LX Boutique Hotel

The LX is housed in what was formerly the Hotel Braganca, an old hotel from the turn of the 20th-century that was revamped and transformed into the trendy, modern, boutique property it is today. The exteriors retain a classic look and feel of days past via wrought-iron railings and a vintage gas lamp-style lantern above the front door, plus pastel-blue exterior walls and cream-colored stone trim. The color blue dominates the interiors as well, and the lobby has lots of blue wallpaper in stripes or patterns reminiscent of traditional Portuguese tiling. There's also a charming mix of pincushion chairs, plush sofas, Oriental rugs, mirrors, and stately wooden furniture. A long staircase lined with photos leads up to the five floors of rooms, but there's also an elevators for those who don't want to trudge upstairs with their luggage. Most guests are vacationers, and this hotel is a charming, romantic choice for couples. 

The LX hotel is located just south of Bairro Alto, a bustling neighborhood filled with lively nightlife spots, vintage and antique shops, and charming cobblestone streets that were largely spared during the 1755 earthquake that destroyed much of the city. It's a two-minute walk from the Cais do Sodre metro stop, and an eight-minute walk to Praca do Comercio, a beautiful plaza facing the river. It takes about 10 minutes via public transit to reach the Santa Justa historic elevator and the National Museum of Ancient Art. St. George's Castle is a seven-minute drive. It's an 11-minute drive or 22 minutes via public transportation to the Coach Museum, the largest museum of royal coaches in the world. The Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower both take around 15 minutes to reach by car. Expect a19-minute drive or 28 minutes via public transportation to Lisbon Portela Airport.

This hotel offers a good range of room types, from entry-level Classic Rooms (the pricier ones have city views), clear up to a lovely Rooftop Suite with a furnished patio and views out over the Tagus River. It's the decor that really sets these rooms apart from the competition, and though furnishings vary a fair but from room to room, travelers can expect -- at a minimum -- bright rooms with lots of natural light, pastel walls with city scene photo murals, and a mix of furniture pieces including white tables and desks and pastel solid or floral-print upholstered seating, and desks. All rooms have, at a minimum, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, and minibars. However, rooms do run small and there's not a ton of storage, especially in entry-level units. Bathrooms are sleek and contemporary with vessel sinks, walk-in rainfall showers, magnifying mirrors, and lavender-scented toiletries. However, some have windows from the showers that look straight into the rooms, which could be a bit too intimate for friends traveling together. Note that due to the hotel's location near nightlife spots, rooms can be a bit noisy at night -- especially on lower floors.

LX doesn't offer a ton of amenities, though they occasionally offer special activities for guests, from wine tastings to concerts. An excellent breakfast is served daily and features all sorts of Portuguese specialties sourced from a popular local bakery, Tartine. The restaurant, Confraria lx, serves an interesting mix of cuisine types, from sushi to tapas, and provides free sushi for guests in the afternoon. Room service is available until late. There's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.