Both put Chiado on foot and neither has a pool. Palácio Ludovice is an 18th-century palace with carved wooden ceilings and a port-wine tasting room that opens Monday to Friday only, for wine lovers; The Ivens is maximalist, with Rocco downstairs, for friends on a city break.
The weekend oneAn 18th-century palace at the top of the Glória funicular, with wine as the house theme.
€€From about €235 a night
Choose Palácio Ludovice if
The catch
Bairro Alto nightlife brings noise to street-facing rooms, especially at weekends.
The design oneMaximalist jungle interiors in the middle of Chiado, with a good Italian restaurant downstairs.
€€€€From about €500 a night
Choose The Ivens if
The catch
Entry rooms are small, and the hotel names no outlook for them.
| Best for | Palácio Ludovice | The Ivens |
|---|---|---|
| Best design hotels in Lisbon | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best value hotels in Lisbon | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best central hotels in Lisbon | On the list | On the list |
| Best hotels for food and drink in Lisbon | Not on the list | On the list |
Palácio LudoviceThe Ivens
Palácio Ludovice
The Ivens
The verdict
Both put Chiado on foot and neither has a pool. Palácio Ludovice is an 18th-century palace with carved wooden ceilings and a port-wine tasting room that opens Monday to Friday only, for wine lovers; The Ivens is maximalist, with Rocco downstairs, for friends on a city break.
Questions people ask
Both put Chiado on foot and neither has a pool. Palácio Ludovice is an 18th-century palace with carved wooden ceilings and a port-wine tasting room that opens Monday to Friday only, for wine lovers; The Ivens is maximalist, with Rocco downstairs, for friends on a city break.
The historic hotel that also happens to be in the right place. Book the palace side and drink well. An 18th-century palace at the top of the funicular, with a serious Portuguese wine list as the house personality and Chiado, Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real all on foot. History with convenience, at the cost of some weekend noise and uneven rooms.
There is no pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.
The most fun hotel in central Lisbon. Book a higher floor, eat at Rocco and enjoy the theatre of it. Maximalist theatre in the middle of Chiado, with a destination Italian downstairs and a Marriott engine behind the scenes. Loud, fun and social rather than calm or particularly Portuguese.
There is no pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.