Miradouro de Gamboa

The mini bar had a good range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at very reasonable prices. From the balcony there’s a lovely view of the town and harbor, and it’s about a 15-minute walk to the Plateau, with downtown and the market nearby. The hotel was very clean, service was good, and the rooms were modern and nice. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets were excellent. I’d definitely return. The TVs could be bigger.

The room wasn’t properly cleaned when we arrived: the trash was full and there were no amenities. Edilson was consistently caring and helped us carry our luggage, and two other receptionists, a younger man and a woman, were really helpful and showed us what we needed. The first bald man we met at the entrance barely said hello and was honestly rude, despite us paying hundreds of euros for the room. The restaurant staff were rude and seemed not to like their jobs, especially the women in the morning who rushed us to finish eating at 10:31. The rest of the hotel was okay, but not up to four-star standard. The gym and pool were great. Pretty disappointing for the price.

The room was missing several basics: a blanket, tissues, soap, and slippers. Breakfast was acceptable, though lunch and dinner weren’t very good. The hotel is within walking distance of the beach. I stayed for 3 nights.

Our bed was comfortable, breakfast decent, and reception staff quite helpful. The room had a faint weed smell when we arrived, but it went away after the air-conditioning had been running for a while. I assume a previous guest had smoked inside. Hot water was inconsistent, often running out in the morning but more available at other times. I did get a superb shower at 3am when we arrived. The front-facing balcony rooms have a decent bay view, but the road outside is busy, so bring earplugs. Traffic makes the extra cost for these rooms feel pointless, since they aren’t relaxing. They also have stair access only, with no lift. From the hotel it’s an easy walk to Plateau and the beaches, and there are views of the presidential palace.