What you can expect from a stay:
Today, Valverde is double the size as it was on my first stay. Its owner acquired an adjacent property and expanded the hotel in 2021. The central courtyard now connects the two buildings, which, combined, house 48 guest rooms, a small gym, and two restaurants. That sense of intimacy that I loved so much has morphed a bit—as is to be expected, now that more people are moving around the hotel—but you’re sharing the space with largely the same guests: affluent families, stylish couples visiting the city for the first time, and some business travelers.
The service is still casual and helpful; in fact, the overall atmosphere hasn’t really changed much. If anything, there are more of these little nooks around the property to retreat to. And some of the new rooms, which have the same considered interior design as the original set, even come with adorable little balconies.
Courtesy Valverde Hotel
Apart from getting larger, the most obvious update brought on by the expansion is the introduction of a bigger restaurant. The basement-level space where breakfast was served and would spill out to the courtyard is still there and remains a sweet place to while away an afternoon drinking coffee or wine. But there’s now also Bougain Restaurant & Garden Bar, where a Mediterranean menu is served. It’s very glitzy, and locals who work in the area can often be found power-lunching here.
What’s nearby:
Staying at Valverde means setting your Lisbon home base in the heart of the city. This is an especially great location if designer shopping is high on your list of things to do: Brands like Loewe and Prada are a five-minute walk away. One of the trendiest restaurants in town, JNcQUOI Avenida, is also one minute away.
But this central location is quieter than most. Yes, you’re a walk away from Rossio, and one of the city’s hottest bars (Red Frog) is across the street, but tree-lined Avenida isn’t a nightlife-heavy neighborhood, like Santos or Bairro Alto. There is a calm that descends on the area right around dinner time, and for me, that’s a major plus.