Two designers and an architect put their heads together to create this imaginative conversion of a former canning factory in the heart of old Lisbon. The place had been rotting away for years but Isaac, Tânia and Marta had a vision: a collection of 15 beautiful apartments, each a home-from-home furnished with art, textiles and collectables with a strong Portuguese provenance, alongside bespoke furniture and handmade tiles that the team designed themselves. What they have created truly reflects the spirit of the city, where history and innovation rub shoulders like old friends.
The crisp white building sits in a quiet corner of the vibrant Baixa neighbourhood, which slopes up from the salty Tagus River toward São Jorge Castle and the narrow back streets of Alfama. Tall windows flood the apartments with light; from the top floors there are views across rooftops and spires towards the sea. Inside are dreamy beds, decent kitchenettes, books to read, even morning breakfast deliveries. Your hosts have thought of everything; they've even designed a map and mini guide with insider tips on how to get the best out of the city. And the icing on the cake is actually on the ground floor: grocery deli Prado Mercearia where you can buy fresh locally grown produce, which is adjacent to the Lisboans' own Prado restaurant.
Highs
- Gorgeous light rooms, and beautiful living spaces furnished to feel like home
- A range of sizes (1 or 2 double/twin bedrooms, sleeping 2-6), so suitable for couples, friends and families
- Excellent value, and rates include breakfast
- The beautiful ground floor restaurant, and grocery store with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, perfect for people-watching
- A great location in Baixa, practically next to door to the cathedral and Praça do Comércio, and within walking distance of the city’s most interesting districts
- The friendly, informative team, who are proud of their city and keen to recommend favourite restaurants and sights
Lows
- Front desk isn't manned 24/hours a day
- Your delivery of fresh bread and OJ doesn't arrive til 8.30am; some would prefer it earlier
- No parking - though guests rarely arrive by car
Best time to go
Lisbon is a year-round city - lively and colourful in the dullest of weathers, and cooled by sea breezes in the heat of summer - but it comes into its own in spring and autumn. In May, jacaranda trees shed a confetti of mauve flowers over the cobbled streets. In September, the warmth of the summer lingers into the evening. August is probably best avoided (the locals head for the coast, leaving the tourists to endure the heat).
Our top tips
The Lisboans’ in-the-know food recommendations are spot on. We loved the authenticity of a stand-up lunch at Afonso das Bifanas (a busy, steamy snack bar serving pork and mustard sandwiches and glasses of vinho verde), and it was worth queuing for a table at tiny Tabernas das Flores in Chiado.
- Boutique Rentals
- 15 apartments for 2-6
- Self-catering; breakfast included
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Shared laundry room
Rooms
There are 14 One and Two Bedroom apartments plus a Penthouse (the latter offers panoramic views over the city from a wraparound balcony). They come in various shapes and sizes, each uniquely decorated in a very personal style, with quirky collections - a shelf of 1950s National Geographics, for example, or a record player and vinyl. Art and maps adorn the walls and rag rugs warm wooden floors. In the shower bathrooms you'll find geometric-tiled floors and The Lisboans' own natural toiletries.
There is a mix of categories across each of the lower foor floors. Apartments on the lower floors have high ceilings and lofty windows with Juliet balconies (there are corner rooms with dual aspect), while the upper floors have a cosier, attic feel. All have deliciously comfortable beds, mid-century modern chairs, a dining area, white cotton linens, and colourful cushions and throws on comfy sofas.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Microwave
- WiFi
Eating
Each apartment has a neat, beautifully tiled kitchenette with a 2-ring hob, fridge, mini dishwasher, Nespresso coffee machine and toaster - along with just enough pots, pans and utensils to rustle up a simple meal. Breakfast ingredients await: granola, fresh fruit, yoghurt, ham and cheese, jams, milk and butter. Fresh bread, rolls or croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice are left outside your door at 8.30am.
Next door to the apartments, is the super farm-to-table Prado restaurant, which has a big ground floor Nordic-inspired dining room full of natural light and greenery. There's an open kitchen so you can watch the chef and team create their daily changing menus from local seasonal ingredients; only organic, biodynamic and natural wines are on the menu. With fabulous floor-to-ceiling windows perfect for people watching, its wonderful grocery store Prado Merceria also showcases fresh locally grown produce - ideal if you want to cook in your apartment. It also functions as a cafe serving coffee, juices, sandwiches and small plates - sometimes pop-up dinners take place; the overall aesthetic brings an old-school food sensibility bang up to date.
If you want to eat further afield, a reliable list of recommendations is provided in the apartment's mini guide. Within walking distance there are traditional Lisboan fish restaurants, pastry shops, cafés and bars, and even a decent Japanese.
Features include:
- Microwave
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Do a loop around the city on one of its rattling yellow trams: Route 28 takes you from the doorstep to Alfama, the Sé Cathedral and the Estrela Basilica and back again
- Don’t plan, just wander; much of central Lisbon can be explored on foot and you never know what’s around the next corner. Within minutes we stumbled on the Roman Theatre Museum - a slice of the city’s ancient history, with views across the rooftops to the Tagus
- Visit the imposing battlements of São Jorge Castle, from where you can see the whole of Lisbon spread out at your feet
- Take a ride on the Elevador de Santa Justa, an ornate iron-work lift that whisks passengers from Rossio Square in the Baixa district up to the ruins of the Igreja do Carmo church
- Take a tram or a metro to Belem: the best place to see the riches and grandeur of 18th-century Lisbon, and home to Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Ajuda Palace and the Coaches Museum. Round things off with coffee and divine custard tarts at Antiga Confeitaria de Belem
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Wine tasting
Kids
Families are welcome here and there are 1- or 2-bedroom apartments, plus sofabeds and baby cots to borrow. Parents will find the well-equipped kitchenettes and communal laundry area useful. There's a restaurant, cafe and grocery store on the premises, while the central location means nearly all sights and neighbourhoods can be accessed within 15-20 minutes.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
All apartments have 1 or 2 bedrooms, plus a sofabed in their living room for an additional 2 guests (or you can add 2 baby cots). So the One-Bedrooms sleep 2-4; the Two-Bedrooms sleep 4-6. Note all bathrooms are shower only.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots with bedding
- High chair
- A baby bath
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities nearby:
- The Oceanário (the aquarium)
- Jardim da Estrela (park with a playground)
- Riding the classic trams
- Rent electric bikes or scooters to explore downtown
- Hire a tuk-tuk for the city hills
Distances:
- Airport: 20-minute drive
- Hospital: 10-minute drive
- Shop: 1-minute walk
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Lisboans Apartments are in the heart of Lisbon's downtown Baixa district.
By Air:
Fly to Lisbon Portela Airport (7km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport
The Lisboans can arrange a transfer but it's easy enough to take a taxi or get here by public transport. You won't need a car to get about Lisbon, but you could hire one to explore further afield; cars can be collected at the airport or downtown, and there are public car parks nearby.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Portugal and getting around
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela 7.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 15.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape