Condes de Azevedo Palace Apartments

I had a wonderful stay at Condes de Azevedo Palace. The location is perfect, central but surprisingly quiet. The building itself is beautiful and not spoiled by kitchy interior design, as is so often the case in historical hotels; I also enjoyed the back garden very much. Staying in the studio apartment, you get the best of both worlds: the independence of having a fully equipped studio (mine even had a washing machine; the kitchen also had literally eveything you might need to cook, even if I didn't use it) and the convenience of 24/7 reception and hotel services. If I were to fault anything, the bathroom in my studio was small and the shower pressue could be better, but this really wasn't a big deal at all. The staff are really nice and professional, helpful without being falsely obsequious or too official (my usual problem with chic hotels). The breakfast was also very nice, not excessive in terms of range, but with ultra fresh good quality products; the coffee was among the best I've ever had at a hotel breakfast. Overall, highly recommended; a beautiful place and friendly people. Would gladly stay there again.