Lisbon hotel tip: Casa Teva by chic&basic is situated in one of the city’s nicest neighbourhoods
Updated: 6 days ago
At Reisleven, we love sharing great hotels with you. Are you planning a weekend break to colourful Lisbon soon? If so, I’ve got a hot tip for you: Casa Teva by chic&basic, right in the heart of the historic Alfama district.
Sleeping in chic & basic style
You could easily walk right past Casa Teva. From the outside, the hotel is rather unassuming, blending in with the colourful houses, narrow streets and façades where laundry hangs out to dry. As soon as you know where to go, your first thought will be: what a brilliant location! Casa Teva is situated right in the heart of the charming Alfama district.
Step inside, and you’ll find yourself in a stylish living room, with comfortable lounge sofas, an honesty bar and a chic, tasteful interior.
A surprising welcome
The reception area is also different from what you might be used to. No large counter with staff behind it, but simply a laptop on a table. This gives it a personal and informal feel. It’s as if you’re stepping into someone’s home, but with a generous dash of design.
On arrival, you’ll find a mini pastel de nata waiting for you, to immerse you in the Portuguese spirit straight away.
Chic & basic: luxury is in the experience
Casa Teva is part of the Spanish hotel concept chic&basic. The concept can now be found in cities including Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto and Budapest. The hotels are not all the same. Each location has its own character and its own story. Their philosophy is clear: to chart their own course and set trends rather than follow them.
Chic&basic calls this approach Cooltura: art and culture are an important part of its hotels, with a focus on fashion, photography, design, performances and music. The brand supports and promotes artists and their work, creating opportunities for guests to connect with art and culture during their stay.
Chic&basic also takes a slightly different view of luxury. “Luxury is not measured in stars, it is measured in positive sensations.” It is not just about extensive hotel facilities, but above all about comfort, atmosphere and the feeling that a stay gives you.
Peace and quiet in the heart of Alfama
And although you’re staying right in the middle of bustling Alfama, it’s remarkably quiet inside. Even in your comfortable room, you’ll hardly be bothered by the noise of the city. Look out of the window and you’ll see the neighbourhood’s colourful houses, narrow streets and characteristic façades. You’ll know straight away: this is Lisbon.
The day starts with a delicious breakfast buffet before heading out into the steep streets of Alfama. And if you return in the afternoon, you can enjoy a light snack with pastries and tea, or settle down with a drink at the honesty bar.
The best addresses right around the corner
The location is perhaps one of Casa Teva’s biggest advantages. The hotel is right in the heart of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods. You really don’t need a restaurant in your hotel here. Step outside and you’re immediately surrounded by small restaurants, cafés and places where you can discover Portuguese cuisine.
From traditional dishes to modern twists, Lisbon has plenty to offer. And honestly, isn’t that much more fun than eating at your hotel every night? The hotel is also happy to recommend some of its favourite places nearby. And those personal tips can sometimes lead you to surprisingly good finds.
A tip from the hotel
The hotel recommended Chapitô à Mesa, a restaurant I probably wouldn’t have discovered on my own. The location alone is something special. From the second floor, you have a fantastic view over Lisbon and the Tagus.
But the story behind Chapitô makes it even more interesting. The restaurant is part of a project centred around a circus school, which gives it a very different atmosphere from a typical restaurant. The terrace almost feels like a circus tent, and if you’re lucky, you may catch students practising or performing a trick in between.
There is something special happening on the plate too. Traditional Portuguese ingredients are given a contemporary twist. I chose the tuna with a creamy pepper sauce. Not a combination I would have thought of myself, but absolutely delicious. The flavours worked surprisingly well together.
To me, that is exactly the added value of a hotel like Casa Teva. With a good recommendation from someone who knows the area, you sometimes end up in places you might otherwise have simply walked past.
Discovering Lisbon from Alfama
Casa Teva is a great base from which to explore more of Lisbon.
A few tips for your stay:
Get lost in Alfama – Wander around without a plan and soak up the atmosphere of this historic neighbourhood.
Castelo de São Jorge – The castle sits high above the city and is one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks.
Miradouro da Graça – One of my favourite viewpoints in Lisbon. From here, you get a wonderful view across the city.
Go in search of street art – Lisbon is full of murals and creative works. You’ll also come across some interesting pieces in and around Alfama.
LX Factory – A creative hub with shops, restaurants, art and design in a former industrial setting.
This is just a small selection. There is, of course, much more to discover, but my advice is not to plan too much. One of the best things about Lisbon is simply wandering through the lively streets and seeing what you come across.
After a day exploring Lisbon, it is lovely to return to Casa Teva. The hotel’s own slogan, ‘Welcome to Casa Teva, your refuge in Lisbon’, feels quite fitting. Or, simply put: your own little place in Lisbon.
This article was originally published on Reisleven.nl on October 11th, 2026.
Comments