Ana & Elias were wonderful and attentive and we felt very cared for. It was wonderful to have them arrange for Diogo to pick us up from the airport and then take us back. The apartment was clean and the area is fantastic. I read a review from a recent visitor who complained about some kind of weird smell, which made us hesitate taking this place; that problem has definitely been taken care of.
But the design of the apartment itself is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it is spectacular. Whoever dreamed up this place is a real artist. It is like walking onto the set of a Broadway play where the setting is the coolest, most awesome apartment in all of Portugal -- if that was what the playwright asked for, the set designer definitely came through -- and instead of being in the audience, you're on the stage; you ARE the show. It's modern and chic but somehow did not feel incongruous in the old, old city of Lisbon. There are stairs that lead down to three spots (bedroom, bathroom, living room) and stairs that lead up to the rooftop patio as well as stairs that lead to an extra bed for chilling. I immediately started fantasizing about coming back as soon as possible, and recommending this place to everyone who might be passing through.
But here's the downside: it's as equally dangerous as it is cool. My partner is 81 years old, and I kept worrying that he was going to fall down one of the staircases before we left. Many of the stairs are marked with a line of red tape to help make sure you see that it's a step, and those are very helpful. But not every single step is marked with red tape, and they really should be. The stairs coming back down from the patio have nothing to hold onto, and falling down and getting seriously hurt seems like an inevitability that will happen to someone someday. The main kitchen area and the dining area are split into two levels, the latter one long (wide) step down. And even though it is marked with red tape, this single step was my undoing. After all the worrying about my partner having an accident, I was the one who did -- twice. Red tape or not, I forgot that there was a step there, and screamed out when I suddenly found myself stepping onto nothing. It was only one step, but that's all it takes to have an accident. Fortunately I have good balance so recovered quickly. And then, hours later, at the very same spot, I did it all over again. This time I was holding food, which spilled all over the floor. Hit my arm, not hard, but it could have all been much worse. The apartment I so adored at first was now The Apartment of Terror, and I couldn't wait until we left, praying that neither of us had a serious accident. I hate to put a damper on this place, because, aesthetically, the design is so wonderful and unique. But there's gravity everywhere. Please be very careful if you go!