As some of you may know I spent last weekend exploring Lisbon in Portugal and seeing as I was there for three days I wanted accommodation that was centrally located and close by to a metro station/bus stop.
Another requirement for my stay was that the accommodation would be a little different to your average Joe Soap hotel. I like when a hotel displays a wow factor and “Surprises” you with things you might not have seen before. So I checked into Hotel Florida which is a movie themed hotel located in the Santo Antonio region of Lisbon.
Hotel Florida Lobby
So what makes this particular 4star hotel a stand out one in comparison to all the other hotels you will come across in Lisbon? Well here is why…
-Location, location, location
- A great location is the foundation to any good trip. Hotel Florida was a two minute walk from the Marques de Pombal square. The metro station and bus stop was less than a five minute walk away. Also close by is a great selection of restaurants which were all within walking distance. Here is a list of attractions close to the hotel also
- Ballet Gulbenkian-250 m
- Medeiros e Almeida Museum-300 m
- Torre de Belem-550 m
- Docas de Santo Amaro-400 m
- Avenida da Liberdade-550 m
- S-o Jorge-550 m
- Mae de Agua Lisbon Aqueduct and Water Museum-550 m
- Linie 28-1.4 km
- Bairro Alto-1.4 km
- Convento do Carmo-1.5 km
- Basilica do Sagrado Coração de Jesus-1.4 km
- Elevador Santa Justa-1.6km
-Unique interior Design
What can I say the moment you walk in through the revolving doors of Hotel Florida you are hit with the immediate wow factor. The wow factor being that the whole hotel is created based on a vintage cinema theme. The walls of the hotel have movie quotes stenciled all over them and you could bump into Audrey Hepburn or Humphrey Bogart in the lifts (just a little heads up) They even have a 70’s themed diner which is called the Great America Disaster(relevant title at the moment, don’t you think?) but strangely unlike other hotels, the diner is located not within the hotel building itself but next door. So yes you will have to exit the hotel in order to go to their restaurant, an interesting concept indeed.
Movie quotes in the hotel
-Small feel hotel
I think when you stay in the same hotel for a few days it’s nice to see the same staff members and for them in turn to remember you. This is something Hotel Florida does well, they remembered where I asked for directions to the day previous and then asked me how my day was to follow up. Often it’s those little details that bigger hotel chains don’t take into account that leave a good lasting impression and impact on the feel of your stay. There are 72 guestrooms in this hotel so the common areas, reception isn’t too busy at any given time.
Lounge areas of the hotel
-Room features
I loved that the room size was large, good wardrobe space to hang clothes and the huge mirror and seating area. A big plus was the comfy beds with the pillow menus(extra feathers please) and down comforters. They just added that extra element of coziness. I also loved the concept the each room had its own movie theme. The perfect hotel idea for cinema lovers.
Movie themed rooms
Bar area
Where the hotel could improve?
As with any hotel there will always be room for improvements (pun severely intended). My one (personal) pick for Hotel Florida would be the breakfast selection. The hotel offers a buffet breakfast daily and it cost € 11. I have such a huge appetite even though I may not look like I do (mammy claims its impossible to keep the fridge full when I’m around) and I just felt there wasn’t enough options for me to choose from. I like to get my value for money so I only had breakfast at the hotel one morning after that I went elsewhere.
A stay at Hotel Florida in a double room costs €62 per night.
So who would like to join Marilyn Monroe, and rooms dedicated to movie classics at Hotel florida for a night? After all Marilyn knows that being “normal is boring” and Hotel Florida is far from boring(Mom agrees too).
Mom getting friendly with Humphrey
Well the hotel looks really nice! How far was it form the main landmarks? How long did you stay there? I am looking for a place right in a center so I can walk around and I don’t have to travel around with public transport.
Yes it is a lovely hotel, very unique!
It’s in a good location in the Santo Antonio region and it’s about a 20 minute walk from Bairro Alto(restaurants/drinks area) and Alfama(historic center).
I did use the public transport when i was there as the bus was literally round the corner from the hotel because my Mom was with me so i didn’t want her walking too far.
I stayed here 3 nights, hope this helps,
Let me know if you stay there!
Very helpful and Great information,
we appreciate advise especially coming from a professional.
Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Thank you very much!