We work hard on keeping Tings Lisbon Fresh and up-to-date

We have improved the Tings Experience

As seasoned long-term travelers, we’ve witnessed how some beloved hotels gradually lose their charm over time. It’s intriguing to consider how our colleagues in the hospitality industry manage to keep their hotels and rooms current, adapting to the evolving needs of travelers. If we hadn’t returned to the road periodically after establishing Tings Kathmandu, we might have faced a similar fate. However, by regularly revisiting and refreshing our perspective every couple of months, we were able to maintain a vibrant atmosphere throughout its ten-year existence until it was closed due to the pandemic.

In Lisbon, our experience has been different. Following a challenging startup phase and two years of COVID-19 isolation, we’ve been based in Graça since 2017 and haven’t had the opportunity to view our business with fresh eyes. To address this, we began 2023 by renovating our common areas and several rooms. Since January, we’ve made a conscious effort to scrutinize every detail, element, routine, and service, seeking feedback from guests on potential improvements and additional needs to enhance their stay.

To stay informed about new trends and demands, we’ve found that traveling is invaluable. Since the New Year, we’ve stayed in hotels across Bangkok, Andalucia, Marrakech, London, and various locations in Portugal. This allows us to identify what we appreciate most and what we’ve been missing, ensuring our own establishment remains relevant and appealing.

Ongoing maintenance

Now all rooms have AC

Installing AC at Tings Lisbon. The best Ones Star hotel in Lisbon

Installing AC in all Tings Lisbon rooms. We don’t want the outer unit on our wall – they are well hidden on the roof. But installing the cooler in the rooms has been difficult in a fully booked hotel.

When we inaugurated Tings Lisbon in 2017, we personally tested each room to ensure everything was perfect. Back then, Graça was a hidden gem, and guests could comfortably enjoy the cool Atlantic breeze by simply opening their windows, occasionally using a fan for extra comfort.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically changed. Penha da Franca, Anjos, Arroios, and Graça have become Lisbon’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Our nearby Miradouro da Senhora do Monte has transformed into Lisbon’s premier sunset destination, offering a romantic atmosphere with a lively yet relaxed ambiance. As the sun sets, the viewpoint comes alive with the gentle sounds of conversation, stolen kisses, and couples hand-in-hand.

This surge in popularity, combined with increasingly warmer summers, prompted us to install air conditioning in all rooms1. Now, guests have the option to enjoy the vibrant evening atmosphere or retreat to a quiet, cool sanctuary by closing their windows.

An added benefit of this upgrade is the enhanced comfort during colder months, ensuring all rooms remain warm and cozy throughout the yea

Our rooms have more amenities & Services

In our small common kitchen on the top of ‘the big’ house our guests can make themselves a cup of coffee or tea or light meals and keep smaller items in the fridge. Still we have felt an increasing demand for fridges in the rooms – not only for cold drinks. But also for travellers with medicine, food souvenirs and other things that must be kept cold.

Fridges & refreshments: So now all our Lounge Rooms and Cozy Rooms have fridges with refreshments (vary depending on the category).

And we have an extra portable mini fridge to be used in the basic room when the guest needs it for medicine.

Electric kettles, Coffee & Tea: Usually we travel with our own Coffee & Tea as we need an early cup. So it’s very hard when we stay in a hotel without an electrical kettle to make your morning tea/coffee before heading down to breakfast.

So we have added this to all our Lounge and Cozy Rooms. And in our Lounge Rooms we have Coffee and Tea as well.

Hair dryers: We never use hair dryers ourselves. But according to reviews and daily requests from all our guests there are Hair Dryers in all rooms…. By public demand.

New mattresses in some rooms

Tings Lisbon - best one star hotel in Graca: As mattresses are like shoes – most complaints are due to personal preferences – too soft or too hard. Still we check them out everytime we get complaints.

Chimmi made himself a new mattress from bougainvillea leaves

We’re fortunate to receive numerous positive reviews, though the negative ones can sting. We try not to dwell on them, instead carefully analyzing these critiques to identify areas for potential improvement or change. (As we’ve made clear: We adore our location, we can’t install an elevator, and we’ve chosen not to have TVs. So those aspects are non-negotiable!)

Our bed linen, 100% Egyptian cotton, consistently garners praise and never complaints. The trade-off for eschewing polyester, unlike 99% of other hotels, is the wear and tear from daily washing and ironing. We’ve recently replenished our stock with a new production run of our special quality sheets, discarding many well-worn pieces.

Some feedback proves invaluable, such as comments about mattresses. Unlike in the past, we rarely have the opportunity to sleep in the rooms ourselves, making it challenging to regularly assess their condition. Mattress preferences, much like shoes, are highly personal: some find them too soft, others too firm (our mattresses are designed to be firm, neither soft nor hard, but…).

We take all feedback seriously, always testing mattresses ourselves when complaints arise. To our dismay, we recently discovered a few that indeed “needed action”. These were promptly replaced.

Ambiance

... now it shares a lot of ambiance in our Saffron Twin room

We love decorating and creating ambiance. Especially Annette who spends a lot of her time getting and arranging the flowers, changing bed covers, buying new cushions etc. And as we recently got most of our art from Kathmandu sent to Lisbon, many rooms have been pimped-up with fresh pieces as well. Some rooms have changed completely from how they looked when we opened.

Our big challenge is to have flowers in all rooms – none of the hotels we have stayed in the last year have had that. For obvious reasons – they are difficult to keep. But we find that it adds to the ambience and we do our best to have a flowering orchid – or at least something green in each of our Lounge and Cozy rooms.

Our breakfast has homemade Gluten Free Options

One of the bonuses from baking our own bread is the wonderful smell it adds to Tings Lisbon’s morning ambiance

It’s quite remarkable to hear our guests still praising our breakfast at Tings Lisbon, despite serving essentially the same menu since Tings Kathmandu opened in 2011. However, after our recent stays in various hotels across different countries and regions of Portugal, we’ve gained a new perspective on why our breakfast continues to impress.

While we can’t match the vast array of options offered by larger establishments, our commitment to quality and freshness sets us apart. Even five-star hotels in Portugal often fall short, serving bread of inferior quality and pre-sliced cheeses and hams from bulk suppliers – a stark contrast to our homemade, freshly prepared approach.

Our philosophy of serving eggs made to order and using high-quality, fresh ingredients has proven to be a winning formula. This attention to detail extends to our bread, which consistently outshines that of more upscale accommodations.

Initially, we didn’t offer many sweet options, but recognizing the preferences of international travelers, we introduced crepes with a thin layer of Thomas’ homemade dulce de leche. This addition has been met with great enthusiasm, catering to those accustomed to sweeter breakfast fare.

In essence, our dedication to maintaining high standards and adapting to guest preferences has allowed us to create a breakfast experience that continues to delight, even in an evolving hospitality landscape.

Tings Lisbon - the best one star hotel in Graca - always have gluten free cereals and biscuits, decaf, herbal teas and non dairy milk. For break fast. And home baked Gluten free Buns.

Thomas’ super tasty Tings Buns based on red lentils, fresh cheese and eggs is our permanent Gluten Free option (order before arrival).

One of the most significant changes we’ve observed since opening in 2017 is the growing number of travelers with various food intolerances. As a small establishment like Tings, it’s challenging to cater to all dietary trends while maintaining our philosophy. We’ve always offered gluten-free cereals and biscuits, decaf coffee, herbal teas, and non-dairy milk options.

We had hoped to find inspiration or affordable ideas we could adapt for traditional flour-based items during our recent travels. However, we discovered that even larger hotels often struggle to provide comprehensive gluten-free options, particularly for items like bread and pastries.

In response to this challenge, we’re excited to introduce our latest creation: Thomas’ new super tasty Tings Buns. These gluten-free buns are made with red lentils, fresh cheese, and eggs, offering a delicious alternative to traditional wheat-based options. This will now be our permanent gluten-free option, though we require advance notice at check-in as they need to be prepared the day before.

This innovation aligns with our commitment to providing quality, homemade options for our guests with dietary restrictions. By offering these unique gluten-free buns, we’re going beyond the standard offerings found in many hotels, which often rely on pre-packaged gluten-free items. Our approach allows us to maintain our philosophy of fresh, homemade food while accommodating the increasing demand for gluten-free options.

What we're working on right now,

Since opening Tings Lisbon in 2017, we’ve unexpectedly made it our home. Our initial plan to move out once the hotel was running smoothly was derailed by Covid and subsequent staffing challenges that plagued Europe. It took a year to stabilize operations, but just as we were ready for a break, fate intervened.

Sagar, our former chef from Tings Tea Lounge in Kathmandu, surprised us with a call from Romania. Without hesitation, we invited him to Lisbon to revive Tings Lounge. In June 2024, we launched with an exciting new menu featuring our favorite global dishes, all crafted from local ingredients.

With the lounge thriving, we reignited our passion for Tings Art projects. In 2024, we hosted three exhibitions, with two more planned for 2025. Already, we’re witnessing the profound impact these cultural activities have on Tings’ ambiance.

If this sounds intriguing, come by to experience it firsthand. We’re sure you’ll agree that there’s something special happening here.

We look forward to welcoming you in Lisbon.

Annette & Thomas