CITY ADDRESS

The Lisboans

Lisbon - Portugal

Fifteen serviced apartments in a restored Lisbon factory, with local design, breakfast at your door and Alfama, Baixa and the river just outside.

Pet Friendly

Apartments

Kitchenette

Stocked Fridge

Local Activities

In Room Breakfast

THE SETTING

The Lisboans is a collection of 15 serviced apartments in Lisbon’s historic centre, between Baixa, Alfama and the river. Once you step out, turn a corner, and within a few minutes, you can be at the Sé Cathedral, Praça do Comércio, the Tagus, the 28 tram or the lower streets of Alfama.

The building was once a 19th-century factory for canned and preserved goods, later left tired and overlooked before being brought back to life in 2016. During the restoration, Roman and Pombaline ruins were found beneath it, which says a lot about Lisbon: every layer seems to have another layer underneath.

Inside, the spaces are bright, practical and full of Portuguese details: handmade tiles, vintage furniture, textiles, books, old objects, modern pieces and plenty of light. The idea is simple and very useful in a city like Lisbon. You get the independence of an apartment, the comfort of a serviced stay, and a location that makes it easy to come back during the day, drop your bags, make a coffee, then go out again.

THE ROOMS

The Lisboans have one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a penthouse. All are designed as proper living spaces. They have a bedroom, living area, dining space, bathroom and fully equipped kitchenette, which makes them particularly good for longer city stays.

The one-bedroom apartments are around 55 m² and sleep up to four guests, with a queen-size bed and a sofa bed in the living room. Some have a private balcony with city views. The two-bedroom apartments are larger and can sleep up to six. They have a queen bedroom, a twin bedroom, and living and dining areas, with tall windows that let in a lot of Lisbon light. The penthouse is around 65 m² and offers the best views. From here, you can look towards São Jorge Castle, the Sé Cathedral and the Tagus over the rooftops. It still has the same apartment feeling — kitchen, dining area, living space — but with that extra Lisbon moment when the city suddenly opens in front of you.

THE FOOD

Breakfast is stocked in your fridge and pantry, and every morning fresh bread and orange juice are delivered to your door in a fabric tote bag. It is a small thing, but it changes the rhythm of the stay. You can eat in bed, at the table, on the balcony if your apartment has one, or while everyone slowly wakes up at different speeds. It is especially useful in Lisbon, where mornings can easily become too rushed if you are trying to beat the crowds.

For lunch, dinner or a proper glass of wine, Prado Restaurant and Prado Wine Bar are next door. Prado focuses on seasonal Portuguese ingredients from land and sea, while the wine bar keeps the same producer-led approach with Portuguese organic and natural wines.

THE STAY

There is a reception during the day, concierge support, night surveillance and a self-service laundry. Airport transfers, babysitting, tours, extra cleaning and laundry services can also be arranged on request.

The building itself stays calm, even though you are in one of the most useful parts of the city. Lisbon can be noisy, steep, beautiful, tiring and addictive all at once. Having an apartment here means you can dip in and out of the city rather than being carried along all day. Cots for young children, baby chairs and baby baths can be requested, and the bigger apartments give everyone more breathing room. Dogs can also be accepted with advance notice and an extra fee.

The overall feeling is independent but looked after. You get the key advantages of a hotel without losing the freedom of your own front door.

AROUND THE LISBOANS

You are between Baixa, Alfama, Mouraria and the river, in the part of Lisbon where you can go out without having to think too much.

Walk one way, and you reach the Sé Cathedral, the steep lanes of Alfama and the fado houses that give the neighbourhood its evening rhythm. Walk another, and you are in Baixa, with its grid of Pombaline streets, shops, squares and cafés. A few minutes more and you reach Praça do Comércio, wide open to the Tagus.

The 28 tram passes through some of Lisbon’s most emblematic neighbourhoods, but from here you do not need to treat it like a checklist attraction. It is simply part of the city around you. São Jorge Castle is uphill, with views over the river; Casa dos Bicos and the José Saramago Foundation are nearby; the Feira da Ladra flea market takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Campo de Santa Clara.

Chiado, Cais do Sodré, Graça and Bairro Alto are all easy to reach by foot, tram, taxi or metro, depending on your mood and your shoes. That last point matters in Lisbon. Bring shoes that can handle cobbles.

THE OWNERS

The Lisboans was created by Tânia Fonseca and Isaac Almeida, who opened the apartments in 2016 after restoring the old factory building. Their background in art direction and design shows clearly.

They wanted to create a place where guests could feel at home in Lisbon for a few days, not just sleep close to the sights. The project has grown into a small Lisbon world. After The Lisboans, Prado Restaurant opened in 2017, followed by Prado Wine Bar in 2018. Together, they create a very useful triangle: sleep upstairs, eat next door, drink well, then walk home in less than a minute.

GOOD TO KNOW

The Lisboans has 15 serviced apartments. Check-in is usually from 3 pm, and check-out is by 11 am. Some apartments may not be ideal for guests with limited mobility, so it is worth checking before booking. Dogs can be accepted with advance notice and an additional fee.

Rates usually start from around €250 per night, depending on the season and apartment category.