Tag: lisbon

A market for every day of the week in Lisbon

©MagdalenaPaluchowska

Markets are a great place to see the real, everyday Lisbon and get a feel of local life. There are numerous markets scattered throughout the city: street markets, some that sell local organic produce and others that offer the best fish and oysters on the Atlantic coast, without forgetting the flea markets that specialise in second-hand items or antiques.
Our selection of top Lisbon markets includes something for everyone and an option for every day of the week.

Monday: Mercado da Ribeira

@Marinawatsonpélaez
When: 10:00 – 00:00 (10:00 – 02:00 on Thursdays and Saturdays).
Where: Avenida 24 de Julho 1200-479 in the Cais do Sodré district.
Insider tip: The restaurant serves the freshest fish in the city.

Tuesday: Feira de Ladra

@marcogilphotography
When: Tuesdays and Saturdays from first thing until 18:00, but it’s better to go in the morning.
Where: Campo de Santa Clara in the Alfama district.
Insider tip: Have a good rummage around to find amazing antiques and second-hand or vintage clothing!

Wednesday: Mercado de Cascais

@mercadovilacascais
When: Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00.
Where: Rua Padre Moisés da Silva in Cascais.
Insider tip: Check out the incredibly fresh fish and locally-grown fruit and veg.

Thursday: Farmers’ Market

©MagdalenaPaluchowska
When: Every day from 07:00 – 14:00.
Where: Rua da Atalaia in the Bairro Alto district.
Insider tip: Get a good look at local life!

Friday: Mercado de Campo de Ourique

@voyagealisbonne
When: 10:00 – 23:00 or 10:00 – 01:00, depending on the day.
Where: Rua Coelho da Rocha.
Insider tip: Do NOT miss the oysters!

Saturday: Mercado biológico do Príncipe Real (organic farmers’ market)

@timeout
When: Saturdays 09:00 – 15:00.
Where: Jardim França Borges park, aka Jardim do Príncipe Real.
Insider tip: Look out for the breads made with different types of flour – simply delicious!

Sunday: LX Market

@kimoji84
When: Sundays 10:00 – 18:00 (winter); 11:00 – 20:00 (summer).
Where: Rua Rodrigues de Faria (at the LX Factory).
Insider tip: Grab yourself one of the local hand-crafted products as a souvenir.

After-work drinks with views in Lisboa

@topolisboa

We know that every day on a business trip counts for two days’ work at home, which is why you will probably feel like winding down with a relaxing drink at the end of the day to help you recharge your batteries for whatever tomorrow may bring.

As you don’t have the time to enjoy a gentle wander around Lisbon, we have selected five rooftop bars that we are convinced will quickly help you to start feeling human again as you admire the best views over the city and at least get a panoramic idea of its charms.

Sky Bar

This cocktail bar near Avenida metro station plays great music and sweeping views over the river, the Castelo de São Jorge and the city centre.


@skybarlisboa

Park

Opposite the 25 de Abril bridge in the Bairro Alto neighbourhood is this bar in a rooftop garden on the sixth floor of a car park. A DJ provides the soundtrack to the spectacular views.


@parklisboa

Topo

It’s hard to know what this place’s most striking selling point is: the views of Castelo de São Jorge and the Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa lift), their delicious petiscos (tapas) or the sunset…

We think your best bet is to enjoy them all at once!


@topolisboa

Bar terraço Santa Luzia

Here you’ll feel as though you are taking a stroll over the rooftops of Lisbon. It is nestled away in a corner of a park beside the Portas do Sol lookout point but never gets as busy!


@barterracosantaluzia

Memmo Alfama

Discover the delights of the Alfama district from way up above!
Sink into the eye-catching red chairs or lounge beside the matching pool!


@daisyloved

After a hard day’s work and a little time to get your breath back in one of these bars with such great views, head to the Gat Rossio hotel, where our 5-star beds are ready to offer you the perfect night’s sleep so that you can be on your best form again tomorrow.

Vegetarian Lisbon

@nesuxi at PSI

According to HappyCow, an online directory of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and health food stores, Lisbon is Europe’s second most veg-friendly city. Their survey of European countries has revealed that the Portuguese capital comes second only to Amsterdam in terms of how easy it is to find dining options for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians.

To make it easier for you to find just what you’re looking for, we have compiled our very own selection of plant-based restaurants that offer mouth-watering dinners, freshly-pressed juices, and delicious brunches, along with a little vegan secret…shhh!

The Food Temple transforms eating into a pleasurable experience that is bursting with colours and flavours – even more so if you make your meal a picnic on the stairs in the square outside during the warmer weather.


@lisboa.come

Make sure you leave room for dessert at Ao 26 Vegan Food Project!
It would be a crime to leave without trying this avocado lime cheesecake.

@soyvegana_jenny

Fragoleto has a little secret: their salted caramel, vanilla and hazelnut and chocolate ice creams are vegan-friendly, too!

@fragoleto

Treat yourself to a weekend brunch at Aloha Café
Their cuisine is influenced by macrobiotic nutrition, their bread is organic and all their desserts are sugar-free!

@Alohacafebio

Order a freshly-pressed fruit juice at the House of Wonders
and enjoy it on the best terrace in Cascais.

@house_of_wonders

In addition to the great choice of plant-based eateries in the city, many of the organic supermarkets – such as Miosótis or Purobio – have small cafés where they also serve food.

If you are looking for fresh, organic fruit and veg during your stay, take your pick between these municipal markets: Mercado da Ribeira, Mercado Biológico do Príncipe Real or Mercado de Campo de Ourique.

Don’t forget that Hotel Gat Rossio serves exquisite, freshly-squeezed fruit juices, too, so make your way down to the heart of the city and enjoy one on our exclusive terrace in the Baixa neighbourhood!

In the mood for colours – Berlin & Lisbon

The Hotel Gat Rossio presents the exhibition “In the mood for colours: Berlin & Lisbon”, work of Brazilian photographer Maria von Staa, which will run from 4th May through 29th June.

“Berlin brought me the consciousness of space, architecture and dimension. Lisbon made me get closer and focus on small fragments. I like to document unique moments of light, patterns and shadows that happen by chance. The subject could be texture, color or shape”. Behind these words of Maria von Staa, hides the intention of this exhibition that portrays how “beautiful and colorful the randomness of our everyday life can be”. The pictures are of Berlin and Lisbon, the two homes of the artist. 

The exhibit’s opening took place on Friday, 4 May 2018, at 18h30 at Hotel Gat Rossio (R. do Jardim do Regedor, 27).

    

6 enchanting bookshops in Lisbon

@madsweets19

Portugal is a land of brilliant writers such as Lisbon-born Fernando de Pessoa and Luís de Camões, José Saramago, native of Alentejo, and José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, who was born in the Greater Porto region.

The nation’s capital, Lisbon, treasures and guards their literary masterpieces in a huge variety of bookshops ‒ some are tiny and quaint, some large and well-stocked, some ancient and others modern. We have selected six of the city’s bookstores that have a unique attraction and seduce window-shoppers and serious book-lovers alike.

Portugal’s oldest bookshop

@saracabido

Located on Rua Garrett in the Chiado district, the Livraria Bertrand first opened its doors in 1732 and is renowned for being the oldest bookshop in the country. Over the years, its shelves have witnessed great discussions on politics and literature between intellectuals who sought to change the world.

A 117-year old book club

@bedsidebookclub

The 19th-century Livraria Ferin is also in Chiado. This old-style establishment is ideal for taking refuge from the bustling local streets while you select a book and enjoy a coffee in what used to be a crypt on the ground floor.

The tiniest bookshop of all

©HugoAmaral

Nestled at the foot of the Escadinhas de São Cristóvão (steps to Saint Christopher) in the traditional Mouraria neighbourhood, is a bookshop the size of a shoe cupboard. This bibliophile heaven is a hole in the wall called Livraria de Simão and is named after the bookseller, who you will inevitably bump into during your visit.

The captivating smell of old books

@acidadenapontadosdedos

Rua do Alecrim, in the Chiado district, is home to the Campos Trindade and João Trindade second-hand bookshops, which battle to safeguard relics of Portuguese literature against being lost or forgotten. Stepping through the door is like a journey back in time.

Where bicycles and books take flight

@nunosantosmonteiro

Ler Devagar (read slowly) is located within LX Factory, Lisbon’s creative mini-city set inside an old industrial complex. It invites visitors to read and relax in a creative haven among floor-to-ceiling books and eclectic artistic installations such as a flying bicycle. Cultural magazine Flavorwire has named it as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world.

After a busy day browsing through some of the literary gems held in Lisbon’s enchanting assortment of bookshops, make your way back to the Baixa neighbourhood in the heart of the city, where the Gat Rossio hotel is waiting to help you take the weight off your feet and enjoy a fabulous night’s rest.

5 Activities To Do With Kids In Lisbon

Are you planning a family trip but can’t decide where to go? Lisbon is the ideal destination for a city break with kids!

With its mild climate, large parks and green spaces, fascinating variety of neighbourhoods and superb selection of bars and restaurants, it also offers a number of cultural activities that are great fun for the whole family. Take a look at our recommendations for child-friendly options in the city of the seven hills and see for yourself why family holidays in Lisbon are unforgettable!

 

Oceanário de Lisboa

The Lisbon Oceanarium is considered the largest in Europe. Its gigantic main tank houses a breathtaking variety of marine creatures, including sharks, rays, penguins and jellyfish and there are four huge viewing windows for the kids to watch them as they swim by.

Photo: @pedroapina

 

Museu de Marinha

Lisbon’s world-famous Maritime Museum is located in the bustling neighbourhood of Belém and takes the whole family back in time. It’s a great place for the kids to learn more about Portugal’s seafaring history and the exploration and discoveries that changed western civilisation forever.

Photo: @jennyh_33

 

Pastéis de Belém

Another unmissable stop on your adventures around the city, especially if you’re travelling with kids, is the Belém neighbourhood and the emblematic Pastéis de Belém bakery. The recipe for its world-famous custard tarts was devised at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Heironymite Monastery). When it closed, the bakery began producing these delicacies that have gradually become known and loved everywhere.

Photo: @pasteisbelem

 

Tram 28

Lisbon’s iconic Tram 28 travels up some of Lisbon’s steepest cobblestoned streets towards the Barrio de Graça.  The kids will love riding on this yellow gem from bygone days as it clatters through the old town.

Photo: @dlanciones

 

Parque Eduardo VII and Parque Florestal de Monsanto

Eduardo VII Park is a fantastic place to have a rest during an intense day of sightseeing in the city. This oasis was named after King Edward VII of England, who visited Lisbon in 1903. Another highly recommended place to recharge the family’s batteries is the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, a large protected forest where visitors go to enjoy outdoor sports such as riding bicycles, hiking or even climbing.

Photo: @loretarocha

 

The cover image is from Wikimedia Commons.