Staying at Casa Vellum
The house, floor by floor
Everything in the house that is not a bedroom: the roof, the table downstairs, the cellar with the steam room, and the bicycles by the door. What it is, when it is open and how to use it.
On the roof
The terrace and the pool
The terrace faces south and west and is open every day from 9:00 to 21:00. It is for guests only, so it stays quiet. There are eight loungers, six tables under a pergola of vines, and a plunge pool four metres long and one and a half metres deep.
The pool is open from April to October. We do not heat it beyond what the sun does, which in July is plenty. Towels are on the shelf by the stairs. From June to September a tray of something cold comes up from the bar at half past five.
- Open
- 9:00 to 21:00
- Pool
- April to October
The plunge pool, in the afternoon.
Ground floor
Breakfast, then wine
Breakfast is cooked to order by Marta from 8:00 to 10:30, and until 11:00 at weekends. It is always included. There is bread from the bakery at the bottom of the lane, eggs the way you like them, cheese and cured ham, fruit from the market at Santa Clara, and marmalade from the tree in the courtyard. Tell her the night before for a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free table, or for a tray in your room.
At six the same room becomes a wine bar, open until 23:00. The list is short and comes from small growers in the Douro, the Alentejo and the Setúbal peninsula, with plates of cheese, ham and tinned fish. Guests drink first. Visitors are welcome if there is a table, and the way to be sure is to ask at reception in the morning.
- Breakfast
- 8:00 to 10:30
- Wine bar
- 18:00 to 23:00
An illustrative photograph of a traditional hammam.
The vaulted cellar
The hammam
Under the house there is a vaulted cellar from the 1760s, and in it a steam room lined with marble. It is free for guests. Book a 45 minute slot at reception between 10:00 and 21:00. Up to two guests can share a slot.
We suggest the late afternoon, after a day of walking, with a glass of water and nothing planned for an hour afterwards. Swimwear is worn. Robes and slippers are in your wardrobe.
By the front door
The bicycles
There are six bicycles in the hall, free for guests: four upright city bikes and two with electric assist, which you will want for the hills. Rui will adjust a saddle, lend a lock and a helmet, and draw you a route on the back of a map.
The best ride is east along the river on the flat, six kilometres to the Parque das Nações. The worst is back up to the house from the Baixa, which is why the electric ones are first to go.
House rules
Few, and meant kindly. The house is old and the walls are thin in places.
- Check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00. We keep bags free of charge on either side.
- Quiet hours are 23:00 to 8:00 in the corridors and 21:00 to 9:00 on the terrace.
- No smoking indoors. There is one corner of the terrace for it.
- Visitors are welcome in the breakfast room and the bar, but not in the bedrooms after 22:00.
- Dogs, small and calm, are welcome in the Courtyard rooms only, for 25 euros a night.
- No parties. A birthday dinner for the whole house is a different thing, and we are happy to talk about it.
Getting around the house
A lift serves every floor from the cellar to the third. Only the top floor, where the Attic Studios are, and the roof terrace above it are reached by stairs.
| Room | Floor | Step-free | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcove | First floor | Yes | Reached by the lift from the ground floor. The door is 86 cm wide and the shower has a low tray with a step of 8 cm. |
| Courtyard | Ground floor | Yes | Step-free from the front door by a short ramp. Door width 90 cm. Courtyard room 2 has a roll-in shower with a fold-down seat and grab rails. |
| Tagus View | Second floor | Yes | Reached by the lift from the ground floor. Door width 86 cm. The bath has a wide rim and a hand rail. |
| Terrace Suite | Third floor | Yes | Reached by the lift from the ground floor, which stops on this floor. Door width 90 cm. The step to the terrace is 4 cm, with a small ramp available on request. |
| Attic Studio | Fourth floor, under the roof | No | Not step-free. The lift stops on the third floor and a flight of 18 steps leads to the attic. Ceiling height is 1.9 metres at the edges. |
| The Apartment | Second floor, rear wing | Yes | Reached by the lift from the ground floor. Door width 90 cm throughout. The balcony has a 3 cm threshold. |
The lift
- Stops at the cellar, ground, first, second and third floors.
- Door width 80 cm. Inside, 110 cm wide and 140 cm deep.
- Takes a wheelchair with one companion.
- The front door has a short ramp. The street outside is cobbled and steep.
More in the accessibility statement. To talk through what you need, write to us before you book.
Common questions
If yours is not here, write to us and we will answer within a day.
Booking
How do I book a room?
Choose your dates, guests and a room on the booking page and send a request. There is no payment and no card needed. We read every request the same day, and Inês or Rui will reply by e-mail within a day to confirm or to suggest another room.
When do I pay, and how much?
You pay at the house when you leave, by card or in cash. We do not take a deposit for stays of up to seven nights. The price you are shown includes everything except the city tax, which is 4 euros per guest per night for up to seven nights and is also paid at the house.
Can I cancel or change my dates?
Yes. You can cancel or move your dates free of charge up to seven days before arrival. Between seven days and 48 hours, we charge the first night. After that, we charge the whole stay unless we can fill the room, and then we refund the difference.
Is there a minimum stay?
The minimum is two nights, and three nights in August. At Christmas and in the middle of June, when the city is busiest, we sometimes ask for four, and we will say so when you ask. For one night, write to us and we will do our best.
Arriving
What time can I arrive and leave?
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is by 11:00. If your room is ready earlier, we will put you in it. If you arrive before 15:00, we will keep your bags and bring you a coffee. If you leave after 11:00, we can store your bags until the evening at no cost.
How do I get to the house from the airport?
A taxi from the airport takes 20 to 25 minutes and costs about 18 to 25 euros. Ask the driver for Largo do Chafariz de Dentro, which is two minutes on foot from our door, and Rui will come down to meet you. By metro, take the red line to São Sebastião, change to the blue line, and get off at Santa Apolónia. It is a 12 minute walk uphill.
Is it a problem with heavy luggage?
The last stretch is cobbled and steep, and cars cannot reach our door. A taxi drops you two minutes away. Rui or the night porter will carry your cases, and the lift takes you to the third floor. The only rooms without lift access are the Attic Studios, which have 18 steps from the lift.
The house
Are children welcome?
Yes. The Apartment sleeps four and is the room we suggest for families. Cots and high chairs are free and can be added to any room. The roof terrace is not fenced for toddlers, so we ask that children under 12 are accompanied there.
Can I bring a dog?
Small, calm dogs are welcome in the Courtyard rooms only, for a fee of 25 euros a night. They cannot be left alone in the room. The streets are steep and hot in summer, and the cobbles are hard on paws.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 10:30 in the breakfast room, and until 11:00 at weekends. It is cooked to order and includes bread from the bakery down the lane. Tell Marta the night before if you need a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free breakfast, or if you would like a tray in your room.
How do I use the hammam?
The hammam is in the vaulted cellar and is free for guests. Book a 45 minute slot at reception between 10:00 and 21:00. Up to two guests can share a slot. We suggest the late afternoon, after a day of walking, with a glass of water and nothing planned for an hour afterwards.
Accessibility
Which rooms are step-free?
The four Courtyard rooms are on the ground floor and are step-free from the front door by a short ramp. The lift reaches all floors from the cellar to the third, so the Alcove, Tagus View, Terrace Suite and Apartment rooms are also step-free once you are inside. The Attic Studios are not, because the last 18 steps to the top floor have no lift. Courtyard room 2 has a roll-in shower.