LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest welcomes you with a bottle of very good regional wine and fresh fruit.

The two greatest lookout sites -- Miradouros -- are within walking distance of the Nest. One is the highest in Lisbon and the other has a little cafe for local wine and snacks.

Two of the greatest fresh catch plus local meat dish diner-sized mom and pop places are right down the hill from the Nest.

Camones has eclectic live music very close by – but it closes early and the music never disturbs your sleep.

 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

The Lisbon Nest hosts have written a fabulous guidebook -- in English -- waiting for you on the kitchen table.

It has a guide to dozens of locals’ restaurants within walking distance of Lisbon Nest.

It also suggests dozens of day trips -- Sintra, Mafra, Cascais -- and gives good details on how to get there.

It has a rundown of monuments and museums in Lisbon and tips on the easy to use and inexpensive transit system.

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

For drying clothes, Lisbon Nest has a clothesline out the window -- that's what the natives use.

The living room has a flat screen TV and a couch that's plenty big for a person to sleep on.

There's also a small writing desk when you enter.

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

 LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest is in Graca.

Graca is central, but not in the noisy tourist areas. 

It's the best of both worlds -- fabulous restaurants, things to do, historic tram plus major bus routes -- but you can live like a Lisboan, not a tourist.

The apartment has a modern kitchen with a small fridge, stove top, oven, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, microwave and best of all -- a clothes washing machine that spins clothes dry.

 

 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest is an apartment.

Most everyone else in the building lives there year-round.

By European standards, it is big enough for 2 adults and one child.

The bed is super comfortable and the surrounding units and part of the neighborhood are super quiet and tranquil. 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

This was my the second time staying with the Nest property.

The same couple manage several vacation homes in the Graca area.

They have the same fabulous person clean the unit to spotlessness, meet you with the key, show you how appliances work, bring over extra sheets or coffee, etc. 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

In the evenings, I hustled along after dinner to catch the last moments of the golden hour, to take sunset photos from Miradouro da Graca/Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen -- enhanced by a public patio where snacks and drinks are served from a kiosk.     

In the evening, my neighbor’s sweet cat would come by to be petted and the neighborhood beagle would beg for snacks and affection.

And each night, I slept in a roughly 600 square foot space. A unit large enough to live in year-round.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

About half the shopkeepers and small restaurant owners spoke English – the others put up with my pathetic Portuguese, which sounds a lot like a so-so Spanish speaker grasping for cognates.

In the morning, sunshine bathed the neighborhood and I rushed from Backyard Nest past the locals to take photos of all of Lisbon stretched out below below Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – the highest point in all of Lisboa.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

Graca has places to sit outside and have a drink – be it strong coffee or smooth wine.

I had some of the best seafood, at a great price, in all my travels – at places a quarter mile walk from my holiday apartment.

There are clothing shops – used and new – convenience stores, quirky stores – virtually all mom and pop.

It soothes the soul to patronize authentic shops.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

Graca is so much more authentic than the heavily-touristed zones.

Footsteps from the Backyard Nest, there were nearly a half dozen family-owned bakeries – with sweet and savory items.

There were small, quirky grocery stores and fruit stands, as well as a Pingo Doce – the major supermarket – behind the façade of a beautiful old movie theater and stocked with every item you could ever want.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

I spent far more time in Graca than I would have thought before arriving.

It really only has a few true tourist attractions – a pair of unmatched lookout points – a couple historic churches and by extension (though shared with Alfama) the famed Mercado de Santa Clara flea market and the national pantheon.

But Graca kept calling my name.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

The Backyard Nest is footsteps from the famed 28 historic tram – which links you to all the museums and historic places in the city.

There’s also a small bus that covers the same route.

When tourists clog the tram and there’s a wait, it’s a good backup plan to use the mini bus.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

The Backyard Nest is one story, so no footsteps sound from above.

It has just one common wall, so again, nice and quiet.

There's a nice outdoor area behind a gate.

I found it fabulous for drinking local, very inexpensive wine on at the clean and lovely table.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

The Backyard Nest is one of a half dozen or so in a row of old and quaint buildings.

The other neighbors seem to be year-round owners.

They are friendly (though my Portuguese is horrible) and quiet at night. 

You also will be visited by a sweetheart friendly beagle.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

Backyard Nest enjoys an amazing amount of natural light, but very easy to use roll-down blinds allow you to turn the room dark as night for sleeping or napping.

The private street is gated.

The gate was never locked, but it gave an added sense of privacy and security.

Although Graca and the specific area the Nest is located felt so safe that I probably could have left the door unlocked.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

The Backyard Nest kitchen is perfect -- full sized fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, full range and stove top, very nice plates, flatware, glasses.

The bathroom is compact, but the shower tube doesn't leak at all and the warm water is fast to arrive and runs endlessly.

The bed is firm and comfortable.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1 

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

Graca has great restaurants, bakeries, plazas and best of all -- the two best overlooks in a city filled with views down its steep hills onto the river and landscape.

I have stayed at hundreds of hotels, motels, B&Bs, inns, apartments and quirky lodging.

Backyard Nest ranks atop any I have visited -- via Booking.com or any other service.

You truly have everything you would ever need.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1

THE BACKYARD NEST GRACA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN THE PERFECT LOCATION

The Backyard Nest looked perfect online, but being my first visit to Lisbon, I was a little hesitant -- simply because the main tourist attractions are not in Graca and it is not among the top 6 or so neighborhoods outlined in the guidebooks.

After visiting, I not only urge people to stay in Graca -- but I'm also seriously thinking of buying a place in the livable, down to earth and historic neighborhood.

I spent way more time than I expected in Graca.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/serra-vidal-apartment.html?auth_success=1