Lisbon is blessed with the best luxury hostels in the world and the Art Deco inspired Independente Hostel, is one of its most glorious creations. The hostel is the brainchild of three brothers who envisioned a different concept in hospitality: creating a meeting point where “travelers as well as locals can come together”
Location
Overlooking the Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara , the Independente hostel, Lisbon is in a great location at the intersection of 3 of Lisboa’s most vibrant and celebrated neighborhoods: Bairro Alto, Principe Real, and Avenida da Liberdad.
Rooms and bathrooms
In terms of design, this hostel is a happy contradiction: imagine a juxtaposition of Scandinavian minimalism with ornate architecture.
Formerly the Swiss ambassador’s official residence, in July 2011, the building has been converted into a luxury hostel with 90 beds housed within 11 spacious dorm rooms.
Rooms have preserved the original character of the building with high ceilings, ornate wall moldings and detailed wrought iron balconies that open onto the Tagus River.
Dorms have wooden bunk bedframes that are sturdy and come with private reading lights and plug points. Each dorm has been tastefully decorated with a mix of antiques and family heirlooms alongside reclaimed furniture pieces.
Besides the 11 modern dorm rooms you have four private suites with balcony where you can linger with an espresso from the self service coffee machine inside the suite.
Facilities
The outstanding feature of this hostel is that it also houses one of Lisbon’s most stylish and popular restaurants – The Decadente, which serves up the best of modern Portuguese cuisine using locally sourced ingredients.
Outside the restaurant you can lounge with one of their signature cocktails in the outdoor beer garden which also doubles up as a live music venue on weekends. Plus the bar attracts a steady stream of trendy Lisboetas, making you feel part of the city’s DNA.
The staff are friendly, travellers themselves like you and the perfect opportunity to mingle with them is the daily “dinner with the staff” where you get to enjoy a sumptous buffet for as little as 7 euros. Free breakfast consisting of orange juice, cereals, coffee, bread, cheese and cold meats is a happy affair.
Verdict
In terms of interior design this hostel is a notch above most other hostels and boutique hotels. When you pair that x factor with a cracking restaurant, cool bar and friendly staff-you have all the makings of a great experience. A really special and unique hostel.
Factbox
Rua Sao Pedro Alcantara 81, Lisbon, Portugal
1250-238
Prices
Prices for a bed in a dorm start from just €11 a night and €70 for their suites.
The hostel is currently running a promotion of 5 nights for the price of 3 and 3 nights for the price of 2. The months of April, July, August and September are exempt from this deal.
Check theindependente.pt for details
Getting there
From Lisboa International Airport
1.By Taxi – Average cost is €15
2. Aerobus: (€3,50 euros)
Catch the AeroBus Line 1 (city center bound).
Stop at Restauradores and take the Elevador da Gloria (a funicular tram that costs just €1,25 + 50 cents for the rechargeable travel card, Lisboa Card, available at newsagents and at subway stations ) all the way up to the Sao Pedro de Alcantara Street viewpoint. The hostel is located at number 81.
Subway ( €1.25+ 50 cents for the rechargeable travel card )
Take the Red Line from the airport station and head to S.Sebastiao . Then change to the blue line (direction Santa Apolonia) and stop at Baixa-Chiado and choose the Largo do Chiado exit. The hostel is 550m away past the Sao Pedro de Alcantara Street viewpoint at number 81
From Santa Apolonia Train Station
By Taxi – Average cost is €8
By Subway €1,25 + 50 cents for the rechargeable travel card
Take the Santa Apolonia (blue line), Amadora Este bound.
Exit at Baixa-Chiado and follow the signs to Largo do Chiado. Walk up Rua da Misericordia until you find the Sao Pedro de Alcantara Street viewpoint. The hostel is at number 81.
From Oriente Train Station
By Taxi – Average cost is €15
By Subway :€1.25 + 50 cents for the rechargeable travel
Find the Oriente station (red line) and head to S.Sebastiao . Change to the blue line (direction Santa Apolonia) and then stop at Baixa-Chiado and choose the Largo do Chiado exit. The hostel is 550m away, past Sao Pedro de Alcantara Street viewpoint at number 81.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Independente Hostel but the views in this post are entirely my own.
