Lisbon neighborhoods/ hotels
 

The historic center (Graça, Castelo, Alfama, Bica, Bairro Alto, Chiado) is overrun by tourists who are looking for a cool but not touristy neighborhoods and are interested in food, drink, culture, museums, markets and shopping.

:rolleyes: :D

P.S. What's an Ace?

Is that a recommendation?
The Ace is an American hotel chain that is now expanding internationally. They tend to be fun social hotels, so good for someone traveling solo.

I think what Palal is trying to say is that the vast majority of tourists look for food, drink, culture, museums, markets, and shopping. So naturally the neighborhoods that offer these are full of tourists, probably reaching your definition of too touristy.

You need to relax some requirements for us to be able to provide a recommendation. You can't have food, drink, culture, museums, markets, shopping and not touristy. Does not exist.

I would avoid anything around the station area (rocio). Tourist traps all around and folks casually trying to sell you drugs.

Rest of central town is still touristy all round but not that bad and everything is within walking/tram distance. Uber rides are cheap as well so neighborhood shouldnt matter too much.

If you want to avoid the touristy areas you could get a hotel a few metro stops down from the centre - like I do. But you might feel "isolated" there as it's mostly locals, no English on menus, etc...

Those were a list of things I'm interested in. I don't expect it all on the same block.
As a woman traveling alone and a chef I like access to good bars and restaurants at night without having to travel a long way in an unfamiliar city. Hopefully that can be in a neighborhood that is also to convenient to other things I'm interested in. If this was NY I would say avoid Times Square, check out the LES.

Lisbon is a relatively small city, only about 500,000 residents. Most attractions and good restaurants are no more than a fifteen to twenty minutes Uber/taxi ride from the center. I stayed on Avenida Liberdade and walked almost everywhere. Some of the best food in the Lisbon is found in the Mercado da Ribeira, a large food hall where most of the top chefs in the city have outlets.

Looking through your past FT posts, it seems that you also like luxury and the fine things in life. Yet for this trip you want a fun social hotel. Keep in mind that in Lisbon the most social hotels are actually hostels, which are the best to meet and mingle. There are some nice, stylish, quasi-luxurious hostels in Lisbon. Check out hostelworld.com.

Marriott is opening a Moxy at Picoas, which is a not too touristy neighborhood. Moxy are fun and social and the closest to an Ace you will come. However, I don't think the Moxy will be open by July.

Check out Memmo Principe Real. Principe Real is a not too touristy neighborhood (not a tourist-free neighborhood). and is adjacent to Bairro Alto where you can find many bars and nightlife, so you will be able to walk to the hotel easily. It is luxurious, secluded, and has great views, even a pool. Also near some very good restaurants. Easy walk to city center (not so easy coming back, it's uphill, but you'll get used to it). I think this Memmo would be a good fit for you. There is also a Memmo in Alfama but that is tourist central, avoid.

Another nice hotel is Tivoli Avenida Liberdade. It is one short block away from Avenida da Liberdade, yet secluded enough to not be in tourist center but still close to everything. Awesome restaurant and bar on top floor (SEEN, which by its own name is the place to see and be seen) had great evening views.

These two hotels are more for the affluent traveler, not the hostel backpacker. Expect that those are the kind of people you will meet there.

Avoid the Belem area for a place to stay. There are museums there, with lots of tourists during the day, dead at night, and far from everything else.

That's where I stayed. Great hotel. Excellent location. Got a great deal on Hotwire, $200 a night including all taxes and fees.

Is anyone else seeing the Memmo Principe Real as being totally blocked off on marriott.com? Not a single night available for the whole calendar, though 3rd party sites show availability.

I'd suggest doing the drive yourself as it's quite easy (take the highway and avoid the long lines for the ferry)

Check out the Time Out Market. While touristy, great sampling of local restaurants. And lots of locals were there when we were there.

Alfama is a great neighborhood but if travelling alone more touristy will actually be better.

I've been to Lisbon once and am planning on returning later this year, so this is a great thread!
The last time I visited, I stayed at what is now the InterContinental, slightly up the hill, across from the park. It was nice, albeit a slight uphill walk when heading back.
Looking at hotel options, I see that Hyatt is now partnered with a small hotel, the Pousada de Lisboa, way down at Praca de Comerico.
It seems these would both be extremes of each end of the main touristy corridor, from what I recall.

Does anyone recommend either of these locations, or am I better off along the main section of Av. da Liberdade, such as the Memmo Principe Real as previously mentioned above?

On my first trip to Lisbon a couple of years ago, I also stayed at the Intercontinental hotel. This past July, I stayed closer to Praca de Comercio. If I were you, I would choose Pousada de Lisboa. I think location-wise, it's easier to walk to most of the places.

Where did you end up staying? Considering a stay at Pousada de Lisboa so curious how it went!

I actually stayed at the Hotel Avendia Palace, right next door to Rossio Station and it was the perfect location. I would say the hotel itself is a bit "meh" but the location couldn't be beat. We were able to walk everywhere and it was pretty centrally located such that there were places/things to explore in all directions. I definitely had a different experience than my first visit where I stayed at the InterContinental (actually its predecessor hotel).

The Rossio area is my favorite place to stay. Yes, it can be touristy but you can avoid doing the touristy things. It's convenient for walking around Lisbon, going to Sintra, and lots of great restaurants/pastry shops within walking distance. The streets above Rossio are quiet because they're one-way tor cars and very narrow, and tend to be more residential, unlike in Chiado or Barrio Alto. I stayed once in Chiado over a weekend and did not appreciate the sheer amount of noise after 1 a.m., or how many people I had to pass trying to sell me drugs. I'll be returning in April for the third year in a row because I love Lisbon so much.

I'm visiting Lisbon with my daughter for the first time in July.

Someone recommended the Sheraton, I'd appreciate opinions! Ideally we're looking for somewhere central with an outdoor pool and the Sheraton seemed to tick the boxes.

The Time Out Market is the same as the Mercado da Ribeira, in Cais do Sodré

I might break out of my loyalty program bonds here, but for the moment, I'm looking at either The Lumiares or Memmo Principe Real as places to stay next summer.

Can anyone compare those two? Prices are about the same.

Are there any non-affiliated hotels in that price range (€300-400/night) that I should be considering?

Like the OP, I like a perfect neighborhood with no tourists :)

First time visitor and it seems like there are three distinct areas where I could use points for our hotel stays (I have plenty for any option so put aside that piece just purely a location question):

1) Hyatt Regency / The Emerald House area

2) The Ivens area

3) Intercontinental / Sheraton Lisboa area

We'll only be there for 3 days so trying to figure out what the best place to use a central base. We haven't figured out exactly what we're doing yet but I assume a mixture of food, walking around, seeing the castle, etc.

My opinion (I've only been to Lisbon once for 5 days)
I would select the Ivens area as it is walkable to the most interesting parts of the city. Downside is the walk back up hill to the hotel.
Second choice for me would be the Emerald House area, as it is near the water and close to the trams which can quickly take you to interesting places.
Last would be the Sheraton area, as it is not all that interesting or easily accessible to other areas.

We stayed at the Fontecruz, which was a nice walk to the other parts of town.
Others may have different (and better) opinions.

My go-to place to stay in Lisbon is here:
https://www.casabalthazarlisbon.com/...-overview.html

All the rooms are quirky and individual (be prepared for stairs, it's not exactly accessible). Get a terrace room /suite with views over Lisbon - fabulous for breakfast or an afternoon / evening tipple.

The breakfasts are the absolute highlight and are just delicious - continental style, with pastries from the renowned Confeitaria Nacional, delivered at a time of your choosing. There's so much we would put left overs in the fridge / cupboard for afternoon snacks!

Its location is within easy walking distance of all the parts of Lisbon I like to visit. Anything else is a short ride on public transport / taxi.

Both are in a touristy neighborhood. If you want no tourists, stay closer to Saldanha.

Thank you! I had the Ivens but we just had to shift our days around and The Ivens is no longer available so for now I'll go with The Emerald House and keep an eye out in case the Ivens opens back up for our new dates

I recommend 1000% Casa Do Barão.

Small, intimate, awesome breakfast, just a little out of the city center. One of the best B&B we ever slept.