Golden Lisbon Hotel

We had a comfortable king-sized bed, with two pillow options, one soft and one firmer. The rooms were well soundproofed, and the rain shower door sealed properly so water stayed off the bathroom floor. Breakfast was good quality with a nice range of items. The Golden Lisbon Hotel is in a great spot, just two blocks from Commerce Square in Baixa, near lots of sights and restaurants. A couple of things to know: the big bed leaves little room to open two suitcases at once, and one breakfast staff member seemed to be having a rough time and wasn’t smiling. Her colleague was warm and friendly, which more than made up for it. I’d recommend the hotel for its comfort, location and value.

Housekeeping came in without knocking while I was in the bathroom, and when I shrieked and told her to leave, she started talking to me. The hot water also stopped working. They woke us at 12:30a.m. to say it was back, but it wasn’t working in the morning. Earlier, they’d taken our dirty towels without leaving replacements. The bed was unbelievably uncomfortable, and I could feel the springs. The toilet paper kept falling off too. If the parking lot is full, good luck: we were sent to another one, but GPS struggled to find it, and they should have given us a map. I don’t understand the 4.3 rating on Google. This is far from a 4 star hotel. I’d have checked out if I’d been staying more than 2 nights. I hope my back survives another night. Seriously, don’t stay here.

The bed felt firm, and in some spots I could feel the mattress springs. There weren’t many electrical outlets, and some were awkwardly placed. Breakfast didn’t have a huge selection, but there were scrambled eggs, bacon, warm vegetables and stuffed croissants. The room was clean and looked recently renovated, and the bathroom was spacious, though some extra counter space would’ve helped. I liked the hotel’s distinctive dark and golden décor, though that style may not suit everyone. The location was excellent for walking to restaurants, shops and attractions downtown and in the old town. Staff were professional and available when needed. The junior receptionist and the Sunday evening waitress were particularly friendly. If you like a quiet atmosphere and only brief interactions, like a quick chat at breakfast or a simple good morning from reception, this could suit you well.

The room I got was on the first floor, the lowest one with rooms, right across from the elevator. I’d politely asked for a high floor away from it. Opening the door felt like the elevator might ask to see my ID. So much for privacy. The location is fantastic, but there’s loud street traffic and construction directly across the road. The jackhammers and car horns started at 7 AM, like some rhythmic, unsettling Kubrick film. At night, voices outside the windows made another concert. The dust seemed evenly spread around the room, at least consistent with the minimalist feel. Cleanliness seemed more like an abstract idea than a reality. At breakfast, the women serving us greeted us with the enthusiasm of people facing a tax audit, and politeness seemed to have run out years ago. If you want sleep, peace, kindness and your requests respected, choose another hotel. There are plenty around, often cheaper. If you enjoy urban discomfort and being ignored, go ahead and book. An unforgettable stay, as in, I’m trying hard to forget it.