It would be easy to mistake this hotel for an office building, with its imposing concrete-and-glass facade rising 12 stories high. Inside, the expansive lobby is a sea of white, punctuated by wooden desks and black- and cream-colored leather sofas, and some small trees in black planters. A piano in the Lobby Bar, a popular setting for small business meetings, helps the space feel more like a hotel than a corporate atrium. The Contemporâneo Restaurant has similarly bland decor, dominated by light woods and white tablecloths, and large photographs of Lisbon at night, which help make up for the lack of a view. The spa is similarly barebones, and not overly luxurious, though the white marble and turquoise mosaic tile do enhance the hot tub area. The hotel offers a nice atmosphere for business travelers, but doesn’t provide a vacation setting. 

The hotel sits on the busy Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, right off the Marquis of Pombal Square. It’s a block from the Marques de Pombal metro station, which has two metro lines, and tour buses operate from across the street. The Avenida da Liberdade, filled with luxury shops, sits opposite the square. The hotel is also across the street from Eduardo VII Park, and the El Corte Inglés shopping center is a 15-minute walk. It’s about 20 minutes' walk to Baixa de Lisboa, the historic center. The Aerobus to and from the Lisbon Portela Airport stops right by the hotel, and it’s about a 30-minute ride, while a taxi takes about 10 minutes. 

The 287 guest rooms have a little more warmth than the rest of the hotel, each with one mustard-colored wall and curtains in black-and-gold plaid. Dark carpeting and two-tone wood furnishings complete the neat, no-nonsense decor. Beds have comfortable pillow-top mattresses with bright white bedding. The bathrooms are medium sized, with marled black and white tile, spacious countertops, and glass-walled shower/tub combos, as well as hairdryers. The 16 Executive Rooms come with several extra perks, including Nespresso machines, bathrobes, PlayStation 4 consoles (with games available from the front desk with a refundable deposit), and free breakfast on the day of arrival. All rooms have air-conditioning, small flat-screen TVs, minibars, and safes.   

The hotel’s Contemporâneo Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast with a good selection of hot and cold dishes, a buffet lunch on weekdays, and a more formal dinner. Along with drinks, the Lobby Bar serves snacks, light meals, and pastries, as well as afternoon tea; live piano sessions are held Tuesday through Saturday nights. Room service is available 24 hours a day. There’s a spacious gym with cardio machines and free weights, as well as a small spa with a hot tub and sauna. Massages are available. There's parking for an extra fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.