The Calligrapher's Pen

The Calligrapher's Pen: Lisbon

Just to the north of Lisbon’s historic centre, this modern apartment puts you in a quiet, residential area away from the bustle of tourists. Yet, if you do fancy a spot of sightseeing, a handy metro stop five minutes from your front door can have you at the Santa Justa Lift, Carmo Convent and fado bars of Bairro Alto in under ten minutes. Stick around your neighbourhood to discover local eateries and the sprawling expanse of Parque Eduardo VII where there’s always something going on.

The apartment may be housed in a modern building, but the interior has all the rustic charm of a Southeast Asian beach house. Think basket lampshades from Brazil, rope-woven rugs and bamboo dining chairs. Glass sliding doors cast the boho-chic living room in sunlight and there’s a little balcony with a bistro set for two should you want a breath of fresh air with your morning coffee. Those that need to work remotely can set up at zen-inspired desks in both bedrooms, or perhaps spend your afternoons enjoying some downtime at the apartment block’s shared swimming pool.

Home truths:
*The swimming pool is shared between the apartments in the building
*Both laptop-friendly desks are in the bedrooms, rather than a separate office room
*The apartment is up several flights of stairs but there is a lift in the building
*Paid parking is available on-site
*There is only air conditioning in some rooms
*Because of the location, some city noise should be expected – light sleepers might want to bring earplugs just in case