Altis Avenida Hotel Lisbon Review

I recently had the opportunity to be a guest at the Hotel Altis Avenida in Lisbon, courtesy of its director Gonçalo Durão. Many people think that this kind of hosted experience carries little credibility. I don't see it that way — an invitation doesn't buy my review, much less my judgment. If we were talking about money, about straightforward advertising, that would be a different story.

On the other hand, I believe that as a resident of this city, taking part in these kinds of experiences and then reviewing them allows me to offer the reader — the visitor to our city — a much broader perspective. Knowing the neighborhoods and the culture, the Portuguese way of life, and reflecting that in an attempt to bridge different cultures, I try to convey what visitors tend to enjoy while considering as many angles as possible. Let me walk you through the most important aspects: location & price, design and history, rooms, cleanliness, hospitality, service, breakfast, entertainment, and surroundings. By the way, if you like the review and the hotel, you can book hereí or if you're looking for alternatives, visit our hotels.

Location & Price

Hotel Altis Avenida is located right in the heart of Lisbon. Just next to the Praça dos Restauradores and Rossio, steps from the Hard Rock Café and directly across from a Starbucks at the Rossio station; but more importantly for those like me who appreciate authenticity: very close to hundreds of local venues, monuments, and landmarks, as well as excellent proximity to supermarkets, traditional restaurants, and quintessentially Lisbon terraces.

The hotel sits at a point in the city that is truly a hotbed of Portuguese energy — beside theaters and Portuguese government offices, next to the city's finest avenue lined with designer boutiques, yet also near buildings worn down by time that their owners can do little to restore. In short, a place where you see both the best and the worst of the city, its contrasts, its pros and cons — which leads me to a conclusion that more than a few people will relate to: this hotel couldn't be better located. Its location is spot-on, exact, precise: the best you can find in Lisbon for seeing the bad and the good, for getting a feel for the city up close or from a distance, depending on which side of the street you're on.

The nightly rate at the hotel hovers around €100, with a tendency to climb, so if you want to stay here, make the most of it — I have it on good authority that prices will be going up around 2012.

Design and History

The hotel itself doesn't have a grand entrance — it's modest from the outside, which changes once you step inside, though not in the way of becoming a 5-star hotel of the old school, laden with baroque ornamentation or overdone in any way.

The hotel's design has been carefully considered down to the smallest details, striking a tone in keeping with the times, while still meeting the challenge of preserving — as a historic building— much of its original materials and structure.

It's worth noting that the building was recently renovated by the Altis group and inaugurated in March 2010. The hotel's original structure was respected during the renovation, and there was even a degree of inspiration drawn from the 1940s in its redesign.

In my own very personal view, I feel like I'm stepping into a hotel with a modern "retro-future"aesthetic. They called it "urban-chic".

Rooms

From the rooms of this hotel you can take in several important landmarks around the city, depending on which wing you're assigned. The Tagus, Castelo de São Jorge, squares like Rossio and Restauradores, the Avenida — or, for the less fortunate, an internal courtyard garden.

The rooms, for a 5-star hotel, leave a little to be desired: they're not particularly large, it's true. But from a design standpoint, clever use of glass and mirrors helps make them feel more spacious, despite the dark color scheme. Because it has to be said — the hotel is very black.

I think that from an elegance standpoint, black plays an important role, but perhaps it got slightly out of hand here. That said, this darkness is in constant contrast with straight golden lines and the local furnishings, including wood (not overly abundant, it must be said).

Beyond any personal taste, all I can say is that I am very glad to have experienced this hotel, and there is little I can say about its design that isn't praise.

The bathroom we had (I stayed with my wife and our 7-month-old baby) unfortunately didn't include a bathtub, but we did have a pair of lovely bathrobes and the longing for a long bath that any two parents can have after months of very little sleep. The bed, generously sized, must measure around 2×2 meters. Minibar service, free Wi-Fi, HD television with endless channels, room service, air conditioning — everything was (and proved to be) perfect for resting. Best of all, outside noise, despite being in the very center of the city, didn't reach my ears in the slightest. Unfortunately, the air conditioning made an annoying noise throughout the entire stay, though it didn't disrupt our rest.

Online Reviews: Cleanliness, Hospitality, Service, and Breakfast

Before visiting the hotel I did thorough research and found that on tripadvisor What guests mention most is the service. And for good reason. The staff was incredible at every turn — the online reviews don't lie. What service!

That said, professionalism was the order of the day throughout, so all I can say is that the service was impeccable and very attentive. Upon arrival, a young man greeted us and walked us to our room — he seemed a little nervous, and I think we may have been among the first guests he had received. Despite the nerves, he handled every question we had very well.

Even though I had warned in advance that I would be bringing my baby, the crib wasn't in the room when we arrived. However, they took care of it as soon as we stepped out, without disturbing us at all — which was a nice touch. On top of that, they left a little gift for the little one.

Cleanliness leaves nothing to be desired — they really put the work in here. Or perhaps it's the fact that the place was fully renovated recently, but we felt as if we were the first people to ever use the place.

On another note, I feel that when it comes to breakfast (included in the price) I've become something of a connoisseur, but I have several positive things to say: the bread was super fresh and varied, with wholegrain options — perfect for starting the day. The coffee, thankfully, is not served American-style or from one of those bland, flavourless Nespresso machines (don't take my word for it — I'm very tempted to buy one myself). The coffee is made the old-fashioned way, so bonus points for that. The eggs were a little underdone for my taste. Breakfast is served on the top-floor terrace at the Rossio Restaurante Bar Terraço, so come ready for a breakfast with a view.

Entertainment

The hotel is wonderfully boring in the sense that there's nothing to do but eat, sleep, watch TV, or hold a meeting in the conference room. No pools, no spas. However, the group has the advantage of another Altis hotel nearby, and guests are welcome to use the pools, spas, and perks of the other properties in the chain. Not bad at all.

Surroundings

We decided to head out for a meal nearby without going too far, and we ended up at a place I'd had on my list, because I enjoy both the casual and the fancy, I like to experience it all. Anyway, there's this spot — a little rough around the edges but with a decent presence — Leão d'Ouro, just across the street, which offers two options: buffet or restaurant. Given the time (around 5pm), we went with the buffet. Good food, very affordable price. Just steps from the hotel. Though we could have gone somewhere better — everything is just a stone's throw away.

For first-time visitors, whether travelling solo, as a couple, or with family, and who don't know the city, you can step outside and stumble upon Lisbon surprises within just a 5-minute walk: the Santa Justa Elevator is right next door, the Convento do Carmo is a 10-minute walk, Praça do Comércio is practically around the corner, and the list goes on. Absolutely everything is within walking distance: it's incredible what a difference staying in the perfect location makes.

For those visiting for business, you're at an equidistant point from anywhere in the city.

The typical guest profile at this hotel tends to be people between 50 and 65, with a slightly higher spending level — but don't be fooled: not only is this hotel not that expensive when you consider its value for money, it's also a hotel that suits all age groups.

Conclusion

This hotel is perfect in terms of location. Service and hospitality: unbeatable. On-site activities are very limited, so I think it's best suited to families and couples who need comfort and a central base. Above all, I think the place is a great reward for those who want to pound the streets and come back to a restorative night's sleep, or for those with long business meetings in Lisbon — this could be the ideal hotel.