Lisbon: Martinhal Chiado Family Suites

 

There’s something special about waking up in the heart of a vibrant city. To be able to walk out your door into the energy of one of Lisbon’s most chic areas is a memorable experience. And when the hotel focuses on family, it’s even better.

Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites is exactly this. It’s our first time in Lisbon and we’re staying with Martinhal on a press trip. Chiado (pronounced She-A-doh) is one of the trendiest areas in Lisbon. Rebuilt in 1998 after a fire, it’s an elegant bohemian neighbourhood with lots of upmarket shops, cafes and restaurants. There’s a bohemian buzz about it.

The hotel is beautiful – 37 individual apartments, all of different sizes and grades (totally awesome to extremely awesome). Claudia, our concierge has found the perfect one for us. We’re in 504, a split level apartment with room for 4 to sleep downstairs (the girls quickly claim this as theirs), and a loft for mum and dad upstairs for a bit more privacy. 

Take a tour with me of our 2-bedroom apartment below.

 

 

Everything about Martinhal is focused around families. There are potty seat adapters and stylish high chairs in each apartment. The sides of the bunk beds are padded, so little arms and legs. There’s a baby concierge, where you can borrow pretty much anything you need (bottle sterilisers). The attention to little detail is amazing, with covers over sharp corners. The apartments are very stylish decorated in bright colours, but minimalist decorations so little hands can’t send everything crashing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The MBar Cafe, on the ground floor, is a brightly decorated family cafe where we had breakfast each morning.  There’s a buffet with lots of fruit, yogurt, cereals, pastries and other hot dishes. My girls loved all the healthy options – including “Green Juice”  make of apple, spinach and ginger. The MBar also serves light meals until 7 pm each day. Everything is cooked on site and it always smells amazing. I recommend being there when they take the Pasteis de Nata out of the oven!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the best things about Martinhal Resorts is their famous Kids Club. The one at Chiado is decked out with a climbing wall, friendly staff and a million things for kids to do. It was Carnival when we were there and kids were making colourful tissue paper flowers.

The Kids Club is included in your stay (you just pay for lunch or dinner if needed), so if you want to pop out for couple hours to visit Belem or walk around Alfado it’s an easy option. There’s an extended Pyjama Club, which goes to 10 pm, where kids have a movie night and other activities so mum and dad can go out to dinner or pop out for a drink (see my suggestions below). 

My girls are in their early teens and just the right age to explore Lisbon, though they were really tempted to hang out in the kids club and watch movies!

 

 

 

We really enjoyed our stay at Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites. Here are some of our eating recommendations. The concierge at Martinhal Chiado is very friendly and will help you find the perfect restaurant for your family!

 

7 places to eat in Lisbon near Martinhal

1. Time Out Market at Cais do Sodre. Just 5 minutes from Martinhal, the Time Out Market is an old market turned into a modern gourmet food court where some of Portugls top Chefs are represented. The girls loved Asian Lab for chicken chow mien, Pizza a Pezzi for pesto pizza, and for Honorato for artisan burgers.
2. Palacio Chaido. Two blocks away from Martinahl, Palacio Chiado is a converted Palace and is beautiful. It has several different “kitchens” including a sushi bar, traditional Portuguese food (where you can get the famous salted cod), and a healthy menus (I got salmon, quinoa and broccoli). After you order you can walk around a visit the different kitchens which are scattered around the palace. The architecture is stunning and we all absolutely loved this.
3. Cafe Lisboa. One of the many Jose Avillez restaurants in Lisbon and definitely on the upper end of dining. You can have lunch, dinner, snack or drink. A mix of old and new Lisbon.
4. Chapito a Mesa. Good food, moderately priced and fabulous view over river and city.
5. Cervezeria Ramiro. Typical Portuguese, no bookings and sometimes queues.
6. Bonjardim. Go for traditional roast chicken, you can sit outside off Rossio Square.
7. Mini Bar Teatro. Another from award-winning chef José Avillez. This is one where you leave the kids in pyjama club.

 

My 12-year-old’s perspective

The Time Out Market has lots of really good food made by local chefs. Our favourite was the Asian Lab, where we ate twice because it was so good! I especially recommend the Chow Mein. The market is really close to Martinhal in case you want a quick bite to eat.

 

And where to get after-dinner drink…

Take advantage of the Pyjama club and pop out for an after-dinner cocktail!

• Martinhal is right on the edge of the Cais do Sodré neighbourhood (one of the trendiest at the moment) where there are lots of bars along “Pink Street”, including the famous “Pensão Amor”,  a former brothel! Also try By The Wine, just opposite Martinhal. The ceiling is decorated with 3,264 wine bottles!
• Other quirky bars for a drink: Pavilhao Chines  and Procopio.
• Drink with a view: Bairro Alto Hotel has a nice rooftop terrace.

 

 

My 15-year-old’s perspective

Pastéis de Nata, Portugese custard tarts, was a definite highlight of our trip! Whether it was for breakfast at Martinhal or as a snack at a cafe, we had at least one every day. It’s now one of my favourite treats!

 

What to do with teens in LIsbon

Martinhal is right in the middle of old town in Lisbon. You can pretty much walk everywhere (Belem being the only exception, though it is possible!). Make sure to check out our post 14 things for teens to do in Lisbon. Here are some ideas.

• Take a Tuck-Tuk tour. Martinhal can arrange this for you. We went for an hour and our guide squeezed in a lot.
• Explore the city by foot. It’s a great city to walk around. Make sure to visit Alfama, Baxia, Graca and Castello.
• Take the trams and elevators. These are a tourist activity in itself! The Santa Justa Lift is near Martinhal and connects the highest part of Lisbon with the lowest area. The legendary “Tram 28” goes through Lisbon’s main tourist places and historic neighbourhoods such as the Castle of São Jorge and Bairro Alto. 
• Visit Lisbon’s food markets. Lisbon’s two most popular markets are Time Out Market Lisbon (just down the road from Martinhal) and Mercado de Campo de Ourique (in Campo de Ourique). 
• Indulge in Pastéis de Nata! These egg-custard tarts which are dusted with cinnamon and sugar are very addictive. Make the pilgrimage to Belem for Pastéis de Belém. Alternatively, try the tarts at Manteigeria (there’s one in the Time Out Market). Some people think are just as good, or even better than Belem! Watch our taste test video to see what we thought!
• Try Santini Ice Cream. Everyone says it’s the best. Unusual flavours and you can watch them make it! Hazelnut, fresh raspberry, lemon, dulche de leche, passion fruit, Nota (almond).  
• Eat “Pestiscos”. Portuguese tapas are fun to try. Popular ones are the pataniscas de bacalhau (salt codfish cakes), amêijoas (marinated clams), iscas (marinated liver strips), snails and pipis (chicken giblets in tomato sauce) and chorizo, which is cooked right at your table!
• Go to St. George’s Castle. St. George’s Castle is Lisbon’s most-visited tourist site.  The castle was once the heart of a walled city that spread downhill as far as the river and nowadays it is perhaps the most spectacular building in Lisbon, as much because of its position on top of one of the city’s hills.  spectacular views over the city. 
• Explore Belem. This is the only area you’ll need to get transport. Besides the custard tarts, there’s Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Torres de Belem, Berardo Modern Art Museum, and the electricity museum MAAT.
• Walk to the statue of Jesus. You can take a ferry or bus to the other side of the river then make your way to the Cristo Rei Statue.
• Take a boat tour.  “Lisbon by boat” is a great way to see another view of the city.
• Go surfing. Take a trip to Costa de Caparica Beach and have a surf lesson (Praia da Princesa).
• Visit Cascais for the day. The train station is near Martinhal, and you can use the facilities at Martinhal Cascais (pool, spa, etc).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IF YOU GO

Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites Rua das Flores 44, 1200-195 Lisboa, Portugal +351 218 507 788 https://www.martinhal.com/chiado/en/

Martinhal Lisbon Cascais Family Resort Hotel R. do Clube 2, 2750-002 Cascais, Portugal +351 218 507 788https://www.martinhal.com/cascais/en/

 

 

 

Disclosure: Our stay at Martinhal was provided for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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