Green Creek

Staying this close to Praça do Comércio is great if you've only got a few days to immerse yourself in the city. Baixa is a treasury of sights, although it comes with a caveat of authenticity – the area is usually buzzing with tourists, and you'll have to travel a little if you want a more local feel. Green Creek is an immaculate home that simply feels high-end. The furniture is elegant, the natural light is fantastic, the design vision is coherent, and we loved the preserved gaiolas pombalinas that separate the dining from the living room areas.

Home truths:
* Six guests can stay in this home, but the last two will be sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room
* This home doesn’t have a manual, but the host is working on putting one together
* There are a couple of steps by the entrance to the building, which means this home isn’t wheelchair accessible