Hotel Borges Chiado

The location is excellent, in a safe and pleasant area with the metro a short walk away and everything close by. It’s near a lively street and piazza with nightlife and buskers, so there’s a great atmosphere outside, but don’t expect complete quiet. Noise wasn’t too bad for us. My room was clean and comfortable, though dated, and the bathroom workmanship looked rushed. Cleanliness stayed consistently good. Reception was disappointing, while the housekeeping team were fantastic. The included breakfast didn’t appeal to me: nothing seemed to be made on site, and the dining setup felt like a school canteen, so I ate elsewhere. I was reasonably satisfied, keeping in mind this is a 3-star hotel. The intermittent sewage smell was a major downside. It seemed to come from the drains or ventilation, and the surrounding streets had a similar smell at times.

The breakfast room is beautiful, with a good variety of food, but the service staff could be more attentive and careful. Reception also felt rushed and could be friendlier and more accommodating, almost as if guests were being processed like soldiers passing through. The location is excellent, close to all the city’s main highlights and within walking distance of everything. My room, though, was very small and narrow. Some basics were missing, including bath and shower soap, but staff brought them quickly once I told them. There were only two to three tea bags, which wasn’t quite enough, and too few power sockets. We had to unplug the fridge to use the kettle.

The rooms were clean and the location is central, but service was poor. Management MUST improve staff service. On the day we left, one elevator wasn’t working and five staff members were chatting in the lobby instead of helping guests with their luggage. Some guests may have trouble using the stairs.

The overall cleanliness was good, but the room change was frustrating. My Wi-Fi was very slow, so I asked to move. They said the other room would be ready around 2-3 PM, and I waited about four hours. When I finally got in, it was still dirty. Checkout information didn’t match: I was told to leave before 11 AM, while the website says 12 PM. The key cards also weren’t working. At night, noise from a door near my room kept waking me up. The hotel needs clearer communication and should make sure the website matches what actually happens.