When we booked our trip to Europe we only planned three nights in Lisbon and we couldn’t believe how quickly they went by. First off, we wish we had stayed for longer, but we loved it so much we can’t wait to go back! We’re already trying to figure out when we can manage to pull off an entire trip that only consists of Portugal.
The culture, the weather, the food, the vibe of the city, and the friendly people certainly made our stay memorable. Then the Sheraton Lisboa Hotel and Spa was just icing on the cake with their great service and panoramic views of Lisbon.
For a quick summary on our experience scroll to the bottom of the page.
Check-in Process
We arrived on an evening flight and had no issues with checking in upon our arrival to the hotel. The front desk staff was extremely nice in welcoming us to Lisbon while going over the benefits of our platinum status at the hotel before sending us up to our premium queen room on the 19th floor.
The front desk was located directly after walking in the front door and the concierge could be found around the corner on the left. Shortly after checking in and dropping off our luggage we went to a nearby sushi restaurant for dinner.
Also in the lobby was a glowing bar surrounded by chairs. The area was rather empty when we arrived and it stayed that way for the majority of our stay, with most guests opting for the bar with the panoramic view on the top floor of the hotel.
The Queen Premium Room
Our first thoughts when entering the room revolved around the bathroom and our new view of Lisbon, which we were excited to have for the next three mornings. The overall size of the room was rather typical of most hotels throughout Europe and was plenty big enough for two people — anymore than that would be a push.
The room had a mounted television and a comfortable bed
The bathroom was a good size and rather interesting in the fact that it had a glass wall dividing the shower from the bedroom. The area where the toilet is had a frosted glass sliding door that couldn’t be seen through.
Then the glass divider between the shower and room had shades that could be lowered while anyone is using the shower but left up to allow more light through the room at other times. The actual shower itself had a large head with good water pressure and the tub was very large. The tub was deep enough that I was able to easily sit in it — and felt like I had lots of room at 6 ft tall — it would make for a nice bath if anyone enjoys taking them on vacation.
The views were one of the reasons we were excited about this hotel — they didn’t disappoint from the 19th floor — and they only improved as we went higher to the Panorama bar. The windows also had a rather neat feature, they were equipped with electronic blackout shades that could be raised or lowered with the click of a button.
On the other side of the room the entrance had a closet space with luggage rack, safe, and robe. Then it could be closed off with a curtain.
Lastly, one of the perks of visiting Portugal comes in the form of their delicious dessert wine, port. The Sheraton certainly plays off this by providing a complimentary bottle of port with two glasses in the room. It was perfect for enjoying after dinner in the evening.
The Highest Bar in Lisbon
By far one of the coolest features of this hotel can be found on the top floor. The Panorama Restaurant and Bar has a wall of glass giving way to spectacular views of the city. It’s known as the highest bar in all of Lisbon and makes for an excellent place to enjoy a drink around sunset.
The window has different areas of interest noted on the glass that can be lined up if standing directly in front of them. It is a cool concept in theory but tough to actually get in the right spot to line everything up, still it’s worth a shot if nobody is in the way.
The waiters were very helpful and provided us with a tray of assorted snacks after ordering a drink. The actual bar was very similar to the same glowing white bar in the lobby and right next to this was the restaurant, which we didn’t visit. Our biggest knock on the Panorama bar were the sky-high prices to match its top floor views. But that generally comes with the territory at bars like this. While we enjoyed a drink here in the evenings there are plenty of other places around Lisbon offering far cheaper food and drink that we found ourselves spending the majority of our time.
The Breakfast Spread
The Sheraton Lisboa had a large buffet breakfast offered in the lobby and as SPG Platinum members we received this complimentary every morning. Otherwise it would have cost €23.50 each if we had to pay for the buffet.
Seating area at the lobby Bistro Restaurant of the Sheraton Lisboa
Really neat wine holder being used as a room divider in the Bistro Restaurant
The buffet had two sides and consisted of an assortment of food including fruits, eggs, pancakes, pastries, beans, mushrooms, caviar, smoked salmon, bagels, egg rolls, and more. We found the fruit to be exceptionally fresh every morning.
Typical breakfast for us in the morning, including a selection of hot tea
While we thoroughly enjoyed this breakfast and found it to be an excellent way to start the day before going out to explore Lisbon, I don’t think it would be worth the €23.50 price tag per person. There are plenty of other options outside the hotel that would be worth trying for breakfast that would be a little lighter on the wallet.
Amenities & Executive Lounge
The hotel was setup with a nice spa area and outdoor pool. When we went to use it one morning it was empty and we had the entire area to ourselves. I was able to swim laps and have a refreshing workout in the heated pool.
The area also had a sauna, steam room, large jacuzzi, and massage room. Since we took so many pictures of these areas we put them in a slide show to show off all the different spots. The spa/pool area required us to sign in before entering and also had locker rooms with changing areas, showers, and bathrooms–not a bad spot to relax.
The Sheraton Lisboa also has an Executive Lounge for any guests who have SPG Gold or Platinum status. They had light snacks out in the evening and breakfast in the morning as an additional option to the Bistro downstairs. We never actual went for breakfast but we did stop in for light snacks in the evening.
The fridge in the lounge also had complimentary wine and beer that could be enjoyed with a nice view in the evening or afternoon. We stopped in briefly a few times during our stay and usually found it to be rather empty. Then for anyone who enjoys a nice cup of coffee they have a rather impressive machine in the lounge with to-go cups.
Location
The hotel has a convenient location with easy access to both the airport and the tourist areas of Lisbon. It took us no more than 15 minutes to reach the hotel from the airport using Blacklane, which was perfect after our long day of traveling. Due to the close proximity of our hotel, the price was very reasonable at 27 euros. This included 60 minutes of free wait time incase our flight was delayed and a driver waiting for us after customs. Since it was our first time using the service we received 10 euros off — then we also received an email with the code SYKQVPK0 that any first time users can use to receive $10 off their first Blacklane ride as well.
Once at the hotel it is easy to get around with two metro stops in short walking distance. As shown on the map above it’s an 8-10 minute walk to the Parque metro stop and then just a straight shot 4 stops away to reach the Baixa-Chiado station. This is the area of the great food tour we went on. Then the Saldanha metro stop is only a short 7 minute walk from the hotel and is on the red line, which goes directly to the airport without a transfer. We used this station to get to the airport before our flight out and it was extremely simple. It was a quick, convenient, and easy way to get to the airport.
Pros
- Location of hotel provides excellent views of Lisbon
- Close to airport and near subway lines
- Respectable SPG Platinum recognition, including large complimentary breakfast
Cons
- While pool is nice, it is stuck between buildings with no views
- Restaurants and bars have a high price tag
- Could be the hotel of choice for large tour groups and conventions
Final Thoughts
Portugal is one of our favorite countries to visit and we enjoyed our time here at the Sheraton Lisboa. I look forward to returning on a future visit to take advantage of the amenities, views, and convenient location. With that being said, I don’t think this hotel is a perfect fit for everyone. If you are someone who prefers to be staying directly in the action of the famous neighborhoods of Lisbon, walking distance to everything, then this wouldn’t be the place for you. However, if you appreciate an easy ride from the airport, don’t mind a quick subway ride everyday, and want the ability to escape back to your hotel with views of Lisbon from above, then this would certainly be an option worth checking out.
Window Seat Weekends 