I have so many photos from Portugal I didn’t know where to start! I suppose the logical thing is to begin with where we stayed first.

We chose to stay at Casa Amora in Lisbon because there were rave reviews about it’s breakfasts! Who doesn’t love a hotel breakfast right?!

As you can probably tell, we weren’t disappointed. There was something different and homemade every day. It was an absolute delight.

Needless to say, Casa Amora is more of a guesthouse/boutique b&b than a hotel. With 11 bedrooms dispersed between two buildings it has a warm, friendly feel that a hotel-proper would find difficult to emulate.

I have to confess I am loathe to use the word “guesthouse” as I think it has fusty connotations and this place has been featured in Conde Nast Traveller amongst others.

We stayed in their Almada Negreiros studio duplex so the boys could sleep downstairs on the (very comfortable) sofa bed. It was perfect for a family of four and we liked the fact it had a little kitchenette and two shower rooms.

The shower and beds were amazing and I loved the pieces of retro furniture dotted around. Also having a humidifier in the room alongside the air conditioning unit was a revelation.

The communal spaces are bijoux but with a great deal of character and you really are so warmly welcomed by the  team that you feel immediately at home.

They are wonderfully championing Portuguese art and produce here. I immediately fell in love with the Portuguese pottery and unsurprisingly loved the complimentary decanter of Port and the fact there were always bites to eat and tea and coffee to help yourselves too. Little things like this go a long way when you’ve been traipsing around a very hot city all day! It felt like we were staying at a friend’s house.

We were a bit concerned about being able to get around seeing as it’s situated in the quite quiet residential area of  Amoreiras but we enjoyed getting away from the hustle and bustle and walked to most places. We also felt like we experienced the ‘real Lisbon’ and getting lost a few times means stumbling across all kinds of gems.

(You are actually supplied with a smart phone whilst staying at Casa Amora so you can find your way around, ask them to make reservations etc. For slightly nervous or solo travellers this on-tap concierge would be priceless.)

For those people that love a boutique hotel, personal service and individual style I would highly recommend a stay here. If you’re a solo traveller, a couple or a family (maybe not with toddlers though) you’ll be well looked after here, for further info or to book click here.

My next travel post will be on Lisbon itself and I’d love to know of other places you may have stayed in Lisbon that you’d recommend.

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