Numa Lisbon Rato

The apartment was gorgeous, and the balcony made it hard to leave. The shower was life-changing, and the three balcony doors kept the sound out really well. They left us some free treats too: Super Bock, crisps, jellies, and tokens for the wine shop downstairs. I couldn't get the hob working, though that may have been my mistake. After checkout, my code wouldn't open the luggage storage, which nearly turned into a small nightmare. Another guest let me in and kindly took me to the storage unit, so it all worked out.

The rooms are spacious, clean, and well organised, and the prices are fair. It's a self-service hotel with a bit of Airbnb feel and hotel quality. They can make the beds daily if you want. For stays under a week, cleaning is optional and costs extra. On level -1 there's a free washer and dryer with detergent pods, plus fresh towels, an iron, and amenities if you need them. The building also has lockers you can use during your stay or after checkout.

After a long journey, I arrived to find a room that hadn't been cleaned. There was garbage and leftover food, and the bed was clearly still unmade from the previous guest. With fully automated check-in and no staff member to speak to, I spent over an hour in the building trying to reach support. They didn't resolve it or offer another room or any immediate fix. I couldn't stay and had to book another place at the last minute, at my own expense. Now NUMA is refusing a full refund and offering 25% back for one night plus 15% credit toward a future stay. After this, why would I ever return? The cleaning staff were the ones most affected. They clearly hadn't been told the room needed to be ready, were caught off guard, and tried to rush-clean it on the spot. This was a management and systems failure, not their fault. The company replaced basic hospitality with automation, then wouldn't take responsibility when it failed. No accountability, proper support, or respect for guests or staff. Avoid.

We had a lovely stay in a good-sized room on the eighth floor, with a terrace and a stunning view. We could bring our two dogs, and the hotel even supplied beds and bowls for them. The kitchenette equipment was good quality, with a roomy fridge and freezer compartment. Numa members get free beer, drinks, and snacks, a drink at the wine shop next door, early check-in and late checkout, and access to a local health club during the stay. The pin pads were unreliable. At one point we were locked out for 30 minutes until our pin was reset. The room also got very hot, since air conditioning isn't available until summer. Still, we had a lovely stay and would definitely come back.