Tucked away inside a typical Lisbon townhouse, this cute and characterful space is a delightful surprise. With a wooden Pombaline frame that transforms the communal area into a library, this home is an excellent option for an avid reader – the outdoor balcony will win over the rest with gorgeous views of the nearby botanical garden. While most visitors flock to the likes of Alfama and Bairro Alto, this stunning apartment is located in the heart of Principe Real. Admittedly, it's further away from the historical city centre, but its pastel-coloured mansion apartments and wide boulevards provide it with a charm all of its own. You'll find the enchanting ten-acre Jardim Botânico de Lisboa and the lush Jardim do Príncipe Real within a five-minute walk. While your capable kitchen can handle anything you can throw at/over it, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to local eateries – it's a veritable foodie heaven. Choose to chow down at A Cevicheria, where you can indulge in a light and zesty menu of citrus-cured fish and mouth-puckering pisco sours. Alternatively, Atalho Real plates up melt-in-the-mouth meat in a relaxed environment. Once you've eaten your fill, there's a tempting choice of local bars where you can keep the party going – Pavilhão Chinês serves imaginative long drinks in an old grocery store packed with flea market finds and bric-a-brac. At the same time, cult favourite Foxtrot might be reminiscent of a good old British pub, but the creative cocktail menu promises so much more. Home truths: * There are eighty steps to this fifth floor home – those with limited mobility or heavy luggage take note * The plants in this home are real – if you're staying for long periods of time, the host will ask you to water them * Only the communal area has an air conditioning unit *Child-friendly amenities such as a cot and highchair are available upon request