Altis Avenida Hotel – Cozy Glamor in Historic Lisbon

Altis Avenida Hotel combines a great location in Central Historic Lisbon with stylish design and exceptional service. I was a media guest for one night when I arrived in Lisbon to start an extended stay in Portugal.

The Altis Avenida Hotel is one of six hotels of the Altis Hotel group which started in 1973 with the Altis Grand. A family owned business, they have opened three new hotels since 2009.

Altis Avenida was opened in 2010. The building was designed by Architect Cristino Silva in 1950 and had most recently served as city offices. The façade and staircases were preserved and the rooms designed around the exiting footprint of the interior space.

There are expansions planned in the near future with work scheduled to begin in 2017. Plans include adding some stores in the basement, adding 46 rooms by expanding to an adjoining building and extending the terrace to include views of the river and São Jorge Castle.

Location

For me, the location could not be any better. A frequent traveler to Portugal I often spend a day or two in Lisbon at the beginning or end of my trip. The location of Altis Avenida is located within walking distance of my favorite places and has easy access to public transportation to explore more of the city.

Rossio Train Station, with service approximately every 20 minutes to Sintra, is located directly across the street from Altis Avenida. It is a 30 minute train ride to Sintra, a day trip well worth taking. Fairytale is the word most often used when describing this town of forests, palaces and castles.

From the hotel it is less than a 15 minute walk to Praça do Comércio and the Tagus River. In the area between the hotel and the river are restaurants and shops with at least one pastelaria on every block. The first item on my agenda when I arrive in Lisbon is always to peek in the window of each one before I choose a pastelaria and enjoy a pot of tea and a pastry.

November through March you are likely to find carts of freshly roasting chestnuts within a block or two of the hotel.

Check In

My room was ready upon my arrival. The staff were welcoming and helpful. The staff at the reception desk are knowledgeable about the many museums, historical sights, restaurants and public transportation options in the area of the hotel.

Rooms

There are 70 rooms including two suites. Due to historic preservation rules, structural changes are not allowed in the historic district. That means the sizes and dimensions of the rooms were determined by the layout during the renovations. Room category is not determined by size.

Classic rooms face the courtyard. Superior rooms face the city. And Deluxe rooms are on an upper floor and have small balconies and higher ceilings.

The rooms are all well-appointed. They include robes and slippers for guests’ use while at the hotel. The closets hold a safe and snacks. The window shades and black out blinds are motorized making it easy to shut out the sun if you choose to sleep in. There are also double glazed windows to assure you are not awakened by noise.

The desk area provided plenty of room to work with electrical plugs nearby. Free Wi-Fi is also avaialbe in all of the rooms. Current rates and specials are shown on the hotel website.

I loved the touches of their simple, elegant logo in many places in the room and throughout the hotel. I found myself looking for it, kind of like searching for Mickey’s ears incorporated into the décor at Disney hotels.

Dining and Bar

Rossio, the rooftop Restaurant Bar Terrace, is open from 7:00am to 1:00am daily. There are set times for breakfast, lunch and dinner service, with light snacks and drinks available during all open hours.

For a late lunch after check in I enjoyed a sandwich and fries on the terrace. There are beautiful views from the terrace.

Breakfast is included with most booking rates and is a real treat. The food is not just plentiful in the Altis Avenida breakfast buffet it is well-prepared and artfully presented.

I couldn’t help but notice the attentiveness of the staff in the restaurant rechecking each offering on the buffet continually throughout service.

Hotel Amenities

The Altis Avenida offers 24 hour room service. You can take advantage of laundry, dry cleaning, shoe service and valet parking for additional fees.

There is a business center in the lobby where you can print boarding passes or other documents. At the desk you can also arrange for a discounted access fee at BSpa by Karin Herzog of the Altis Belém Hotel & Spa and GSpa and the swimming pool of the Altis Grand Hotel.

Getting There

If you drive call the hotel in advance for directions to parking. From the airport, bus or train stations you can take the Metro and get off at Rossio. Coming from the Oriente train station or the airport on the metro you will need to make one change.

From the airport you can also take a cab or the Aerobus. The bus runs frequently from the airport and is $3.50 each way with discounted fares for round trip and family/group fares available. You can purchase discounted tickets in advance online.

Summary

The Altis Avenida Hotel is a sophisticated retreat in the heart of Lisbon. As a media guest I always bend over backwards to give an unbiased review. I can honestly say I found nothing to criticize during my stay.

What impressed me most was the staff. They exhibit that perfect balance of professionalism and friendliness that make you feel truly welcome. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Lisbon, the Altis Avenida makes a good choice for a memorable stay.

Read what others have to say about Altis Avenida Hotel on Trip Advisor, a MilesGeek affiliate.