I stayed at Sandra and Joao's house with my husband and our friend. We contacted Sandra beforehand to ask for an earlier check in since we'd be arriving around 10 am and check in wasn't until the afternoon. She let us know that we could come meet her husband and drop off our luggage, but that they wanted a couple hours to clean since the previous guests would be leaving right before our arrival. We found that to be super accommodating and helpful! When we got to the apartment, we met with Joao and he gave us a tour of the place. He was very welcoming and nice.
To get out of their way while they cleaned, we went to one of the many coffee shops and then to the laundromat right around the corner (no need to bring soap to Jardins da Roupa, the machine does it for you!). When we got back to the house there was wine, cheese, cookies, and fruit waiting for us!
Sandra and Joao have done a great job with providing all the amenities you would need, including information for the surrounding areas. The apartment was very clean and even had everything you'd need if you were traveling with your baby. The neighborhood was perfectly located near a market, restaurants, and transportation. It can be loud in the mornings and late at night since you are close to Bairro Alto and people are coming home from the bars, but we didn't mind at all. It made us feel like locals! To sum it up, we had a great time in Lisbon and will be back. We highly recommend Sandra and Joao's house!