This was the find of a lifetime of travel. The first time we have actually made real FRIENDS with our hosts. Literally. We actually spent the whole day with them, traveling to nearby beach towns, enjoying a beautiful seafood meal, walking along the ocean.
I don’t quite know how to convey the generosity, hospitality, and goodwill of this host. Joao’s mom, Norvinda, mostly handles requests & communication, and she does this as if she is a concierge at Four Seasons, Savoy, or Biltmore! If we had any questions, or needs , she responded right away with a comprehensive answer, and assistance, if necessary. It’s hard to really convey the value of this. It’s certainly well above and beyond the actual cost of the room. Worth much more.
Aside from this, the location is in the actual heartbeat of the city. Right alongside all famous things. Clerigos Tower, Livraria Lello, even a Saba parking structure, if you have rented a car! We fell in love with the little bookstore/bar on the ground floor, Menina e Moça. Juan and Pedro, the sibling proprietors, are great guys; we also created a friendship with them. Their books are well curated and good conversation, as well. Other nearby spots we enjoyed: Noshi, just around the corner from the alley - good breakfast. Manna, also for brunch. Il Pizzaiolo - fantastic pizzas and risotto. Another must try: Flow. For the prix fixe “executive lunch”. On the fancy side, delectable Italian.
Since the apartment is in the middle of everything, just weekends can be noisy. But if you *securely* close the shutters, it reduces sound by at least 70%. For any more, you can just use earplugs for the first few hours. I am a very light sleeper, but this method worked for me on Friday and Saturday. It is worth it, to be in the middle of everything. We loved that feeling!
We stayed almost three weeks, so we requested a cleaning each week and it was given to us, no problem. The place is spotless, anyway.
I have many more good things to say, but in the interest of brevity, I’ll leave it at that! This is a home away from home. We will now always have to stay with these new friends; they feel like family. Trusted and appreciated. 💞