"We just finished a phenomenal week at Hotel Da Baixa in Lisbon! I generally skip writing reviews, but in this case felt compelled to write one. If you end up with a stay and memories like we now have, it's worth it to share a few thoughts here with you.
From the check in to check out (where everyone had become our friend), Hotel Da Baixa couldn't have been better. Pedro Falcao, Guest Services Manager, will make sure your stay is absolutely top shelf and offer to help with questions, tours, restaurant ideas, etc.
The rooms are surprisingly large and well-designed. If you've stayed in a typically small European hotel room, you know exactly why I'm including this in my review. Book one of the larger rooms and you'll be very happy with your stay. So will your significant other. What a great value!
Bathrooms are also large and modernized. Showers? I'd like to have one like that in my house. Rooms are clean and for the most part quiet. An occasional street car will go by and you'll hear it, but they aren't bad.
Nespresso machines in every room? Check? C'mon, US-based hotel chains. Can we get rid of that awful hotel room coffee one of these years?
And the hotel restaurant? Wow. The breakfast buffet and omelette bar are an absolute must every day to get things started. The staff is well trained, friendly and extremely accommodating. Virginia at the omelette bar will give you Portuguese lessons if you ask her to. What a great teacher and just lovely individual. Lunch and dinner are equally as good. You can also walk to about 237 different restaurants from the main hotel door...
The big Nespresso machine in the lobby is also a thing of beauty. Homemade chocolate chip cookies pretty much on demand next to the espresso machine? Check! Pedro and team may have lost money on me during our stay with my Nespresso pod and cookie consumption.
OK, I imagine you're wondering where my negative is going to be. It can't be ALL this good, right? OK. If I must find something, here you go.
My negative on the hotel for our entire stay (10 days) was the seriously bad 80's soundtrack playing in the hotel bar every night. I don't mind good 80's music, but this was not that. Far from it. Pedro, are you paying attention? Change that thing PLEASE!
The hotel is centrally located and it's an easy walk to almost everywhere you'll want to visit. I should probably clarify "easy." There are some serious hills in Lisbon. You'll go up a couple any direction you walk. If you know, you know.
A good hotel is a make or break for any vacation. A great hotel? Very hard to find and a complete joy when you're staying in one. Hotel Da Baixa is one of those. We will be back."
