Where the Locals Would Stay
“If five-star hotels aren’t your thing, consider the Passport Lisbon Hostel (from $86 for a private room; passporthostel.com) in Bairro Alto. The location, right by Largo Camões, is unbeatable, and the bedrooms are done nicely with pressed wood and exposed beams. Plus, the owners offer surf trips to nearby beaches like Carcavelos and outings to Sintra and Belém.” —José Cabral, fashion blogger, the Lisbon Tailor
“I love the up-and-coming area of Cais do Sodré. It was once Lisbon’s red-light district, where sailors went to look for drinks, music, and girls. Today, it is swept up by hip bars, restaurants, a young creative crowd. To feel it, stay at the cozy Lx Boutique Hotel (from $120; lxboutiquehotel.com), an old building done up by young Portuguese architects.” —Ljubomir Stanisic, chef, 100 Maneiras
“Pestana Palace (from $265; pestana.com) is housed in a nineteenth-century palace in Alcântara with French-style décor, impeccable gardens, and an inspiring view of the Tagus.” —Joana Vasconcelos, artist