Review of PortoBay Marquês 4*

Nice hotel but remember this : 4 stars in Europe = 3 stars by American standards. If you want a 4 star hotel you need to book a 5 Star. Pros: Location : near the subway and 20 minute walk into old town. Quiet street Cleanliness — perfect. Very clean Rooftop — it was nice to use the pool on the rooftop. It’s heated fairly well. Never thought I’d be in an outdoor pool in Europe in late November Cons: Location — It’s a pro and a con. You can’t just walk outside and find lots of restaurants as you can in old town or if you stay farther down Liberdade but if you like to be away from the tourist zone but easy access to it then the location is great. Restaurant Service — Food was decent but Service in the restaurant as others have noted is horrendous and even offensive. I was dining by myself and couldn’t finish my food. I asked to take leftovers and they said no! I have been all around the world and dined in everywhere from holes in the walls to 5 Star hotels and I have never been told no to take my leftovers in fact it’s almost always offered proactively. What a shame. The principal of this ruined my perception of this place. I expect terrible service In European restaurants. I think sometimes it’s a cultural difference but this was bad and the food takes forever. Weird they offer room service but you can’t have your leftovers. Rooms — I thought a 4 Star hotel would have proper beds but that is not the case. They have 2 beds pushed together, it was not the most comfortable. Air conditioning was very weak. If you like it cold you’ll need to open the window and it’s NOISY with the fans running downstairs View — I don’t mind not having a great view. Most small hotels in Europe don’t have a great view. Half of this building faces an interior of others buildings and it’s an UGLY view. Nothing the hotel can do about that but just don’t count on a good view.