LX Boutique Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal

Situated on the corner of Rua do Alecrim, which leads up into the heart of the Bairro Alto, and with a frontage on a wide riverside square and promenade, the hotel is in one of the city's popular areas for promenading and nightlife. Cais do Sodré station, with overground trains to coastal beaches, plus the city's Metro, is a couple of minutes' walk. Apart from the riverside and bars along Rua Nova Carvalho, the Time Out Market in the historic market hall is great for eating and shopping from numerous individual stalls.

By plane: flights to Lisbon take around 2 hours 50 mins from London and Manchester and 2 hours 30 mins from Bristol. The hotel is a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport. Book flights to Lisbon.

The breezy blue and white colour scheme of the exteriors continues inside with shades of blue on the walls, patterned wallpapers, and blue- or coffee-coloured velvet chairs - the colours resonant of traditional azulejo tiling. The floors are polished wood while a rich blue carpet leads up to the bedrooms and the furniture is sleek and chic.

There's a small seating area beside the reception, otherwise guests can find a spot in the bar-restaurant, unless it's busy. But the emphasis in this place is on no unnecessary frills, only good ones - hence the free walking tours, the welcome glass of wine and sushi on your first evening, and the keen help from the young and friendly staff.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Complimentary cakes
• Walking tours
• Free Wi-Fi

The bedrooms follow the same breezy colour scheme as the rest of the hotel. Furnishings are uncluttered to make the most of the space - perhaps an open wardrobe or white-painted stool and desk - with fun, patterned feature wallpapers or blown-up photographs of the city adding pizazz. The pod-like bathrooms have a glass wall to the bedroom, with shutters for modesty.

Room types: Classic Room, Superior Room, Rooftop Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bath or shower, free toiletries, hairdryer, TV, free Wi-Fi

The slick-looking dining room offers a sushi menu from midday onwards and is the sister restaurant to an acclaimed, well-established sushi restaurant in Cascais a few miles west on the coast. The gyozas and shrimp tempura are especially popular. The huge breakfast buffet is a smorgasbord of bread, pastries, freshly prepared fruits, cold meats and cheeses, together with freshly cooked eggs.

Confraria: Portuguese breakfasts, sushi, gyoza, noodles. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.