Lisboa Carmo Hotel

Located in one of Lisbon's quietest and loveliest squares, Largo do Carmo, is the charming and stylish-yet-unpretentious boutique hotel, Lisboa Carmo. Offering 45 gorgeous rooms and suites that strike a happy balance between the historic and the contemporary, Lisboa Carmo strives to be your Portuguese home away from home. Service with a smile is just the beginning when it comes to Lisboa Carmo, from complimentary drinks on arrival to above-and-beyond style concierge services, you’ll truly feel like a guest in their home. With the entirety of Lisbon right at your doorstep, this beautiful little boutique hotel makes for the perfect homebase.

• The rooms of Lisboa Carmo come in single, small, deluxe, comfort and premium, and the family suites are perfect for bigger groups. Your choice of room really just comes down to how much space you need. That being said, previous guests have mentioned that the rooms on the higher floors of the hotel have spectacular views of the entirety of Lisbon. So, if you’re looking for a room with a view, definitely request one on the higher (if not, highest) floors. Pro tip: it is worth noting that all the rooms with views come at a higher price point, but if money is no object, they are definitely worth the splurge.

• It is worth remembering that on the 1st of January 2016, Lisbon introduced a citywide tourist tax of 1 Euro per person, per night. Unfortunately, this tax is not included in the total price of your booking with Lisboa Carmo and needs to be paid when you arrive at the hotel. This tax is charged to guests aged 13 and older, so you’re in luck if you are travelling with children under 12. That being said, you’ll be happy to hear that it is also subject to a maximum amount of EUR 7 per guest, so you don’t have to panic if you’re planning on staying for more than a week.

• Make sure to try out the hotel’s restaurant, Maria do Carmo, at least once. The menu is predominantly Portuguese, with lots of seafood dishes as well as daily vegetarian options. If you’re looking to sample several traditional dishes in one sitting, make sure to order the petiscos-small plates (very similar to Spanish tapas). If however, you feel like stepping out for dinner, this part of town is very well served for restaurants of every style and price category; cuisines ranges from seafood all the way to traditional Portuguese fare.  

• Because Lisboa Carmo is located along the borders of Lisbon’s most famous areas, it is almost your duty to take in as much of them as you possibly can. Spend a day exploring Barrio Alto,the city’s cultural and bohemian heart that transforms from a relatively quiet grid of avenues and colorful buildings during the day to a pulsating nightlife by night. Hit the mosaic pavement of Rua Augusta, a thoroughfare filled to the brim with sidewalk cafés, international boutiques, street artists and peddlers.    

• Being located in downtown Lisbon between Bairro Alto, Baixa, Chiado and Avenida da Liberdade, Lisboa Carmo Hotel is ideally located to explore Lisbon on foot. Among the city’s sites that are just a five-minute walk from the hotel, there is the Rossio Train and Metro Station, Lisbon Cathedral, São Roque Church, Chiado Museum and many more. Pro tip: as Lisbon is famously built on seven hills, some climbs are inevitable, so make sure to bring your best walking shoes and a full water bottle, and don’t forget to stop and rest as you need to.