This apartment was FANTASTIC! First off, Joana offered to arrange for a driver to meet me at the airport to bring me to the apartment. I was met by the very friendly Jose who not only helped me carry my luggage up 4 flights of stairs to the apartment, but also showed me around the apartment where there was a small bottle of welcome wine waiting for me. Great start!
The apartment itself is adorable and exactly as shown in the pictures. The bed was firm but comfortable, the kitchen was properly appointed, there was a heater in the living room (I was there during the winter), and the bedrooms were spacious and comfortable. Add to that the water gets super hot, and the tap water tastes amazing here. It's located on a bit of a hill, but Lisbon is full of them and you'll find yourself walking up and down them anyways. The hills aren't nearly as bad as somewhere like San Francisco though, if you're looking for a point of comparison.
As for location, I couldn't have asked for a better spot. Steps away from Pink Street and the Time Out Market, and right in the thick of some great bars, nightlife, and restaurants. While Lisbon gets going at night (like around 2am-3am), I was able to sleep like a baby (I do wear earplugs though). The apartment is right near the water, where there's a main drag where if you walk down the hill and turn left when you hit the ocean, you're a short walk away from Rua Augusta where there is a beautiful arch and square Praca do Comercio where there are tons of restaurants and street acts.
On the whole, Joana's place offered the perfect setting for my stay in Lisbon. The apartment was adorable and a comforting place to rest my head at the end of the day. Couldn't have asked for a better stay in Lisbon!