PortoBay Liberdade

Located on a typical Lisbon street with cobblestone sidewalks, Porto Bay Liberdade has a beautiful classical facade and looks more like a posh residential building than a hotel. The lobby has a chic, understated elegance, done up in complementary shades of gray, white, and brown. The stylish lamps are made of stone vases, and there are several intimate seating areas of leather sofas, gray upholstered armchairs, and rustic wooden tables. The many potted plants and nature-inspired artwork create a relaxed atmosphere. The art here has been specially created by local artists for the hotel, and includes panels made of traditional "azulego" tiles by Joana Rego and photographs of Lisbon neighborhoods by Henrique Seruca. Most of the guest who stay here are couples visiting Lisbon as leisure travelers. 

Porto Bay Liberdade is located on a quiet residential street, a short walk from Avenida da Liberdade, a major thoroughfare known for its luxury shops. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants, and pastry shops in the immediate vicinity. Transportation links from here are excellent -- the closest metro station is Marques de Pombal, a five-minute walk, while the Avenida metro is only six minutes away on foot.

• One-minute walk to Avendia da Liberdade
• Five-minute walk to Marques de Pombal subway station
• Five-minute walk to Marques de Pombal Square
• Six-minute walk to Avenida subway station
• 14-minute walk to Restauradores Square
• 15 minutes to Rossio Square by public transit
• 17 minutes to Bairro Alto by public transit
• 17 minutes to Chiado area by public transit
• 20-minute drive to Belem Tower
• 27 minutes to Alfama by public transit
• 28 minutes to the Castle of Saint Jorge by public transit
• 41 minutes to Lisbon International Airport by public transit 

The light-filled guest rooms at Porto Bay Liberdade are chic and understated. Soft gray walls and floors contrast with the sleek black furniture, and the nautical-themed artwork on the walls provides interesting accents. Almost all rooms have balconies, some with elegant double French doors. The smallest of the Classic Rooms can be a bit cramped for two guests, but other rooms in the same category are more roomy -- the same size as some of the Superior and Deluxe Rooms. The Deluxe Rooms include love seats, while each of the Suites is made up of a bedroom and a living room divided by a sliding door. All rooms are well-equipped with the same amenities: 40-inch flat-screen smart TVs, Delta espresso machines, and minibars stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Note that extra espresso capsules cost an additional hefty fee, and water is only replenished in Suites. Handy tech extras include double USB chargers, HDMI sockets and USBs for smart TVs, and screen mirroring/Apple TV functions for direct phone/tablet-to-TV streaming. Bathrooms are modern and decorated in the same elegant gray tones, featuring gray stone counters, large mirrors, an shower/tub combos. All come with Rituals luxury toiletries, magnifying mirrors, bathroom scales, hairdryers, slippers, and bathrobes. The bathrooms in Suites include bidets.

For a smaller boutique property, the Porto Bay Liberdade loads up the features, though some are more high-end than others. The hotel offers a breakfast buffet (for a fee) that gets enthusiastic reviews for its wide variety of hot and cold dishes, including breads and pastries, cheese and cold cuts, and eggs. Bistro4 is the on-site restaurant open throughout the day and has a menu of Portuguese and international cuisine, which is also available via room service. Aviator6, the rooftop bar, serves a variety of drinks and light meals.

The spa features a long indoor swimming pool, a steam room, a sauna, and a relaxation room, and offers a variety of rejuvenation treatments and massages. There's also a rooftop terrace with views over the city and a whirlpool hot tub. The fitness center is small and not well-equipped, with only two treadmills, a stationary bicycle, and free weights.

Other features include a business center with a desktop computer and printer and four meeting rooms accommodating up to 150 people. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the hotel, while on-site parking costs extra.