BessaHotel Liberdade, Portugal

This is a review of BessaHotel Liberdade, Lisbon.

Contact Details:

29 Avenida da Liberdade, 1250-139, Lisboa, Portugal

+351 213 210 500

https://liberdade.bessahotel.com

Introduction to the BessaHotel Liberdade, Portugal

There were 2 things that really stood out for me at the BessaHotel Liberdade:

1. The high standard of customer service.
2. Stylish and elegant, the attention to detail throughout this boutique hotel was noticeable.

Location: 9/10

In the heart of Lisbon city centre, BessaHotel Liberdade is situated in the most exclusive area of Lisbon.

Walking out of the door, you find yourself on the prestigious shopping and dining street “Avenida da Liberdade”.

Public transport is available within a 1-2 minute walk – with Restauradores, metro station and bus stops along Av. da Liberdade.

The hotel is easily accessible from Lisbon International Airport. By car it is a 15 minute drive. By Aerobus it is a 20 minute ride. The cost of a one way ticket on the Aerobus was 4E per adult in September 2020. For comparison purposes, an Uber from the Airport would have been around 20E and a hotel transfer was quoted at 40E.

Getting off the Aerobus at stop 8 (Restauradores), BessaHotel Liberdade was 2 minutes from the bus stop and easy to find.

In the heart of Lisbon, it is centrally located for attractions such as Restauradores Square, Elevador de Santa Justa, the main touristic area “Rossio” (Plaza Dom Pedro IV) and Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, a garden offering panoramic views across the city to St. George’s Castle and central Lisbon.
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Style and Character: 9/10

The BessaHotel is a boutique hotel with sleek and modern décor throughout.

Every detail has been thought through and executed well. From the magnificent, eye-grabbing sculpture as you enter the lobby, through to the cushions adorning the sofas in the breakfast room and the large wooden slab table that form the IT facilities for guests to use. It is clear, no expense has been spared here.

A far cry from the standard check in experience received at city centre hotels, we were presented with individual desks to check in at (with a screen between us and the receptionist). Placed in front of each desk were 2 comfy armchairs for new arrivals to rest their weary legs after a long travel.

Looking around the lobby area, the furnishings and décor oozed sophistication. It was plush. Decadent. Quiet elegance.

I forgot for a moment we were checking in as my eyes were drawn to all the tiny details, the intricacies of the décor and the great music playing unobtrusively in the background.

Walking through the hotel, we saw heavy wooden doors, wood panelling down the corridors and comfy seating in break out spaces mid-corridor. BessaHotel makes stylish use of mirrors, glass, artistic pieces and intimate lighting throughout.

Service: 9/10

The staff at BessaHotel are very friendly, helpful and went out of their way to ensure our stay was a pleasurable experience.

Staff were not only knowledgeable about the area, they were attentive to our needs: being LGBT+ and vegan.

There was no fuss about us being a gay couple when checking in and once we had checked in, we were asked what we like to do when we travel. The receptionist gave us great recommendations for where to go on our late arrival (10pm), vegan places to eat in the city and places of interest to visit over the next few days.

Based on the information we provided, we were given recommendations for LGBT+ friendly attractions (such as LX Factory), shown how to navigate around the city and they even booked us in for dinner at a vegan restaurant for the next evening.

Our check in experience was excellent.

At breakfast, the server was very helpful and accommodating – doing everything she could to make sure we had a vegan breakfast. She provided an effective handover to our new server on day 3 of our stay, briefing her on exactly what we had eaten for breakfast.

When checking out, our experience was equally as streamlined and helpful as the check in.

For our ongoing travels, we were provided with trip advice, transport advice (including rules of the road) for when driving around Portugal, places of interest (LGBT+ related) and further restaurant recommendations.

Facilities: 6/10

There are leisure facilities within the hotel. These are small; accommodating 1-2 people comfortably.

The gym is situated on the top floor of the hotel with views down into the courtyard below.

The gym contains a spin bike, treadmill, cross trainer, bike, rowing machine, dumbbells and bench and combined weight machine. It is a small gym that is good for light use. It isn’t for avid muscle builders.

There is a small heated pool with jacuzzi area within it. I didn’t realise it has a jacuzzi until I was informed about it. It isn’t obvious it is there, as it is within the pool. The jacuzzi has gentle jets; perfect for relaxing after a gym session and swim.

It is the first pool advertised as heated where I could actually get into it without having to inch my way in to acclimatise! Out the back there is a shower, toilet and 2 lockers.

The pool area was relaxing and peaceful. It looks out into the hotel’s interior terrace, which has loungers, tables and chairs on a wood plank patio, sheltered under a glass awning; perfect to while away those hot summer afternoons.

I had to book a time slot to use the gym and pool and the sauna was closed, all due to Covid restrictions.

There is also a vertical garden that grows on the side of the building.

Rooms: 8/10

Opening the Superior Room door, we were met with a sense of space.

To our right was the bathroom, complete with separate toilet, walk in shower, sink unit and jacuzzi bath. The jacuzzi bath was like having your own hot tub in your room – hot, bubbly and massaging! Floor to ceiling frosted glass doors separated the toilet, walk in shower and sink/bath area and spa quality toiletries were available – a touch of decadence.

Looking straight ahead, we were greeted with a long corridor beginning with a 2-seater settee (very comfortable) and wall art on the left. As we walked into the room the walls were flanked with floor to ceiling mirrors on one side and 2 huge pictures on the other side. These were the statement in the room.

Behind the mirrored walls were a couple of wardrobes, complete with robes and slippers, and behind another was a safe, mini bar and tea making facilities.

In the main part of the room there were 2 double beds, lots of space and a balcony looking out onto the main street – a wide tree-lined avenue.

There was a corded hairdryer (with plug sockets near the mirrors), 2 bottles of complimentary water every day and a POD coffee machine.

This is a room designed for lounging and relaxing.

Food and Drink: 5/10

The breakfast room had a relaxed ambience, with soft music creating a peaceful atmosphere. The decadent décor from the lobby area carries through into the breakfast room (and throughout the hotel). The large pictures on the walls are a feature of the hotel; close ups of architecture.

Food wise, we emailed ahead to ask about vegan options. I was informed they had a vegan option for breakfast and dinner.

Looking at the Tabik restaurant menu, there were no vegan options on there so we decided not to eat in the restaurant during our stay.

For breakfast, there was no dedicated vegan option. Before the server knew we were vegan, we were offered eggs, pastries, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, coffee/tea, fresh orange juice, yoghurt.

We asked if the chef could provide a fruit bowl. The server suggested mushrooms (these were tinned) and courgettes fried in oil, which they provided. We also had multigrain bread and jam. The fruit and orange juice was fresh.

Over the few days we had breakfast, the range of vegetables for breakfast expanded – from tinned mushrooms and courgette; to broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, courgette and fresh mushrooms on our final day.

Value for Money: 7/10

Pricing on the BessaHotel Liberdade lists for Room Only:

• Executive room (Standard rooms) from 87E per night.
• Suite from 137E per night.
• Superior rooms from 187E per night.

Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

Inclusion: 6/10

This strikes me as a hotel for couples.

LGBT+ friendly, we weren’t faced with the usual question about the double room being changed to a twin room for us, or any awkwardness from the receptionist on check in.

The pool area and facilities were accessible.

Summary

A high-end boutique hotel perfect for couples that want a touch of elegance during their stay in Lisbon. The BessaHotel Liberdade is perfectly situated to explore the city centre and to retreat to relax after a busy day of sightseeing.

Facilities

• Bar
• Fitness centre
• Pool
• Restaurant
• Sauna
• Wi-Fi

Video Of BessaHotel Liberdade, Lisbon

With thanks to https://www.visitlisboa.com/en and https://girlabout.co.uk

Reviewing Hotels And Destinations On Behalf Of LGBTQ+ Travellers

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