We landed around 9:30 am at the airport, and the hotel had pre-arranged transport. Our room wasn’t quite ready, so they recommended we grab a drink at Rocco’s, the attached restaurant. After about an hour, our room was ready, which was still long before the official check-in. We booked a king suite, but they upgraded us to the king suite with balcony, which was amazing – two full bathrooms, living room, sitting room, two balconies, and so much space! Here are the things I want to know when I’m booking a hotel: Amenities: The room had a hair dryer, two robes, two sets of slippers, shampoo (which was pretty watery), conditioner, bath gel, a toiletry kit with Emory board, Q-tips and cotton balls, espresso machine and hot water carafe with tea bags, mini bar with water, juice, beer, soda, champagne and vodka (which was included, except the vodka and champagne), and a snack box, which was not included. The pillows were fluffy, and the toilet paper was soft, but my favorite amenity was the unlimited bottled water! Special touches: Each night, turndown service came with a new treat – lavender oil for a good night’s sleep, two glasses of port with pastel de natas, recommendations of upcoming city events, etc. Restaurant – Rocco’s is attached and opened at 6:30 am for breakfast. There was a buffet with scrambled eggs, link sausage, mushrooms; pastries, yogurt, granola/dry cereals, sliced meat, and fruit. You could also order off the menu to get omelets, French toast, pancakes, etc. We never ate dinner there, but we did grab a drink at the bar a couple of times and it was lively! Staff – 5 stars. Every member seemed to think about what we needed before we needed it (umbrellas on a rainy day, extra bottles of water when we said we were leaving for the day). Location – great location in the middle of Chiado. It was an easy walk to the Rossio train station, Praça do Comércio, and many restaurants and shops.
We are currently in the middle of a five-night stay at The Ivens, and while the hotel impresses with its beautiful design and central location in Lisbon’s Chiado district, our experience has been less than ideal. As Ambassador members, we expected that our room upgrade certificates would be honored, but unfortunately, this was not the case. The room we’ve been assigned is no larger than 350 square feet, and it feels quite claustrophobic, which has impacted our ability to get a good night’s rest—something key to an enjoyable vacation. Given the premium price and our status, it’s disappointing that we haven’t been accommodated with a larger or more comfortable space. We’ve raised the issue with management and are awaiting a response. On a positive note, the service staff has been excellent, and the daily breakfast at Rocco has been a highlight. The avocado toast is especially delicious, and the friendly, attentive service in the restaurant has been a bright spot in our stay. We hope for a resolution to the room situation soon and will update this review at the end of our stay.