Mirante

Mirante is comfortable, with lots of light. It’s in a very good location, just a few blocks from the Praça do Comércio. The kitchen’s good. This is all useful to know, but it’s not really the point. Both floors have terraces, which means 360º views of the city, and they are some views. The cathedral, the castle, the lift, the Carmo convent, the river – all the main landmarks are visible from the roof. It’s special, and overrides pretty much anything else we could say about the place.

Home truths:
*We found some marks on the walls and a few stains on the carpet – a purely aesthetic consideration, but one worth noting
*There's no oven, just a hob and a microwave
*The bedrooms aren't on the same level as the rest of the flat, and the second has two singles pushed together, rather than a double
*The shower is only 190cm high – fine for most but very tall people might have to duck a bit