The word “Baroque” derives from the Portuguese word “barroco.” Portugal is renowned for this architectural style and although Lisbon is characterized by its architectural diversity, it’s essentially a baroque city. That’s because most of it was rebuilt following the earthquake of 1755 and now many of its grandest monuments are filled with baroque splendor. The magnificence of many of the city’s interiors is also the result of the discovery of gold in Brazil, giving Lisbon a profusion of golden decorations. Here we present the 10 baroque attractions you should not miss.

Related Posts

1. 10 Great Lisbon Attractions Forgotten by Guidebooks
2. The 5 Best Free Attractions in Lisbon
3. Lisbon’s 10 Most-Visited Attractions

Chiado is Lisbon’s most popular shopping area. While the luxury labels are located in Avenida da Liberdade and the more alternative choices are found in Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real, it is in Chiado that everyone finds their favorite international brands. Next to H&M, Nike, Zara, Levi’s, Foot Locker and other famous names are local business you should check out. Below are the ten best.

A VIDA PORTUGUESA
It’s the shop everyone says you should not miss in Lisbon. Filled with nostalgia, it offers irresistible retro products that make classic Portuguese gifts.

ANA SALAZAR
One of Portugal’s first major fashion designers has her main boutique here, filled with her latest creations in clothing and accessories.

OURIVESARIA ALIANÇA
Even if you have no intentions of buying the silver and gold available here, be sure to visit this shop for the jewel that is the interior. In true Louis XV style, it is one of Lisbon’s most beautiful shops.

BERTRAND
It’s officially the world’s oldest bookstore, as confirmed by a Guinness World Records certificate on a wall. In business since 1732, there are periodicals and English-language books in addition to the latest Portuguese best-sellers.

LUVARIA ULISSES
A probable record holder for “world’s smallest shop”, enter one at a time for a trip to the 1920s and exclusive perfectly-fitted hand-made gloves.

PAPO D’ANJO
It was here that this now-international brand was born. Created by an American, this children’s fashion label is for those looking for quality classic European styles, all beautifully handmade in Lisbon. You can now find it in the world’s biggest department stores, but this is the original shop.

PARIS EM LISBOA
During Portugal’s monarchy days, this shop had the privilege of providing the linen for the royal palace.

VOA
This attractive shop tempts you into buying quality products for the home, almost all “Made in Portugal.” Those include fragrances, textiles and ceramics.

STORYTAILORS
This fairytale of a shop presents the collections of a duo of fashion designers who are arguably the country’s most creative, and the creativity is reflected in the décor of the boutique.

VISTA ALEGRE
There are several Vista Alegre shops around Lisbon, but the Chiado branch is the most beautiful, looking almost like a museum of the famous Portuguese porcelain that has decorated royal palaces in Europe and the White House in the United States.

Related Posts

1. A Lisbon Christmas Shopping List: 10 Shops for Your Gifts
2. 5 New Shops in Lisbon For Your Gifts
3. Lisbon Shopping: The 10 Newest Shops in Bairro Alto

American author Philip Graham has written this post for GoLisbon, sharing his off-the-beaten-path discoveries in Chiado, one of Lisbon’s most visited neighborhoods. His book “The Moon Come to Earth: Dispatches from Lisbon” (a collection of essays narrating the year he lived in Lisbon with his family) is on sale now.

Lisbon, as I’ve said many times to friends and family, will surprise you. Perhaps the best example is that, even in Chiado, one of the most heavily touristed areas in the city, you can still take a short walk a bit off the beaten path that will be filled with pleasant surprises.
Yes, Chiado’s Café a Brasileira, with its outdoor stand of umbrella-ed tables where you can sip and be seen by passing fellow travelers, is a worthy stop. The high-end shops down Rua Garrett deserve window—as well as actual shopping. And there’s nearly always some unusual street performance underway at the Praça Luís de Camões.
But if you’re inclined to make a brief escape from the gravitational pull of the usual tourist attraction, simply walk south from the Largo do Chiado, down the Rua do Alecrim. You’re just a block away from the lovely Largo do Barão de Quintella, a tiny green park centered around the dark marble statue celebrating one of Portugal’s greatest writers, the novelist Eça de Queiroz. He stands (fully clothed) beside the figure of a half naked woman, her arms spread in supplication. She’s meant to represent Truth, and at the base of this statue is a quote from Queiroz, the one that inspired the sculptor:

“Sobre a nudez forte de verdade
A manto diaphano da fantasia,”

which roughly translates into English as:

“Over the hard nakedness of truth
Lies a gauzy veil of fantasy.”

That’s as pithy a description of most people’s daily reality as can be found in literature, and it’s worth pausing to contemplate. You can continue your contemplations as you then make your way to the southeast corner of the park and walk across the street to Sant’anna (95-97 Rua do Alecrim), an excellent shop specializing in Portuguese azulejos. These are traditional colorful tiles, an art form that was originally influenced by the abstract patterned tiles of the Moors, who ruled over much of Portugal in the Middle Ages. The Portuguese versions, however, go much more for representation, the patterns featuring leaves, flowers, fruit, etc. You can also find pottery and dishes at the shop, though the tiles are the main attraction.
But be careful what you buy. Over ten years ago my wife and I purchased a couple boxes of azulejos from Sant’anna, and that initial purchase of about $150 turned into the basis of a very expensive—but satisfying—kitchen renovation.

Other azulejos tell a story, each square tile forming a small part of a larger illustrated drama: battle scenes, depictions of daily life from other centuries, religious miracles, all designed to be displayed in one’s home or on an exterior wall. One might say that Portuguese azulejos were one of the earliest forms of popular graphic art.

Once you’ve explored enough in Sant’anna, simply walk one block east, along the southern edge of the Largo do Barão de Quintella, and you’ll be in sight of BdMania (Rua das Flores, 71), a small shop where you can find another, more contemporary kind of graphic art; this place is stacked with all manner of graphic novels, comics, Japanese manga, you name it. Are you a fan of steam punk? This is the place for you. Each table is packed with an amazing range of merchandise. I once bought for my wife there a French graphic novel about a traveling band of klezmer musicians.
After your extended stint of exploring in these two shops, perhaps it’s time to think about lunch. Keep walking south on the Rua das Flores, in the direction of the Tejo river. You’re looking for Restaurant a Carvoaria (Rua das Flores, 6), but don’t look for a sign, there isn’t one. There isn’t a menu posted outside, either. Just look for the street number—6—and there you are, standing in front of what looks like a hole in the wall. Literally. Just a darkened open doorway beckons you to a not entirely welcoming darkened space. Have no fear, though—take a few steps inside, let your eyes adjust, and then head for the stairs on your left. You’ll enter a much better lit but still cavernous space, chock-a-block with long tables filled with Portuguese business people and workers enjoying their mid-day meal in a restaurant that only serves lunch, within a two-hour window, from noon to a little after 2 o’clock. The food in Carvoaria is simple but satisfying. Go for the seafood, though the chicken dishes are just as succulent. Y’know, the rack of pork is fine too. The house red wine, served in ceramic jars, goes down smoothly—be careful, it will creep up on you. The entire atmosphere is of a happy, noisy family.
But don’t order a dessert or coffee. Save that final course for your last stop on this little tour, the nearby pastelaria Quatro Estações (Praça de São Paulo 17). Simply continue walking south on Rua das Flores, make your first right, onto Rua de São Paulo, and then take your first left. There you’ll find Quatro Estações, located in the middle of the block at the eastern end of the Praça de São Paulo.

Make sure you grab a table near the window facing the praça—from there you’ll have a lovely view of the Church of São Paulo on the other side of the praça. I suggest this pastelaria not because the offerings of dessert or caffeinated beverages or freshly squeezed orange juice is better than any other of the myriad such pastelerias in Lisbon (though they are quite good here); instead I recommend it because of the clientele. The owners are a Brazilian couple that has created in their establishment a welcoming air to all and sundry, and the place is often swinging with an unusual cast of characters. I relaxed there several times during a year I spent in Lisbon, and while lingering over an espresso or the spongy goodness of a bolo de arroz, I could take in the informal rotating house entertainment of a pair of gypsies reading patrons’ palms for hints of the future, ancient veterans selling raffle tickets, and local characters who’d invented their own language or who imagined themselves powerful political figures. Strangers air-kiss other strangers, and for all the odd moments, the pastelaria maintains a mellow, happy mood. This is a real neighborhood gathering place, and as far from a den of tourists as you can get in downtown Lisbon.
Oh, right beside Quatros Estações is a dental clinic, but I doubt you’ll be eating that many sweets at the pastelaria.

Related Posts

1. Pirates in 1924 Lisbon by Author Laurie R. King
2. Lisbon’s Oldest Restaurant is Turning 225 Years Old
3. Lisbon’s Chiado Celebrates Autumn on the Streets

The February issue of Lonely Planet magazine (on sale worldwide) recommends “52 best weekends away.” One of them, in the category of “history and culture” is Sintra. It suggests that readers “take a trip back in time to imperial Portugal,” a place “blessed with palaces, villas and churches” and for more information it recommends the GoLisbon website. So here’s the direct link to our Sintra guide: Sintra, Portugal.

In another section of the magazine, it highlights Lisbon’s historic kiosks that have been recently restored. It says it’s one of the city’s “oldest street-drinking traditions” that has been revived, offering perfumed milk, iced tea, and traditional lemonade, “bringing an element of old-fashioned class” to the “hot” Chiado district.

But Portugal is featured a third time in this issue, in an article titled “10 Easy Trips You Can Book Now.” One of the ten is “the edge of the Old World,” Sagres. It was chosen for being a destination where you can “find a beach away from the crowds,” a place that’s Europe’s most southwestern point and with “Atlantic waves crashing onto the dramatically rugged beaches.” It’s also “a good base for exploring the rest of the Costa Vicentina Natural Park,” it concludes.

Related Posts

1. The “Soulful Streets” of Lisbon, “Europe’s Most Intriguing Capital” on Lonely Planet Magazine
2. Portugal is One of the World’s Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2010, According to Lonely Planet
3. “Virtuoso Life” Magazine Recommends: Portugal’s Algarve for Luxurious Holidays Now

Born in Algarve a few years ago, the Faz Gostos restaurant has moved up to the capital. The new Lisbon space has a beautiful vaulted interior that’s part of a former convent, and features a simple but very elegant décor which includes a wall covered in randomly-arranged 18th-century tiles.
The menu lists traditional Portuguese cuisine given a personal touch and contemporary refinement by the chef, and perhaps best of all is the wine list with over 200 labels (Portuguese and international).
For a pre- or post-dinner drink, there’s the bar which mixes cocktails by the team of Cinco Lounge, one of the city’s best cocktail bars.
It’s open for lunch and dinner, and closes on Sundays and Mondays.

Address: Rua Nova da Trindade, 11 (Chiado)
Telephone: 21 347 22 49
Website: http://www.fazgostoslx.com/

Related Posts

1. Just Opened: Lisbon’s First Raw Food Restaurant – “Stephens Cru Bar”
2. “Pedro e o Lobo”: A New Ambitious and Sophisticated Restaurant in Lisbon
3. “Clara Chiado” – Lisbon’s Newest Gourmet Restaurant

Lisbon has a new seafood restaurant. One that is also a “modern fish market” and sushi bar.
Found in Chiado, it has a contemporary interior where it’s possible to buy fish to prepare at home or have it right there in the dining area.
Everything sold or served is the fresh “catch of the day” from various locations of the Portuguese coast. At the restaurant it is cooked in various ways, but essentially in a traditionally Portuguese style. It is also available uncooked, in the form of sushi.
From Thursday to Saturday, it stays open until 2AM and is also a nightlife destination, allowing you to stay until late with a glass of wine. DJs provide the accompanying sounds on those nights, usually jazz.

Address: Rua do Loreto, 21
Website: http://www.peixariamoderna.com/

Related Posts

1. Just Opened: Lisbon’s First Raw Food Restaurant – “Stephens Cru Bar”
2. Portuguese Sushi? Yes — In Lisbon’s New “Kampai” Restaurant
3. “Clara Chiado” – Lisbon’s Newest Gourmet Restaurant

It’s been sunny and mild here in Lisbon throughout the week, and apparently it will remain so next week. But the rainy days will come sooner or later, and if you happen to be in the city on one of those days, here is where to seek refuge.
These are cafés that could also be destinations themselves, either for their ambience, décor or simply for the food and refreshments they offer.

CULTURA DO CHÁ
Your day will be brightened as soon as you enter, no matter how dark and rainy it is outside. With a colorful interior filled with charming decorations, this is like a grandmother’s tea house but usually filled with young crowds. That’s due to the location in youth-magnet Bairro Alto, but also because everyone enjoys an excellent piece of cake and a good drink.
The cakes are the first temptations you see, and then you’re given a long list of teas to choose from. Because you’re in Portugal, look for the only tea produced in Europe, in Portugal’s Azores, the Gorreana green tea.
Address: Rua das Salgadeiras 38

FÁBULAS
It’s big but cozy thanks to a very charming décor made up of old furnishings. Not much light comes in from outside, so no matter how gloomy it is on the street, here it’s a wonderful escape where you can eat, drink, and spend some time relaxing, perhaps carefully planning your itinerary. It’s found in Chiado, and a metro station is nearby, where an underground train on the blue line can take you to your next destination — perhaps the Gulbenkian Museum.

PORTAS DO SOL
Lisbon’s favorite summertime terrace can also be the place to be on rainy winter days. That’s because there is also a nice interior with large windows that still allow you to look out to the city. Relax as you watch the rain fall over Alfama‘s rooftops and church towers, have a drink and a light meal, and then hop into tram 28 just a few feet away to get to the following attraction on your sightseeing list.

VERSAILLES
This historic café is known for its monumental interior and as a pastry shop offering some of the city’s most sugary confections.
Dating from the 1920s, its name comes from the obvious inspiration for the mirrored walls and stucco ceiling decorations, and is easy to reach on the yellow line of the metro, the best way to get around the city on rainy days.
Address: Avenida da República 15A

POIS CAFÉ
This is one of the favorite cafés in the city to stay sitting with friends, or reading a book and periodicals. It’s found close to the cathedral where tram 28 stops, and it serves daily specials that combine Portuguese and Austrian dishes. It’s also a good place for brunch on a rainy weekend.
The best spots, if you are lucky to find them unoccupied, are the ones with sofas and not the less-comfortable wooden chairs.

Related Posts

1. “Quinoa” – Lisbon’s New 100% Biological Bakery Café
2. “Cruzes Credo” – A New Café in Lisbon for a Sightseeing Break in Alfama
3. Lisbon’s Latest “Tease” – A New Café and Cupcake Shop in Bairro Alto

It’s officially autumn in Europe, but it only gets really cold in Lisbon in December. So, rain or shine, it’s still a wonderful time to walk around the city, and for that reason the Chiado district throws a party every year at this time.
Taking place from the 9th to the 16th of the month, the “Festa no Chiado” is a variety of events and activities which will include special exhibitions in the neighborhood’s galleries and oldest bookstores, outdoor concerts in Praça do Camões and inside São Carlos Theater, and free guided tours of the São Roque Museum and of the Carmo Convent ruins (must be booked in advance to join).
There will also be guided walking tours of the neighborhood which will take participants into the most historical shops and back in time into some of the city’s most historical moments of the last century such as the regicide of 1908.
Everything is free and an excuse to discover little-known or forgotten sides of Lisbon’s favorite neighborhood.
The entire program for each day is found here: Centro Nacional de Cultura

Related Posts

1. Lisbon’s Chiado is Throwing a Party this Week
2. Lisbon’s Chiado is in Fashion
3. Lisbon Was Reborn Ten Years Ago Today: The 10th Anniversary of the New “Armazéns do Chiado”

Because summer in Lisbon lasts until October, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy some of the best spots of the season. Of the many terraces in the city (from outdoor cafés to riverfront restaurants), the ones to seek this summer are high up on the rooftops, offering views, cooler air, drinks, and relaxation after a day of sightseeing, meetings, or work:

SKY BAR

It was one of the most talked-about bars last summer and it’s back this year. The views alone are worth a visit, but then there is also a good variety of cocktails (including a couple of non-alcoholic choices), soups, salads, wraps and noodles. It’s found at the top of the Tivoli Lisboa Hotel and it’s especially recommended late in the afternoon, staying for a light dinner as the sun sets followed by late-night cocktails.

BRASSERIE ROSSIO

It’s one of Lisbon’s newest restaurants in one of the city’s newest hotels (Altis Avenida). So not too many people know that from here there are beautiful views of downtown all the way to the river, standing above Rossio Station and Restauradores Square. Although the dining area is indoors (but still offering views through its glassed walls), tables and chairs have been placed on the terrace so you can enjoy a light meal or simply a drink at any time of the day. And that’s open to everyone, including non-hotel guests.

NH LIBERDADE

Right in the center of Lisbon’s busiest avenue, Avenida da Liberdade, is one of the city’s top secrets. It’s on the top floor of the NH Liberdade Hotel, a terrace with a pool open to non-hotel guests. For 20 euros (quite reasonable for a hotel pool in the city center), you can spend the day diving and swimming surrounded by city views. When you need to regain some energy, there are salads, sandwiches, juices and beer to enjoy poolside until the sun sets.

TERRACE

It’s quite small and all the seats are usually taken when you get there, but it’s worth waiting for a spot at this rooftop bar in the Bairro Alto Hotel. Recommended for the afternoon, the drink to get on the hottest days is the “granizado,” a crushed ice and fruit blend.

ENTRETANTO

Perhaps the best-known of all Lisbon’s rooftop terraces, “Entretanto” of the Hotel do Chiado is nontheless looking to surprise its guests. It’s offering a “happy hour” late in the afternoon which actually lasts for more than 60 minutes, allowing you to enjoy special drinks and snacks at more reasonable prices. To accompany them are fantastic city views, from the castle to the top of the triumphal arch of Comercio Square.

Related Posts

1. Lisbon’s Best Rooftop Bars
2. Sky Bar: A New Chill Out Lounge Overlooking Lisbon This Summer
3. The New Bar On Top of Lisbon

There are many great ice cream shops in Lisbon, but ask anyone which is their favorite and they’ll most likely name one outside the city. That’s Santini in the suburb of Cascais which has been serving tempting Italian ice creams since the late 1940s. But starting today everyone can also find it in the center of Lisbon, in the Chiado district.
It opens its doors at 10AM and unlike the shop in Cascais, it will not close in winter. So from now on there will be Santini ice creams throughout the year and so much more accessible.
What makes these ice creams so special? There are no artificial flavorings (if it says it’s of a certain fruit, it really is) and they’re all made on that same day. For the Lisbon branch there will be new flavors such as ginger and purple passion fruit to add to the cinnamon, green tea, and other old favorites such as raspberry and mango. Another great news is that it will also serve the Best Chocolate Cake in the World which will perhaps become the most popular choice on the colder days. On those winter days it will also likely be accompanied by the Nespresso coffee available.
You can have it all at any time, as doors will only close at midnight every day.

Address: Rua do Carmo, 9

Related Posts

1. From the Beach to the Center of Lisbon: The New “Aqui Há Peixe” Restaurant
2. Coming Soon to Lisbon: A New Cultural Center and Architectural Icon
3. Fabulous “Fabulas” – Lisbon’s New Favorite Cafe