TL;DR

Central & historic: set in a 17th-century renovated arsenal
Chic local design: AlmaLusa’s muted, stylish interiors
Intimate scale: small number of rooms for a personal stay
Historic touches: exposed stone and Early Baroque romance
Great location: steps from Tram 28 views and the Tagus
Check prices here

If you want mainly old but also a bit new, there’s AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado, a gorgeous boutique hotel named for the neighbourhoods it straddles.

The location makes for a super-central Lisbon stay, the small number of rooms adds intimacy, and for a little bit of local flavour, all you have to do is look around.

It’s set in a 17th-century renovated arsenal, history deep within its walls.

The building certainly feels historic though there’s no attempt to connect the place to its particular, unique, history.

The decor is fresh, simple and stylish. The local brand AlmaLusa is of the design hotel faction, and it shows.

That style here makes for a quasi-universal appeal.

The bits of exposed wall from the building are more than enough for a bit of Early Baroque romance, turned chic by clever touches in a muted contemporary style.

Your upscale travellers will love the brand-name beds and bathroom fixtures for example.

More history/local vibe-focused guests then can swoon over locally-sourced amenities, historic atmosphere, and views of the famed Tram 28.

What are the rooms like?

28 rooms: variety from Standard to Suites
Modernised comfort: updated rooms without the bare stone of the common areas
Thoughtful mix: velvety chairs, geometric prints, black & white tiled bathrooms
Sizes: Standard rooms ~21 m²; Deluxe and Suite options larger
Practical perks: Colmol beds, percale linens, HDTVs, coffee & tea
See all the rooms in detail here

Rooms are the most modern, without the same bare stone as AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado’s common areas.

They’ve been expertly decorated with just the right balance of antique and in-your-face modern touches.

We’re talking velvety armchairs sitting under geometric prints, black and white tiled bathrooms with rich wooden accents.

Standard rooms are 21 square metres, sporting kings or twins. There’s not too much difference between these and the Deluxe, and even the Deluxe Mini, in our opinion.

Once you get up to AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado’s more spacious rooms, however, you’re in business.

Groups will love the Triple Rooms, and not just because of the three-guest capabilities.

They’re super spacious and some features original architectural details.

Suites add little kitchenettes to the experience, and are an excellent choice for anyone involved.

All rooms feature Colmol beds, percale cotton linens, HDTVs, coffee and tea capabilities, and many have additional Bluetooth speakers.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Onsite dining: Delfina serves Portuguese cuisine and wines
Excellent breakfast: notable for quality and variety
Limited facilities: not many luxury extras like spa or big pool
Best for: those who prioritise atmosphere, location and food

Food and beverage at AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado is provided by Delfina, the onsite Portuguese restaurant.

It’s a nice spot both culinarily and viniculturally, so feel free to spend a good amount of time there.

Breakfast is notably excellent, so look forward to easy mornings.

The devil is in the details, however, and we’d say this is where AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado falls flat.

It’s just a bit, but we think our business travellers, sports junkies and pool and spa-fiends might be disappointed.

As far as luxury boutique hotels go, the facilities are very limited.

However, if you need chic, atmospheric surrounds to sleep, lounge, eat, drink. And walk most anywhere pretty easily, you’ll be fine.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Super-central: Baixa/Chiado location near the waterfront
Short walks: to the Tagus, Lisbon Cathedral and Rua Augusta
Historic access: easy stroll to Castelo de São Jorge and Alfama
Upscale shopping: Avenida da Liberdade within reach
Nightlife options: Bairro Alto and local Fado houses nearby

To offset the potential disappointment, we assure you that the charms of Baixa/Chiado will make up for all but the most stubborn of hotel guests.

This Lisbon neighbourhood is seriously central, and what’s more, minutes from the water.

You can walk 2 minutes to get to the Tagus and the long stretch of waterfront path that runs along it.

The Lisbon Cathedral is a 10-minute walk, along which you’ll catch the Money Museum, the Arc of Rua Augusta and the charming pedestrian stretch of Rua Augusta itself.

Once you get to the cathedral, you can take a stroll up to the Castelo de São Jorge, near the hills of Alfama.

If you’re looking for something more leisurely, stroll up towards Avenida da Liberdade, the luxury shopping zone.

Here you’ll find upscale restaurants, gorgeous cafés, and many opportunities to spend a little cash.

The nearby Bairro Alto is popular for nightlife, though most guides will recommend Alfama’s backstreets for a Fado House.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We arrived late to the hotel so it was great to have somebody friendly and polite checking us in. Unfortunately I cannot remember his name. Also we were very happy as we were given a room upgrade. The hotel was in a great location. Breakfast in the morning was excellent! We would love to stay longer the next time we are in Lisbon….”

“Beautiful property in a great location. Comfortable rooms with nice size bathrooms. Interior design was old world style which I loved. Front desk (Bruno) and others were very helpful and kind. Restaurant for breakfast or dinner was excellent…..”