5 Things I Learned From Staying at the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade in Portugal [Review]

I had never stayed at a Sofitel property before, but I knew it was one of Accor’s luxury brands. And luxury is exactly the type of service I found at the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade in Portugal.

While some of the property’s amenities didn’t impress, the service, the food, and the location definitely did. From arrival to checkout, this was a high-quality stay that matched not just the brand but also its price tag.

Here are 5 things I learned about the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade during a 2-night stay in December 2025.

Booking Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade

Sofitel is a premium brand in the Accor Hotels portfolio, and the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade participates in the ALL – Accor Live Limitless rewards program.

Unlike traditional rewards programs that tell you Hotel A costs 30,000 points per night and that Hotel B costs 40,000 points per night, Accor’s points are worth a fixed rate. Redeeming 1,000 points knocks €20 ($23.50) off your bill.

What many people don’t know is that you don’t have to redeem your ALL Reward points at booking. You can redeem points at checkout, which gives you options for how you book your stay.

While the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade isn’t available for bookings in Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, you can get similar perks by booking through a travel advisor who can book your stay through the Accor Preferred program, which is what I did.

Hot Tip:

You can reach out to UP’s very own Leigh Rowan at leighrowan@upgradedpoints.com, who can help book your upcoming Accor stay and get access to extra perks through the Accor Preferred program.

I paid €480 ($563) for this 2-night stay, which included several perks: a $100 on-property credit, daily breakfast, early check-in, a room upgrade at check-in (subject to availability), complimentary Wi-Fi, and late checkout (subject to availability).

I booked a Luxury Room, the highest room category that wasn’t a suite, hoping my upgrade at check-in would bump me into a suite. Unfortunately, the suites were all full, and I didn’t get upgraded.

Since my ultimate goal was paying with points, before heading to checkout on the last day, I transferred 36,000 Bilt Points from Bilt Rewards to my Accor account (at a 3:2 ratio) and redeemed 24,000 ALL Reward points to cover the bill.

Hot Tip:

Check out our transfer partner calculator to learn which points you can send to Accor, and consult our guide for all the ways to earn ALL Reward points.

Location of Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade

The Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade is in the Principe Real neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. It’s across the street from an entrance to the Avenida station on the blue line for Lisbon’s metro, providing convenient access between the hotel and other parts of the city. Lisbon’s charming old town is just 2 or 3 stops away, depending on which area you’re visiting.

It’s also possible to walk from the hotel to the old town in 15 to 20 minutes, while reaching the hotel from the airport takes 35 to 40 minutes by public transit or 15 to 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

5 Things I Learned About Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade

Here are the 5 most important things you should know about this property.

1. My Guest Room Was Well-Appointed

I booked a Luxury Room, which is 2 steps above the hotel’s standard room. The room wasn’t large, but it didn’t feel small or cramped. The space was utilized well.

The room’s central feature was the king-size Sofitel MY BED, which I found comfortable. The pillows didn’t offer much support, and I only learned after leaving the hotel that there’s a pillow menu. I would’ve loved something different.

Each side of the bed had a lamp, a foldout reading light, and a small nightstand. Each of these held a glass and a bottle of water, while the nightstand closer to the bathroom also had the room service menu, a phone, and a notepad.

A feature I really liked, though, was the light switches and charging points in the headboard, offering both USB-A and USB-C charging.

The hotel’s website says this room has a gold-framed TV, but I only found a standard one across from the bed. A shelf below held a lamp and a sound system, and a round leather seat was nearby. The digital thermostat was easy to use.

Closer to the room’s entrance, there was a minibar. A shelf above the minifridge held a Nespresso machine, along with coffee and tea supplies, mugs, and a kettle. Higher up, I found glasses and snacks for sale, while the minifridge offered multiple drinks for purchase.

There was a sitting area at the far end of the room, offering a desk and chair, plus an armchair with an ottoman. The window overlooked Avenida da Liberdade below and the area between the avenue’s lanes, including steps down to the subway and several benches.

Bathroom

The room’s designers managed to fit a lot into this bathroom without making it feel cramped — though it flirted with that limit. The walkway to the toilet, passing between the sink and the shower, was definitely on the narrow side.

There was a small sink with plenty of black marble countertop space on the right, and a shelf above it offered amenities like a shaving kit, makeup pads, and cotton swabs.

The shower had a glass half door and a fun pinstripe tile pattern, and it was spacious compared to the rest of the bathroom. It offered both rainfall and handheld showerheads, though the controls were far from the rainfall showerhead, requiring me to step out of the water to adjust them.

There were pump bottles of Diptyque products in the shower, and I found a robe on a hook nearby.

At the far end of the bathroom, there was a trash bin near the toilet and a hair dryer, with towels on a rack above. More Diptyque products were provided, including hand soap and a lotion I didn’t care for. The lotion’s strong, powdery scent felt dated — my grandmother would’ve liked it, but I wasn’t a fan.

2. Public Spaces Were Inviting

I found the public areas of this property very welcoming — like they were designed for making yourself at home.

Lobby

There was no hunting for the check-in area here, as both reception and the concierge were immediately inside the hotel’s entrance. There was also a seating area surrounding a false fireplace between the check-in desks.

3. Amenities Ran Small

While the hotel had several amenities for guests, many of them felt tiny.

Gym

The fitness center was hilariously small and decidedly not luxurious, despite this being a luxury hotel. Located on the lower level, the gym was actually split across 2 rooms. While one room had a few pieces of cardio equipment like ellipticals and bikes, the other had some free weights and weight machines.

Kids Area

Under the stairs to the lower level, there was a small children’s area with a play kitchen, a few toys, and a Little Prince sign.

Elevators

There was a bank of 3 elevators opposite the lobby bar, and access to the guest floors required tapping your key card. The back wall of each small elevator featured a full-length mirror. The elevator waiting area on my floor (the eighth) was oddly dim. The digital display didn’t work in any of the elevators.

Meeting

The hotel offered a mix of meeting and event spaces of various sizes, ranging from this meeting room on the lower level to a foyer, a banquet room, and even a ballroom holding up to 300 guests.

4. Food and Beverages Were Top Notch

Matiz Restaurant

The hotel’s main restaurant, Matiz, was on the ground floor and recalled the chic dining of yesteryear with its patterned floors, novel light fixtures, and marble-topped tables.

There was an outside entrance from the street, as well as access via the lobby, and the restaurant had a few outdoor tables — though no one was using them during my December visit.

The dinner menu had clear allergen labels. Across its multiple pages, the menu offered starters like soups, salads, and lobster ravioli. Main dishes included multiple cuts of meat, various seafood dishes, and 2 items in the vegetarian section. Desserts included a chocolate option, ice cream, and more.

I had the spinach and beetroot meatballs, and these were incredible. They were filling, delicious, and left me wanting more. I was also a bit surprised that “Would you like some bread?” when I sat down brought me not only bread but a charge for it at the end — lesson learned.

During breakfast, there was a buffet as well as a menu for ordering à la carte items like omelets, waffles, and yogurt.

The breakfast buffet had an impressive spread across various counters. The pastry selection included muffins, donuts, croissants, and various sweet breads. There was also a large selection of cold cuts. The hot dishes were the same both mornings: sausages, potatoes, and grilled mushrooms.

Along with multiple jams and spreads, there was fresh honey and honeycomb, while a cold case in the corner held plant-based milks, yogurts, fruits, and juices.

Guests could also ask staff to bring juice, coffee, tea, or espresso-based drinks directly to the table.

Inside Matiz, there was a French patisserie offering macarons and cakes for purchase throughout the day, even between meals. Complimentary infused water and flavored iced tea were nearby.

Lobby Bar

At the back of the lobby, Matiz Bar served a full range of drinks. From cocktails and mocktails to coffees and wines, you could get pretty much anything here.

Along with stools at the bar itself, a few steps up at the rear of the lobby led to this piano bar setting with lots of comfortable seating, a large conference table, and even a nook that resembled a home library.

5. Service Was Excellent

I have many good things to say about the staff here. On arrival, I received a warm greeting as a bellhop opened the door, and the reception staff were friendly, asking whether I preferred to check in in English, Portuguese, or French.

Every time I passed through the lobby, someone always said hello, and bellhops regularly asked if I needed help with a taxi, directions, or anything else as I headed out.

Staff members at the restaurant and lobby bar were efficient and welcoming, both at dinner on the first night and during my 2 breakfasts. I also had coffee one afternoon in the piano bar area when I needed to get some work done and didn’t feel like staying in my room.

I was surprised to be charged for bread at dinner, though I probably shouldn’t have assumed it was complimentary. The bread basket was clearly listed as a menu item with a price — something I noticed only after saying yes.

Bottom Line:

Other than a small issue at dinner on the first night, the staff was overall amazing. I felt very welcome at this hotel and received warm greetings from numerous staff members who always seemed ready to offer assistance.

Final Thoughts

While the gym and the kids area were disappointing amenities, much about the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade was great. The bed was comfortable, the location was convenient, the food was great, and the employees were friendly and helpful.

Plus, I was able to book through a travel advisor for extra perks while also using ALL Reward points at checkout — a nice perk of the ALL – Accor Live Limitless program that I should remember to use more often.