PortoBay Marquês — Hotel in Lisbon

Stayed here for 7 nights as part of a British Airways package holiday deal. It is located adjacent to the top of Avenida da Liberdade (Liberation Avenue - it is Lisbon's equivalent of 5th Avenue or Bond Street - full of luxury shops) and the Marques de Pombal roundabout. Downtown is a short walk away (all downhill!) as is the Barrio Alto (very uphill!!) with an abundance of eating options. There is a handy Spar supermarket next door for those holiday supplies and a McDonald's across the road (if you must...!)||First impressions were excellent, the doorman and reception were actually expecting us as they greeted us by name and we were escorted to our room on the 6th floor and shown all of the room's features and how to work the air conditioning. The room was on the small side but very well equipped - en suite for instance has a bidet and the shower was brilliant. Bed very comfortable. We were on the back facing windows so no view of anything except the rear of an adjacent office building.||There is a rooftop bar and pool/sun lounge area split over two levels - the bar is unstaffed and has an honesty system where you fill out a slip for anything you take. (I saw some guests BYOB-ing - not sure if this is actually allowed or not!). The pool is just a plunge pool to get out of the sun - not a proper pool....||All of the staff we spoke to were exceedingly friendly and took personal interest in making sure we were looked after - special shout-out goes to Daniel at the bar with whom we built up a rapport during the week.||Dining wise the hotel has an Italian restaurant, but you are invited to also use the restaurant at the sister hotel (PortoBay Liberdade) a couple of streets away (they bribe you to go with a couple of free wine vouchers!) - this is genuinely Portuguese and a lot more upmarket. We used both during our stay and they were superb.||Overall the PortoBay chain really impressed us and it has been a while since I have been sad to leave a destination purely due to the excellent hotel experience. Can't recommend it...

Nice hotel but remember this : 4 stars in Europe = 3 stars by American standards. If you want a 4 star hotel you need to book a 5 Star.

Pros: Location : near the subway and 20 minute walk into old town. Quiet street

Cleanliness - perfect. Very clean

Rooftop - it was nice to use the pool on the rooftop. It’s heated fairly well. Never thought I’d be in an outdoor pool in Europe in late November

Cons: Location - It’s a pro and a con. You can’t just walk outside and find lots of restaurants as you can in old town or if you stay farther down Liberdade but if you like to be away from the tourist zone but easy access to it then the location is great.

Restaurant Service - Food was decent but Service in the restaurant as others have noted is horrendous and even offensive. I was dining by myself and couldn’t finish my food. I asked to take leftovers and they said no! I have been all around the world and dined in everywhere from holes in the walls to 5 Star hotels and I have never been told no to take my leftovers in fact it’s almost always offered proactively . What a shame. The principal of this ruined my perception of this place. I expect terrible service In European restaurants. I think sometimes it’s a cultural difference but this was bad and the food takes forever. Weird they offer room service but you can’t have your leftovers.

Rooms - I thought a 4 Star hotel would have proper beds but that is not the case. They have 2 beds pushed together , it was not the most comfortable. Air conditioning was very weak. If you like it cold you’ll need to open the window and it’s NOISY with the fans running downstairs

View - I don’t mind not having a great view. Most small hotels in Europe don’t have a great view. Half of this building faces an interior of others buildings and it’s an UGLY view. Nothing the hotel can do about that but just don’t count on...

Our stay at this Lisbon hotel was a lovely blend of comfort, convenience, and a bit of cardio — thanks to the long scenic walks through the greenery to all the nearby attractions (don’t worry, your step count will thank you). The location is top-notch — close to everything, and most day tour pickups happen right around the corner. Even during late evenings, the area felt perfectly safe for a post-dinner stroll.

The hotel itself is well-kept and our room was clean, cozy, and comfortable. A pleasant surprise was finding a dental kit and a full set of toiletries already in the bathroom — not something we expected, but definitely appreciated (especially when you forget your toothpaste mid-trip).

The rooftop is on the smaller side, but it comes with a cute little pool and a bar — perfect for a sunset drink without having to change out of your flip-flops. The gym was also clean and well-equipped, ideal for those motivated enough to work out on vacation (we saw it, admired it… and then went back to the bar).

Now for the plot twist: Check-in. Usually, there’s a warm welcome with some insider tips on breakfast timings and local attractions. But in our case, it was more of a silent film — no information, no brochure, just a room key and a nod. We later got all the details from another staff member on our way back — super helpful and all smiles. Maybe the morning shift person wasn’t a fan of early interactions… or maybe we just interrupted the coffee moment. 😄

All said and done, it’s a great hotel with good vibes, a solid location, and enough amenities to keep you comfortable and smiling. Would totally recommend — just maybe arrive after noon for that cheerful...