- Lifestyle -
Your Home Away from Home
Ando Living: Community-centric living and local experience for the international traveler.
In a world where borders and cultures mix, Ando Living bridges the gap between global citizens and local communities by offering them a chance to immerse themselves in the authentic lifestyle of each city they visit.
Earlier this month, we sat down with Charlotte Lecarpentier (Ando Living’s Head of Marketing), who unveiled a bit more about the project. “The idea is to create a community of travelers and locals alike”, she started by saying.
Born and based out of Lisbon, Ando Living offers a collection of lifestyle serviced-apartments in some of Europe’s most vibrant cities, including Lisbon, Porto, and Istanbul and soon to be many others. Always located in prime locations across the city, the apartments are designed for the modern traveler. No two apartments are the same, though all are decorated with earthy tones, furnished with the latest amenities and have personalized artwork on their walls. “The homes are always very soulful”, Charlotte adds.
“We always respect the architecture of the city we’re building in. We want to honour the cities’ history and heritage”
The team believes in the connection with the local community, and honoring local heritage. That’s why all their projects respect the traditional local architecture and promote local suppliers. The idea isn’t to build something that disrupts the surroundings; it is rather to blend with it. The project focuses on taking travelers on a local journey, they work mainly with regional companies – the toiletries in the Lisbon homes are from Oliófora (made with essential oils, there no parabens or sulfates). You can also experience a taste of the city before you’ve even left the apartment’s four walls in their welcome hamper, with Portuguese wine, and Queijadas de Sintra.
Hospitality and the art of welcoming is what drives the Ando Living team: “Once you go in one of our homes, there’s a welcome letter with our suggestions on where to eat, what to visit, where to shop”, Charlotte says. They believe personalization and guest care are key – and we couldn’t agree more.
You’ll be happy to know the apartments come in different sizes too. From romantic hideaways to larger apartments fitting up to six people, Ando Living is the perfect choice for everyone, really: solo travelers, couples, families, and even groups of friends.
“We want our guests to live like locals, for them to experience the local way of life and to connect with people alike”
But Ando Living doesn’t only provide you with an apartment to stay – they offer lifestyle-serviced apartments connecting a community of travelers and locals alike organized around clubhouses.
Clubhouses will become the centerpiece of the Ando Living community, connecting residents and guests to the local community and the lifestyle of each city. In addition to apartments, these buildings will offer a range of amenities, including restaurants with local chefs, bars and, take-away, concept stores, gyms with pools and spas, co-working spaces, rooms that can be booked for private events, and concierge services that show clients all the best the city has to offer.
There are now seven Houses in Lisbon, two in Porto, and one in Istanbul. The first worldwide Clubhouse of Ando Living, “Ando Living Liberdade Clubhouse” will open in Lisbon next year (currently under construction).
If you’re too impatient like us, to see what the clubhouses have to offer, their club on Herculano is already operational and gives you a taste of what the rest will be like. It currently welcomes residing guests to join the wine tasting they organize every first Thursday of the month. Creating a strong community is one of Ando Living’s pillars – they host frequent gatherings and events at the Clubhouse, from art exhibitions to small performances, and networking sessions.
They have recently started making the space available for private use, it boasts incredible views of the city in a very well-designed yet welcoming space. It is the perfect spot to host your own or your company’s event – it’s located in the city center and offers countless amenities that will certainly thrill your guests. The experienced and caring Ando Living team can take care of everything, they have carefully selected catering services on speed dial to bring forth different foods, from fresh fruit platters to tartar steak, wine, cocktails, and much, much more. The good news is that renting the Clubhouse isn’t just open for Ando Living guests; as of recently anyone can do so, so tell your friends and business partners about it!
Ando Living has an astonishing collection of 700 operating or under-development serviced apartments operating in different cities including Lisbon, Porto, and Istanbul. The idea is to keep expanding throughout cosmopolitan cities in Europe – houses in Madrid, Paris, London, and Athens are already under development – and become the leader in the lifestyle serviced apartments segment of the market.
“Someone staying at one of our Lisbon homes will most likely want to stay with Ando Living in Madrid [opening soon] the next time they are in the Spanish city”, the Head of Marketing adds. With an impressive guest satisfaction rate of 85%, it's no surprise that many continue to book with Ando Living after their initial experience."
“With an impressive guest satisfaction rate of 85%, it's no surprise that many continue to book with Ando Living after their initial experience."
Experiencing a stay at one of their serviced apartments isn’t just about leaving your suitcase and having a good night’s sleep; it’s about actually living an experience made of people and heritage. There are currently 10 houses in Lisbon, Porto, and Istanbul. Soon, you can expect Ando Living homes in Madrid, and London, so keep an eye out on their website to keep track of their upcoming launches!