east, Chiado and Bairro Alto to the west, within a few seconds' (literally) walk to Rossio and Praça da Figueira, and a minute or two to Baixa with all of its main streets. You just can't have a better location in LIsbon.
Then, it is an unparalleled chic and luxury of the old grand hotels of the world. Majestic premises, transported straight from the Belle Époque (no coincidence here, the architect was also a major contributor to the rebuilding of the Paris Hotel de Ville, and the nearby Rossio train station as well), high ceilings, lots of luxurious gilded panels, antique tapestries, and elegant drapery.
Excellent service. Probably, the most diligent housekeeping we have ever encountered, precise, right on the clock, no waiting, both in the AM and for the turn-down service.
Plentiful and delicious breakfast choices, from various vegetables and fruits, to the freshly baked crêpes and pancakes, numerous kinds of charcuterie, multiple varieties of cheeses, sausages, crispy bacon, beans, jams, preserves, all kinds of pastries including, of course, pastéis de nata, and whatever else your heart may desire for a perfect breakfast.
Amazingly elegant bar, with such low prices, that we thought we were back in the 1990s. 2 coffees and a drink (Pernot or Fernet) for under $20, that we can't recall having in high-class hotels for a long, long time.
The hotel offers free WiFi, but we can't comment on its quality, for we had our own hotspot.
Small tokens of appreciation, from complimentary fruits in our room to a no-charge cell phone (30 minutes free complimentary international voice calls), drink vouchers and little souvenirs, all of the above explains the perfect 5-stars rating on TripAdvisor.
Fantastic hotel, can't recommend it highly enough.
