To Lisbon with La Familia? Martinhal is your accommodation.
Anyone going to Lisbon with children (do it!) knows the dilemma: sleeping in the city center is convenient, but a hotel room is often cramped and an apartment lacks service. Martinhal, the Portuguese hotel group that became known for the family resort in Sagres, also in Portugal, solves that with serviced apartments: a private kitchen and living space, but with hotel amenities such as a fun kids' club, breakfast, and a baby concierge. In Lisbon, there are two addresses, each with its own character...
Martinhal Chiado is located on Rua das Flores in the heart of Lisbon. The hotel is housed in a building dating back to 1855 that has been renovated while preserving the original details: tall wooden windows, narrow balconies, and, of course, the iconic view over the Portuguese rooftops. There are 37 accommodations in the hotel, ranging from studios to large apartments with a separate bedroom.
The biggest advantage of this Martinhal location is its location. Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Príncipe Real are just around the corner, the Baixa-Chiado metro station is within walking distance, and the Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) can be reached in a few minutes' walk downhill (okay, okay, you still have to walk back). Lisbon is truly a city to explore on foot, but here is a tip: do not bring a stroller and try to make do with a baby carrier, because the city has a lot of stairs.
The studios have a bunk bed for two children in the living area, so parents and children aren't on top of each other and, hurray, many apartments have a washer/dryer (use it! That saves a lot of luggage – it’s wonderful when you can stick to hand luggage). There is a really fun kids' club and the baby concierge arranges everything for you in advance, such as a crib, bottle warmer, or stroller, so you don't have to lug as much around.
Downstairs is Bar 1855, with breakfast, light lunches and a gin garden also with non-alcoholic cocktails. Please note: it is a historic city building, so there is no swimming pool or spa…
Nice, but we *did* want a pool, and since we would only be in Lisbon for a short time, we also wanted to waste as little time as possible. That works out well: Martinhal Lisbon Oriente It is located less than 10 taxi minutes from Lisbon Airport. Ha!
You will find the hotel in Parque das Nações, the modern district of Lisbon on the Tagus, a neighborhood that emerged around the 1998 World Expo. It has a completely different atmosphere from Chiado: wide boulevards, new architecture, plenty of greenery, and a long walking and cycling route along the water.
The best thing about this Martinhal? The facilities. There is a heated indoor and outdoor pool, a gym, a wellness area, an outdoor play area and a kids club plus a separate club for teenagers. Moreover, the apartments are modern and oh so beautiful (and comfortable). Here, they range from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Everything is laid out a bit more spaciously than in Chiado, and every accommodation has a full kitchen. Restaurant Terrace serves dishes with influences from the Middle East, India, and Japan all day long and is also open to non-guests.
The airport is about a 10-minute drive away, five minutes outside of rush hour, and Oriente train station is about a ten-minute walk away. From there, you can get to the city center quickly by metro, although a taxi is often faster (Lisbon = Uber: fast and cheap). Just around the corner are the Oceanário, one of the largest, if not the largest, aquariums in Europe – really very cool – the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science museum, and the cable car along the river, all manageable with children.
