Please note, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions on our stay at Upon Angels are my own and 100% honest. In my review, I will provide you with useful links and tips, so don’t forget to read it all. Also, check out my 56 tips on how to travel cheap and other hotel reviews I have done.
First Impressions of Upon Angels
Tucked just steps from Lisbon’s Intendente metro station, Upon Angels (mainly for adults) may look modest from the outside, but behind its doors lies a burlesque-inspired escape tailor-made for romantics, design lovers, and anyone craving something different. We spent a memorable week in July soaking up the hotel’s theatrical charm, quiet comfort, and thoughtful gestures that turned a standard city break into something truly sensory.
The hotel looked small from the outside, like most boutique hotels do, but inside it looked modern, spacious, and beautiful. You also have a few good restaurants nearby and a vegan restaurant just a few feet across from the hotel entrance.
The hotel’s proximity to the metro made exploring effortless. Whether hopping a metro to Cais do Sodre or calling an Uber / Bolt to head across town, Lisbon’s transport options kept our itinerary smooth.
🎨 Design & Atmosphere
We arrived late afternoon and immediately noticed Upon Angels striking interior — a space bathed in moody lighting, lush textures, and seductive design cues. It was small in scale but rich in personality. A bowl of candy in the lobby offered a playful touch, and a warm welcome from the reception team set the tone for a truly personalized experience. This hotel was going to be our home for a whole week.
We felt like our room had good lighting, but you could easily put on mood lighting. We thought that our room had better lighting than in most hotels we have visited. Also, you get a lot of natural light during summer days, especially in room 505, where we stayed. You can buy different packages for your room before your arrival at Upon Angels. In the lobby, you’ll find a selection of items catering to couples seeking a playful or romantic stay. The hotel offered several different packages (in June 2025), as shown in the picture below.
🛏️ The Room: Premium Comfort with a Rooftop View
We were thrilled to be upgraded to Room 505, a Premium Room (Studio) perched quietly towards the inner courtyard, with views of Lisbon’s rooftops. It was cozy but spacious, with a heavenly bed that made sleeping effortless each night.
Highlights of our room:
- 💧 Bathtub beside the bed — perfect for winding down in style by yourself or together.
- 🌇 Two balconies — ideal for morning coffee or a breath of fresh air, and natural light.
- 🛁 Rituals amenities — luxurious scents and textures in the bathroom (hand wash, body lotion, conditioner, 2-in-1 shampoo & shower gel).
- ❄️ Air conditioning — worked flawlessly, which was much appreciated in July.
- 🍫 Chocolates on arrival — a sweet surprise that set the tone.
- 🧖 Bathrobes and slippers — two small bathrobes (size XS or S) + slippers.
- ☕ Other amenities – espresso machine, kettle, cups, beach towels, hair dryer, mini fridge, microwave.
We also appreciated thoughtful extras like a sewing kit, vanity set, and even a shower cap — little things that made the stay feel complete. While the room was overall very clean and well-maintained, a fresh coat of paint and some attention to wall scuffs wouldn’t hurt.
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🍳 Dining & Drinks
Breakfast is served at the bar near the entrance between 8am and 12am — modest in selection, but made with quality ingredients. Most mornings featured fresh orange juice, coffee (machine), pastries (croissants, pasteis de nata, pain au chocolat), dry pancakes, scrambled eggs & bacon, fruits, bread, and spreads. While it wasn’t extravagant, it did the job nicely.
You simply need to inform the front desk upon arrival at what time you plan to go to breakfast, but you can change that every morning if you want. Just remember to let them know at the front desk. This is because the breakfast lounge only has seating for about 20 people at a time. During our stay, we hardly saw anymore than 6 tables being occupied simultaneously, but most times only 2-3 tables were occupied.
On the morning of our day trip to Sintra, we requested a takeaway breakfast box in advance. We picked it up at the front desk. It was in a simple package and was perfect for snacking on the train — a very thoughtful touch from the team. It included 2 small juice boxes, 2 apples, 2 small sandwiches, and 2 muffins.
We did not try any of the offerings at the Angels Bar since we were always on the move during our stay. Unfortunately, we never had the chance to try the restaurants close to the hotel, but these restaurants have good reviews:
- O Gambuzino (Vegan restaurant across the hotel entrance)
- Josephine Bistro (A bistro just a short walk from the hotel)
- Tequichilli Mexican Grill & Cocktail Bar (Mexican food is also a short walk away)
🧘 Upon Angles Services
The hotel has a nice courtyard with a jacuzzi and sunbeds, and separate bathrooms for men and women, with a shower. Also, the needs of disabled people have been taken into account. The hotel has one elevator. Also, you can leave your luggage at the front desk if needed. We utilized it since our flight left later in the evening after we had done our check-out.
From check-in to check-out, every interaction with staff was warm and attentive. Though the front desk at Upon Angels isn’t manned overnight, a guard is on duty at night, and the hotel door locks securely during nighttime hours. Your room keycard gives you access, so getting in late isn’t a problem. These safety measures made us feel at ease throughout our stay.
Experiences to enjoy at Upon Angels
- Drag Bingo: “9PM drag bingo. Price: €15.00 per person.” Next events will be July 18th, August 1st and 8th.
- Exclusive Dinners: “One table, one group and an evening of your own. The hotel offers a careful selection of three different menus, which explore different gastronomic universes and flavours carefully designed to surprise palates and spark conversation. Available for groups with a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 20 people. For groups with fewer participants, the difference corresponding to the minimum number will be charged.“
- Thirsty Thursday: “From 4pm, tell the barman: ‘It’s Thursday and I’m Thirsty!’ and he’ll choose a random cocktail for you. If you get at least 3 ingredients right, you win a cocktail of your choice with the purchase of another one! 🥳🍹”
📍 Location & Exploration
For us, the location of the Upon Angels hotel was great since we love to walk, so we need a hotel relatively close to the places we want to visit. Upon Angels was close to several popular sightseeing spots. Also, it was easy to walk south to all the hot spots and enjoy the ocean breeze. You also have the convenience of the metro station Intendente, which we felt was safe all the times we used it (during the daytime and late in the evening).
Lisbon is a city of layered history, cobbled streets, and colorful façades — and the area surrounding Upon Angels reflects that beautifully. The neighborhood near Rua dos Anjos is alive with multicultural energy, especially with Indian communities nearby. Like many big cities, it’s not without its rough edges — we noticed a few individuals dealing with addiction or homelessness, but everyone coexisted peacefully as long as mutual respect was given. We had NO problems with these individuals during our week-long stay. In my opinion, the problem was in the city center at Baixa de Lisboa, where people try to offer you drugs.
Lisbon felt generally safe, and Upon Angels was no exception. As with any urban area, staying mindful of your surroundings and belongings is key, but we felt secure throughout our stay. In the picture below, you can see the view from room 505 over Lisbon’s beautiful rooftops.
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💭 Final Thoughts
This hotel feels especially ideal for couples seeking a stylish escape, but it’s equally inviting for solo adventurers and lovers of design. There’s a subtle, welcoming LGBTQ+ vibe woven into the space and its offerings—tasteful, inclusive, and never overstated.
I want to thank the entire hotel staff at Upon Angels for making our stay feel relaxed and being so attentive even during busy times. Upon Angels does provide a unique boutique hotel experience in an old city like Lisbon. Would we return? Absolutely — this is a nice hotel with friendly service and good quality. You can get to know the hotel and its services more on their site. They offer a -30% Summer Sale right now! Other offers can be found here.
On departure, we were handed a small box of cookies — one last gesture that left us pleased on our way to the airport.
Overall, our stay at Upon Angels was great. I would give the hotel 4,5/5 stars. The combination of superb and friendly service, clean rooms, comfortable accommodations, and convenient location made it a memorable experience. I would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Lisbon seeking a unique experience for a decent price.
I will soon be posting more about our adventures in Lisbon. There will be ideas on what to do, daytrips, shopping, and best of all, food, so remember to subscribe and also follow my other social media channels so you don’t miss anything. More pictures and some videos will be posted to YouTube and Instagram.
This post has been enhanced using AI for text improvement.