It’s August. That means Europe has packed its sunscreens, shorts and bikinis, and gone down the shore. You will find many shops in Rome, Paris, and here in Lisbon with a sign “Closed for Vacation,” and Lisbon is even more fortunate than those other cities because not only does it usually have better weather, but the beaches are closer (see our Lisbon Beaches guide).But for those wishing to stay in the city, there are places where you can still get that tan and have a refreshing drink while you’re at it. First, we suggest you go lay on the terrace: “O Terraço” (The Terrace) is the name of a café on a street not far from the Castle of St. George overlooking all of downtown Lisbon (Calçada do Marquês de Tancos, 3). Order your drink at the counter, then choose one of its sofas or lounge chairs and wait for your waitress to bring it to you. Then enjoy the view over the city’s cathedral and Comercio Square as the sun hits your face. That’s the closer you’ll get to the beach experience in the city, although with no ocean included.

But if you still like to see water as you catch some rays, head to Meninos do Rio (Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa by Cais do Sodré Station). You won’t have the Atlantic in front of you, but the Tagus River looks just as nice. It serves light meals (and there’s a separate sushi bar too), as you sit on long chairs facing the river. As far as summer cafes in Lisbon go, this has been a favorite every year. It’s also open throughout the year, so even when you catch good sunny weather during the colder months, this is always an option.

Our final suggestion is closer to the center of the city, somewhere between Bairro Alto and Principe Real. That’s Fabrico Infinito (Rua Dom Pedro V, 74), an interior design shop with a café in its backyard. You can recline on a chair by the perfectly cut lawn or sit at a stylish table while you drink or have one of its delicious cakes. There’s no more peaceful café in which to end your afternoon in the city and breathe in some fresh air. Too bad it closes at 7PM, or else it would also be a great spot at night.

Yes, there are many other outdoor cafes in Lisbon. But these are arguably the most relaxing and with enough space to allow an experience closer to beach sunbathing –- and you don’t even have to put up with screaming children throwing sand around you!

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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am and is filed under Activities, Food & Drink, Lisbon General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.