Inside are 53 rooms in a contemporary style, low on frills but high on comfort, most of them facing the João das Regras street – named after a nobleman whose actual surname was João de Aregas; in the great game of telephone of history, the original Aregas became a rather more colourful “Regras”, the Portuguese word for “rules”. The street lies next to the Figueira Square, in the centre of which is a statue of Portuguese king João I, whose cognomen was Of Happy Memory, and whose ascent to the throne was partly due to that “rules” fellow.
This is an excellent area of the city, close to the Rossio, the Chiado and the Cathedral, where you can enjoy the best Lisbon has to offer without having to go far. This includes the Deck, a traditional Lisbon patio turned into a café. The Portugal Boutique Hotel also offers other quality alternatives, including access to the bar and two restaurants at the nearby Hotel Mundial. One of these is the Varanda de Lisboa, where traditional Portuguese food is served with a panoramic view to the city and the river.