Pensao Ninha das Aguias

Lonely Planet Review

Combining budget prices with luxury views, this quirky Victorian guesthouse is unlike any other sleep option in Lisbon. The name means 'eagle's nest,' a reference to the turret that crowns the hotel's roof and affords its most spectacular views.

With just 14 rooms, it's no surprise that Pensão Ninho das Águias is often booked solid. If you know this is the place for you, be sure to plan ahead. The rooms are not plush, but most are bright and airy, with maritime breezes that keep you cool on all but the hottest days of summer. Besides the rooftop turret, there is a well-landscaped terrace, where you can make friends with the resident dachshund and golden retriever. The service can be less than friendly, depending who is on duty, and get out your Portuguese phrasebooks if you need anything on the night shift. Also, note that it's a little removed from the action, on a perilously narrow street on the backside of the Castelo São Jorge. However, that's also part of the beauty of the place. You feel like you're in a country town with a view onto a big city.

Review by author Robert Landon