We were very happy with Rita’s apartment in Lisbon. The apartment itself is newly renovated, very clean, spacious and comfortable. The bed was very comfortable, the kitchen well-equipped, the bathroom and shower work very well. There is air-conditioning and heat, which is not always the case with AirBnB rentals, and although we didn’t need it, it would probably be welcome in hot weather. There is a little balcony with a nice view over the rooftops to the Rio Tejo river to the southeast. Nice place to sit for a drink. The only thing you should be aware of is that the apartment is on the fourth floor (third floor in European terms, but fourth floor by American terminology), so you should travel light. This would not be a good apartment for anyone who has mobility problems, but otherwise, climbing the stairs is a good way to work off the calories from all the good Portuguese food!
The apartment is in the Graca neighborhood, which is a quiet, local area, not at all touristic. It’s right on the 28 tram line (the stop is about 100 feet from the door), which is convenient, as long as you’re aware that it’s frequented by pickpockets (many, many warnings about pickpockets on this line, though if you keep normal city awareness, you shouldn’t have a problem). There’s also a bus there which you can take down the hill to the St. Apolonia train station, where you can get the metro. Or, it’s only about a 10-15 minute walk to that station or to another metro station at Martim Moniz.
The apartment is very conveniently located. A 5-10 minute walk up the hill from the apartment will bring you to the center of the Graca neighborhood, where there are restaurants, markets, banks, and pharmacies. Rita was very helpful with recommendations for where to shop, and she recommended a small venue to hear authentic fado singers (we won’t give away the secret, as it should remain a place undiscovered by most tourists, but if you ask Rita, she’ll tell you.).
We enjoyed our stay here very much, and would certainly come back here if/when we return to Lisbon.