A Stay That Felt Truly Personal: Our Time at The Ivens in Lisbon
Some hotels are beautiful. Some are efficient. And then there are stays that feel genuinely thoughtful, the kind that stick with you long after the trip is over. The Ivens Lisbon is an Autograph Collection hotel located in the heart of Lisbon, and our stay there absolutely fell into that last category.
I am loyal to Marriott and have been for years. My wife, on the other hand, is not a fan of hotels that feel the same no matter where you are in the world. That is exactly why the Marriott Autograph Collection works so well for us and has become our go-to for many trips.
Why the Autograph Collection Is the Perfect Middle Ground
The Autograph Collection is made up of independent hotels that keep their own identity while still delivering the consistency, service, and benefits that come with Marriott loyalty. Each property is designed to feel unique to its location, not like a copy and paste of another hotel halfway across the globe.
The Ivens fully embrace that philosophy. From the moment you walk in, it feels distinct, stylish, and rooted in Lisbon. It never once felt like a generic branded hotel, which immediately won my wife over.
According to Marriott, each Autograph Collection property is designed to be “exactly like nothing else,” which perfectly describes how The Ivens feels from the moment you arrive.
Is The Ivens Lisbon Family Friendly?
We were traveling with our son Johnny and had requested a baby bed for the room. While Johnny ultimately decided he wanted nothing to do with it and ended up sleeping with us the entire trip, the baby bed still ended up being one of our favorite details of the stay.
Waiting for him in the crib was a small welcome gift that went above and beyond. Along with a stuffed elephant doll that Johnny instantly fell in love with, the hotel included Le Petit Prince shampoo and soaps just for him. It was a thoughtful and personal touch that made it clear the hotel was paying attention to who their guests were, not just the reservation details.
That elephant made the trip home with us and is now a permanent reminder of Lisbon.
Turndown Service That Never Felt Routine
Almost every night, turndown service came with a surprise waiting in the room. It never felt automated or expected, and each one felt intentionally chosen.
Some of the most memorable moments included:
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One random night with two house-made pastry chocolates that were genuinely incredible
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Our anniversary night, which included a handwritten letter, a chocolate cake, and a bottle of champagne
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Another night with two pastéis de nata from Castro that were absolutely perfect
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New Year’s Eve, when we came back to a full box of goodies that included a bottle of prosecco, a cake, face masks, champagne, and several other treats
It was the kind of attention that makes you feel seen rather than marketed to.
Breakfast at The Rocco and Exceptional Grace Under Pressure
Breakfast each morning was at The Rocco, the hotel’s restaurant, and it was included with our stay. We ate there twice during our visit, and it struck a great balance between variety and quality.
Breakfast consisted of a buffet with all the items you would expect, along with a menu you could order from. The Nutella pancakes were a standout and absolutely delicious, the kind of breakfast that feels indulgent without being over the top.
Unfortunately, one of Johnny’s projectile vomit incidents happened right there at The Rocco. There was a lot of throw-up, and it was one of those moments every parent dreads in public. The team could not have handled it better. They were calm, understanding, and incredibly helpful, never once making us feel uncomfortable or rushed. That level of kindness and professionalism meant a lot in a stressful moment.
When Things Went Wrong and the Staff Delivered
That incident at breakfast was not the only challenge of the trip. At one point, we all came down with food poisoning. Johnny had multiple projectile vomit episodes and blowouts that took out several outfits, including ours.
The hotel’s response was immediate and impressive. They were fast at everything. Someone came up right away to collect clothes that needed to be washed, and the team also helped us track down and secure missing luggage during the same stretch of chaos.
They handled everything calmly and efficiently, which made a difficult situation far easier to deal with.
The Hotel, the Team, and the Mini Bar Surprise
The hotel itself is stunning, with warm tones, thoughtful design, and an atmosphere that feels both elevated and comfortable. The staff matched the space perfectly and were friendly, welcoming, and consistently attentive.
At check-in, we were told to help ourselves to the minibar and that everything in it would be comped except for the vodka and champagne. It was a small gesture, but it immediately set the tone and made the room feel like our own space rather than a tightly controlled hotel environment.
Final Thoughts
The Ivens was more than just a place to stay during our visit to Lisbon. It became part of the experience itself. Between the thoughtful gestures for Johnny, the personalized turndown surprises, the kindness shown during stressful moments, and the overall warmth of the staff, it set a very high bar.
As far as Lisbon hotels go, The Ivens stands out for its warmth, responsiveness, and attention to detail, especially for families traveling with young children.
If you are looking for a hotel that feels personal, distinctive, and genuinely cared for while still offering the reliability of a world-class brand, The Ivens is exactly that. It is the kind of place that reminds you how powerful great hospitality can be when it is done right.
Check out our review of our day trip to Sintra.