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The four-star Hotel Fenix Lisboa crowns the top of Avenida da Liberdade and overlooks the bustling Praça Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo. As far as location is concerned, this is prime territory.
From the outside, the giant boxy exterior of the hotel, with a late '60s utilitarian look, is difficult to warm up to. Plus, the building is huge, with 193 rooms, and it's made of concrete. We were already dreading what we imagined would be a dusty old lobby congested with straight-off-the-tour-bus arrivals.
How happy we were, then, to discover that the Fenix had undergone some serious renovations in 2004, rising from its ashes to embrace contemporary style and modern service. The lobby is open and airy, and a bright shiny new glass atrium leads to cheerfully decorated downstairs dining rooms (three meals served daily).
Rooms are understatedly, though attractively, decorated in muted beiges, peaches, and creams. All rooms feature double-glazed windows, individually controlled air-conditioning, minibars, cable television, and all the other trappings you?d expect from a four-star hotel.
Bathrooms are equipped with full-size bathtubs. Rooms either look out to the park, the traffic circle, or the hotel's garden. One possible downside: Even with the double-paned windows, we could still hear traffic outside. Light sleepers should request a room on the garden.
Given the level of service and the laundry list of amenities (did we mention they offer laundry service?), we find the Fenix to be a very good deal, if you can get a room for under €100.
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