Esqina Cosmopolitan Lodge — Hotel in Lisbon

Excellently central location. Walkable from ship port (10 minute walk but call staff regarding street elevator that cuts hills and a few blocks).||Mayara (super-employee/very attentive organizer/knows all of hotel/Lisbon info!) --and all of staff--were super-friendly, kind, helpful. Yes--suggestions, questions, stories--start a conversation: the warmth, intelligence, sincerity at Esquina Cosmopolitan is real. Early check-ins may not be possible (its mid-size boutique-style is its charm!) but check luggage there & explore the city. Note tho that we were able to get our room in the afternoon an hour early, slightly upgraded/view/size--thank you ECLodge! The central neighborhood of the 10 or 15 square blocks around there, has everything on beautifully shiny/tiny/stone-cobbled streets lined with shops, cafes, squares, fountains, hills, views, terraces, steps, trees, beaming history and presence--with equal parts smiles and seriousness. Back at ECLodge, Lobby and bar is spacious/airy to hang out. Happy hour is 3-6pm with very well-made/detailed cocktails. Talk to the bartender and interesting patrons at the bar—a sharing spirit there...but plenty of space if you need that too. AC is very good in Lobby and in rooms BTW.||Highly recommend the breakfast. Good price includes made-to-order eggs/omelette and yogurt granola bowl and many coffee-styles--and, as well, includes the adjacent buffet spread of breads, cheeses, fruits, juices, quiches, & more, in a beautiful covered courtyard (with stairs to a terrace rooftop as alt-space...with a fantastic view.) Can you tell I really looked forward to their breakfast everyday?||Rooms are high-ceilinged; hardwood floors with spaciousness around the well-mattressed bed. We had a 5th-floor sweeping-rooftop view and giant shower (with a view too! [curtain-able]). Clean, fresh housekeeping, & complimentary half-bottle of wine. Elevator is a little cramped but efficient. Beautiful staircase alongside it. This hotel may look a little unassuming from the street (though the green paint & cool typography and polished stone surfaces everywhere inside show a nifty/inviting design aesthetic) but this hotel is...

I picked this hotel based on the location and excellent reviews. I really wanted to like this hotel but I can't say that I did. I want to say the staff is excellent and very helpful. I thought carefully as to give 3 or 4 stars, and decided with 3 to balance out the reviews and share my honest opinion.

Pros: Excellent location, wonderful staff, cute hotel, and very clean.

Cons: Room- wasn't very comfortable, lacked closet space, and just overall cozyness. Additionally, the walls are thin and I could constantly hear everything, people slamming doors, going up and down the stairs, water running. Also, as someone else mentioned, the wall unit ACs are very noisy and even while off makes weird sounds. I had to sleep with ear plugs in. Bed (biggest con)- I was given a bed with a mattress topper to align the two twin size beds. I woke up 2 nights in a row sweating even though the room was cool. After 2 nights I figured out why. The bed linens, blanket, and pillows provided are of cheap quality which make one overheat and doesn't allow your skin to breathe while sleeping. This causes discomfort while sleeping. I didn't have a single night of peaceful sleep during my 4 nights stay, which is most important for travelers. My biggest feedback to management is to invest is better quality bed linens to provide more comfort for guests. Breakfast- it's actually not that great. The options are small for the 20 euro charge. I think there are better breakfast places nearby for that price.

Based on this, I wouldn't chose Esqina again, especially given the price range. This place was more expensive than other hotels in the area and I don't think it was...

The only genuine downside of this funky, charming hotel is its TINY elevator. You can fit one normal adult human and perhaps two medium suitcases in it at a time, and it's pretty slow. Breakfast isn't included, which would have been nice, but that seems fairly typical for Lisbon hotels, so we weren't upset. Everything else about this hotel is delightful.

We've visited Lisbon before, and I was surprised to realize when we pulled up that the hotel we stayed in last time was literally next door to this one, which tells you how convenient the location is. You're a 10-minute walk from Alfama and about 20 minutes from the harbor, all through some of the most enjoyable sights in Lisbon. Staff are friendly and helpful, and they even left us a little gift in the room because we were celebrating my birthday during our stay. The hotel vibe is relaxed, casual, and fun, with nice lounging areas and a bar with reasonable prices. It's just a pleasant, easy vibe, which we appreciated on our last two nights in Portugal.

Our room was plenty big enough for two adults and a LOT of luggage, and we loved the view from our balcony across the orange-tiled roofs. You can easily see the harbor and the cathedral from a balcony room here, but it's still fairly quiet at night, which we enjoyed. The bed was wonderfully comfortable, and we appreciated the french press coffee provided in the room each morning. The shower was great, with strong water pressure and good hot water supply. As evidenced, we really love this location in Lisbon for its convenience and affordability, and I've no doubt we...