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We love the Hotel Borges. The central Chiado location, the renovated rooms, and the moderate rates make for one very pleasing—and popular—hotel. Add to this a dose of "grand hotel" nostalgia, and you've got a winner.
Having opened its doors in 1886, the Borges is one of Lisbon's oldest hotels. It still retains a few old-fashioned grand hotel touches, most notably the gorgeous green fluorescent marquis (we can't get enough of that font!), while the lobby sports a touch of '70s flair.
Rooms, however, were renovated in 2001 and feel fresh, with green carpets, modern cherry wood furniture, and recessed lighting. All 96 rooms are equipped with air-conditioning and soundproofed windows to keep things cool and quiet.
Old-fashioned hotels often feature generous-sized rooms, and the Borges is no exception—a couple rooms we saw were quite spacious, and some on the front have balconies overlooking the square. (Ask ahead.) Baths are renovated with bright tiled floors and new fixtures.
But what really makes the Borges exceptional is the remarkably central location, smack in the center of the Largo do Chiado, at the base of the hot Bairro Alto scene.
The hotel’s neighbor, the landmark Café Bernard, serves drinks to a trendy and touristy clientele at outdoor tables. And Lisbon’s Bairro Alto bar and restaurant scene gets bumping about a block away. If you’ll be taking advantage of Lisbon’s nightlife, the Borges would make a very convenient home base. | 
