As Janelas Verdes, Lisbon, Portugal

The boutique hotel As Janelas Verdes, is a restored 18th-century townhouse in Lisbon, and is connected by tradition to Eça de Queirós, the famous Portuguese novelist, who is said to have lived there. True or not, the atmosphere of As Janelas Verdes is very much in keeping with the legend - the hotel is filled to elegance, bursting with old fashioned objects d'art, books, paintings and antiques.

The facilities

Service at the boutique hotel is excellent, personal, and available 24 hours a day. From the need to ring the front doorbell to enter, to the honesty bar and the relaxed, cozy atmosphere. A stay at As Janelas Verdes evokes the idea of being a guest at a rather up market private house. Children are welcome as the hotel offers a baby sitting service and an extra bed available for each room. A guest at this boutique hotel never has to worry they won’t see the sites with a concierge, tour and travel desk, and a rent-a-car service directly on hand.

The rooms

Space is at a premium - both the breakfast room and the lounge are rather small, but beautifully decorated - pale yellow walls, dark red upholstery, piano and marble fireplace - and in spring and summer you can eat outside at a wrought-iron table on the cobbled terrace. The 29 rooms of the boutique hotel are more spacious (although short on cupboard space), decorated with more antiques, and come with a complimentary decanter of port and an umbrella in case of inclement weather. The upstairs library has a large terrace for drinks overlooking the Tagus river.