The best hotels in Avenida da Liberdade

Knowing and feeling typical Lisbon does not necessarily mean having to stay in a narrow and slippery street at the historic center - there are more convenient and equally seductive alternatives that allow you to live amongst with the city’s ecosystem without having to get caught up in the tourist bustle. The Valverde Hotel on Avenida da Liberdade is, in this case, the right choice. Behind the nineteenth-century façade is a boutique hotel that stands out from the rest for its artistic vein and impeccable service.

Altis Avenida might well be the exact spot where two worlds meet. In the place where Avenida da Liberdade ends and Rossio begins, the building remains one of the most valuable examples of the modernist movement in Lisbon and is, inside and out, a worthy representative of the glamor of the 40's. 70 rooms and suites spread over six floors have a simultaneously kitsch and futuristic wave with Art Deco references, which are seen in the golden, plum and wood color details, in contrast to the contemporary style that the decoration in shades of black and white offers.

He is the punk friend in the middle of a preppy group, with an enviable confidence that always ignored the formality of its neighbours ways. In the background, it is a hotel that does not take itself too seriously, but also never loses its composure. In the 72 rooms, it is necessary to choose the view you are looking for, and according to the calmness that is sought: in the front, the bustling Avenida da Liberdade, that even in its most beautiful and wonderful day doesn’t rid itself of the symphony of nervous honks and the loaded air by the excessive traffic; in the back, the interior patio that also serves as terrace to the bar and restaurant, and that offers a much more valuable (and rare in the centre of the city): silence.

When you get the same architect who designed the famous Buddha Bar in Paris or the Pacha in Marrakech to create a hotel from scratch in an 18th-century building, the result can only be great. In fact, what Miguel Câncio Martins did with the building is a lesson in style. Without altering the original design, with the iron balconies, the stonework, the tiled walls and the worked ceilings, he gave it a modern, urban and cosmopolitan face, whose secret of success, he says, is in the combination of the old and the new one - a breath of fresh air that earned him international recognition as one of the best rehabilitation projects in Portugal.

The Parisian-inspired décor - elegant yet exuberant - jumps into view at this hotel, which is halfway down Avenida da Liberdade. The selection of colors is inspired by the Portuguese tradition: the dark red from the Port wine, the gold from all the treasures that have been found - and lost - over the centuries and the dark wood to remember, says the hotel, the caravels. The AdLib restaurant reflects this combination of French and Portuguese nations with a Bavarian twist - chef Daniel Schaipfer, head of the restaurant since 2010, comes from there.

Announced it was getting remodelled and the result is in sight, 360 degrees to be more accurate. At the top of NH Collection Lisbon Liberdade one of the best viewpoints of the city was created, with view of the river, the castle and the historical areas. At the top there is also a swimming pool, ready for the 2019 spring/summer/fall tri-season. It has 83 rooms and suites, all decorated in light shades and light woods, luxurious mattresses and a pillow menu.

Designed in 1940 by the modernist Cassiano Branco, Hotel Britania remains authentic and equal to itself, and that's exactly what makes it so special. Unravelled by the competition and with zero willingness to approach the 21st century to be something it is not; it conquers by the rare simplicity of its services - not everyone needs cutting-edge technology or contemporary design to feel at home. Constantly voted as one of the hotels with the friendliest staff, it has an untiring staff that is dedicated to transform each stay into a guided tour through the golden age of European architecture.

Porto Bay Liberdade combines the best of both worlds: the luxury that is expected of a five-star hotel in the city with the casualness of a holiday hotel. The location, two minutes from Avenida da Liberdade, is just another factor in its favour for those coming to Lisbon - fifteen minutes away are Baixa and Chiado, for traditional commerce, and Príncipe Real, to discover new business and a thriving neighbourhood – one of the coolest in the world, actually.

When choosing a hotel, you should take into account some basic factors such as the location, the quality/price ratio and the variety of services. Then, if you are looking to be a bit more demanding, take into account some other criteria: does it serve meals? Does it have a gym? Is it family friendly? In the case of the Hotel Lisboa Plaza, located on a neighbouring street of Avenida da Liberdade, the answers are, respectively, yes, yes and yes.

With more than eight decades of hotel experience (the hotel was built in 1933), the group grew and opened other units inside and out of the city, but the first-born of Avenida da Liberdade continues to be one of the great classics of the capital. Since March the SPA has Anantara signature treatments.

At number 247 of the most expensive avenue of the Portuguese Monopoly stands the Turim Avenida da Liberdade, near its cousin at the Restauradores, a few meters below. It has 166 rooms and suites and a parking lot (for the stubborn who insist on discovering Lisbon with their own car), and an Italian-inspired restaurant, the duk - Pizzeria Steak House. The Gin Twist Bar, as the name suggests, is dedicated to gin and signature cocktails.

It right on Avenida da Liberdade and ten minutes away from Baixa and Chiado. Even though it is a small hotel, you can take advantage of every corner of the building to create small social hubs - one with large armchairs and old suitcases. Furthermore, there is an indoor swimming pool on the terrace, which, that even though it doesn’t offer a great panoramic view, is always a good place to rest while restoring your vitamin D levels.