Gerard and his friend Ana were very responsive and friendly hosts. Ana met me at the flat to to let me in (she is the owner of an excellent restaurant that is a short walk from the flat, Casa da Tia Helena).
The flat is located in the beating heart of Alfama. It is small, but immaculately clean and modern. It efficiently packs in all that you need, even a clothes washing machine. It’s perfect for a couple or a solo traveler, as I was.
If you appreciate the hustle bustle of an authentic Lisbon neighborhood, this is the place for you. There are restaurants, pastalarias, cafes, bars and food shops right at your doorstep. It’s a short hike up to the Miradouros and Castello de Sao Jorge. Feast day celebrations were underway when I was there, with beer stands, cafes and sardine grilling taking over the streets. Live Fado could be heard coming from some of the restaurants.
If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood to chill out in after a long day of touring, this is not it. Also, streets are narrow, so the windows of the facing apartments are close.
Ask the hosts about seasonal street closures. When I was there, streets in the neighborhood were closed for the aforementioned feast day celebrations (which the hosts did mention when we were arranging check in). This meant a 10 minute walk uphill on brick streets from the closest drop off point. This wasn’t a problem for me, but it might be for the elderly or someone with a disability. There is also a steep flight of stairs from the front door of the building to flat.