Are you looking for the perfect place to stay in Lisbon? Read this October 2021 review.
QUICK READ SUMMARY - Based on my stay here, you're highly unlikely to make a better decision than selecting the Terrasse Privee in Principe Real. Glenn’s gorgeous apartment with its cute patio is in a great location in a lively neighborhood. At the start of my 17 day stay I was met by Paulo to get the keys and learn about the apartment & surrounding area. Throughout my stay, Paulo was always quick to answer any questions as well as give personal recommendations for places to eat etc., and he made me totally comfortable being in Lisbon for the first time. With the shops, restaurants, pharmacies, bars etc. within a 1 to 4 minute walk, and more within a 10 minute walk, the apartment was perfect for me. I can't recommend Glenn, his apartment, or Paulo highly enough. If you're reading these words, book it now before someone else gets it for the dates you need at this great price :)
LONGER AND MORE DETAILED REVIEW - I came to Lisbon for 17 days for dental and other medical procedures. I wanted somewhere in Principe Real since it was half way between the 2 clinics I would visit most, and it has a wide selection of places to eat and nearby grocery stores. I selected Terrasse Privee because it looked super nice in the listing pictures, and its great price. Glenn’s responses to my many communications prior to arriving were quick, and informative, and he let me know that Paulo would be my contact once I arrived.
When I landed, I messaged Paulo to tell him what time I would be there. When I arrived he was waiting outside the apartment with the keys and to do the walk through. His English is excellent, and he knows the area really well since he and his family have lived here for many years.
Because this is Europe, apartments are smaller than apartments in the US with the exception of cities like NY, but this gorgeous apartment is super clean, and features everything I needed for a great stay.
In the kitchen / dining area you have a sink, stove (cooker) with an oven (plus ventilation fan), fridge with freezer, microwave, a TV with basic cable, and a floor standing fan. There is a sofa for relaxing to watch the TV which has an HDMI input so you can connect a Fire Stick or similar device, or use it as a second screen for your laptop like I did. The apartment also has high speed Wi-Fi internet which was a huge bonus as I needed to work during my stay.
In the bedroom there is a big comfortable bed with a bedside light on each of the side tables, and for your clothes there is a closet with three shelves, lots of hangers and it has floor to ceiling mirrors on each door. Also in the bedroom there are two small heaters on wheels, and another floor standing fan to help cooling in the warmer months. The light over the bed also has a built-in fan with 3 speeds and a remote. I hand washed my garments, but the laundry is a 1 minute walk away, and you have an iron and a hair dryer in the apartment so you are always looking your best when heading out for the day or the night.
Because you are in a neighborhood, remember that there are also long term residents in this and its surrounding buildings. On occasion, if you take time to sit on the patio to relax in the evenings you may be able to hear families enjoying dinner, others on the phone, or overhear portions of a movie they are watching on TV if their windows are open. For me, this adds to the charm of the location and the fact that you are not in a hotel, but in a Portuguese neighborhood.
The lovely Praça de Flores (Park of Flowers) is a 2 minute walk, and with its little coffee, pastry and beer stand that stays open till 1am, it is a favorite for locals and tourists. Eating at the various restaurants around the park, or on the way up to and along R. Dom Pedro is such a pleasure, and if you are only here for a week, the trouble will be narrowing down where to eat. For the foodies, remember there are a few Michelin restaurants in town including Tapisco Lisboa (on R. Dom Pedro).
I used Uber to get everywhere and had no trouble being picked up or dropped off at the apartment, but there is also a network of busses, trams both ionic and newer, and it is a short walk to use any of these.
The icing on the cake for the Terrasse Privee is the 18 page booklet in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish that Glenn has prepared to make your stay even better. This includes instructions for what to do with your trash, using the stove and oven, TV and cable box, everything about the surrounding area with maps, a restaurant guide detailing 20 Lisbon eateries, weekly Lisbon events, ATMs, parking, metro map, grocery shops, area museums and other attractions, tram and bus stops (with maps to the main stops) timetables and ticket info as well as transport options to get to the beautiful Cascais and Sintra. Glenn has even included basic Portuguese words, a pronunciation guide, and emergency health related phrases.
This is a REALLY valuable resource, and well worth setting aside some time to familiarize yourself with the contents since it is so helpful and will make your time there more enjoyable.
Overall, Lisbon is a beautiful and welcoming city with lots of English spoken by local business owners which made it such an easy 'Foreign' city to visit, and staying at the Terrasse Privee where the owner and staff clearly care about their guests'