The perfect place to celebrate your friendship
Why Lisbon? Because it has everything you are looking for: a gastronomic level of first, unforgettable rides, unique shops , a vibrant nightlife, some of the most innovative hotels on the continent and, above all, some neighbors absolutely lovely yes But you had already heard of Portuguese hospitality, right? We talk about the rest:
WHERE TO GO
That nostalgic and charmingly careless air of Lisbon, one of the most soulful European cities left , requires quiet and long walks to be breathed. In its old town, thank goodness, franchises haven't flooded it all yet -they have been limited to the most commercial areas-, and in fact, the most deeply tourist areas are not that many. Therefore, letting ourselves be carried through the hills of the center, it's so easy to blend in with parents taking their daughters to the ballet , with those who leave work and go to buy bread, with the neighbors who stop to talk in doorways.
Don't resist the viewpoints...
Alfama, the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon -it is the only one that did not perish under the famous earthquake of 1755, which brought down the entire city-, it will serve you for these expeditions, enchanting you with its small town air and its narrow streets . It is located opposite Bairro Alto, another charismatic neighborhood where get lost among bars and restaurants , many of which have been historical meeting points for the Portuguese intelligentsia . Stop at its viewpoints: they deserve it, even if they are crowded with travelers.
Madragoa , a costumbrista popular neighborhood that goes to the river and that hides in its entrails stories of sailors and brothels , also worth a walk. Walk under your yellow, green and red garlands , memory of the patron saint festivities of the city. During them, the streets are invaded by hundreds of people in search of revelry, and by a characteristic smell of roasted sardines and basil.
Get off the map and let yourself go!
Chiado, romantic, bourgeois and commercial, still keep some essence Bohemia, that becomes true in their bookstores and shops of another time . "Chiado, girls forever young, goldsmiths, teas and booksellers", said the poet Fernanda de Castro when there were no multinationals in its streets , before the neighborhood received a pritzker prize for its reconstruction after the 1988 fire.
All these areas are covered tram line number 28 , and one cannot leave Lisbon without getting on his most iconic transport. However, as we said, we recommend getting carried away by the landscape of colorful houses; the Star Garden, one of the most beautiful in the city, It will serve to clear you of so much cement when your legs are tired from climbing slopes.
Lisbon and its trams, or how to live in a postcard
WHERE TO EAT
There is an essential stop to taste the contemporary Lisbon spirit at a good price: the Ribeira Market , now dubbed Time Out . There, at very long tables at which to sit side by side with both tourists and locals , can be tested reimagined portuguese classics , like the francesinha with tuna fillet, or savor the purest tradition in positions such as the Conserveira de Lisboa. It is also worth stopping at one of the five food corners of renowned Lisbon chefs , such as Henrique Sá Pessoa or Miguel Castro e Silva.
In De Castro you can also have a feast for the senses: try their tasting menu , an experience for a more than adequate cost. And if what you want is give you a real tribute and try Portuguese cuisine with a new twist , also stop at the Myriad Hotel . There, practically stuck in the river, awaits you a luxurious dinner by award-winning chef Frederic Breitenbucher in an avant-garde and original environment designed by the famous firm Nuno Leonidas.
In the Time Out Market there are stalls with and without kitchens, and even an academy of chefs
WHERE TO SLEEP
This one is easy: at the Evolution Hotel. And we don't say it because we know that in it you will find all the comfort and sophistication of a four star hotel -with more than reasonable prices-, but it is the hotel to be in. A must. A statement of intent with which you proudly state that You have tasted everything that the 21st century has to offer.
Let's see: you can do self check in for the whole day thanks to a kind of "automatic teller machines" that issue you the key of the room once you enter your data. In addition, they offer you an app very complete with which to know everything that happens in the city -even what to see and how to get to each place-, as well as being useful for even control the temperature and lights in the room!
And now, we are going to tell you about one of the attributes that we adore the most: they have a spa with spectacular views on the top floor... which is open 24 hours! I mean, imagine arriving after a night of "today we go to bed early, tomorrow we have to get up early" (we all know how that ends), grab you a cocktail ("the last one", you promise yourself), take it to the pool and reminisce about the night with your best friends (oh yeah).
...That, of course, if you manage not to get entangled in some of the parties that take place on the first floors . There they even have one dj platform , in addition to two bars continuously on fire -in one they even offer food, also day and night- and some pijaditas that you will fall in love with. We speak, for example, of the Sonic Chair, an ergonomic armchair created for you to fully immerse yourself in the music, or even the macs which you can have at your whim in the lounge. you want to touch everything , even the giant arm that supports one of the parts of the building. Yes, here everything is an experience , and we love that!
Views from the sauna at the Evolution Hotel
WHERE TO BUY
Lisbon is a small capital, but even so, it offers multiple very original shopping possibilities. Of course, there are the shopping centers and the most touristic streets, with the brands that we all hope to see - stroll Via Augusta or Chiado to enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of its kind - but, as we said, Lisbon still offers the opportunity to flourish those unique little shops that give a city its true and irreplaceable personality.
To meet them, lose yourself for Bairro Alto , where you will find wonders such as the furniture store Atelier Autentico or Irmãos Marques Office, with its strong scent of men's perfume. Another little street that is winning a place among the coolest in the city , with several designer workshops of all kinds, is the Rua da Boavista . Its surroundings also keep some interesting secrets, such as ** O Salão and its magic lamps.**
But if we talk about cool places, nothing better than spending a morning in LX Factory, the most modern shopping, bar and restaurant area in Lisbon -and nothing traveled by tourists-. On the remains of this abandoned factory converted under the influence of young Portuguese entrepreneurs you will find several samples of urban art - the surroundings of the center are, practically, a Outdoor museum - and stores as innovative as Boox , the first company dedicated solely to create furniture to display books and magazines , Kare , an eye-catching decoration shop or NAE, an establishment that sells vegan shoes . However, the offer is very long and the stop is essential: The best thing is that you go without a watch.
A corner of the always surprising LX Factory
If you are into markets, in addition, you also have two more than recommended possibilities. On the one hand, the Feira da Ladra or Thief's Market (what better name?), a flea market with everything you can expect from a flea market **(kitsch decor, vinyl, books, old cameras and little treasures)**. It has a touch of London Portobello, and is organized on Tuesdays and Saturdays until 4:00 p.m. or so.
On the other hand, you have Principe Real flea market , a totally different experience: in this there are no objects, but vegetables and fruits, artisan bread, sweets and pastries, wines, oils and cheeses, all from the ecological agriculture . What better way to catch him the true taste of Portugal ?
Lastly, to get original souvenirs you can go to the store Baixa Tourist Information Office , which has a balanced combination of craftsmanship, originality and tradition. If what you want is to take something to snack on the return trip, ** Pimenta Rosa ** may be a good idea (although there are dozens of shops of this type, each one more friendly). And if you are one of those who prefer to give the typical "I was in Lisbon and I remembered you" t-shirt , head over to ** Typographia ** and turn the concept around in an original way.
Pimenta Rosa is ideal for buying souvenirs and delicatessen
WHERE TO GO
First of all, promise us that you are going to try the light and very tasty ginjinha , a typical cherry liqueur from the area. Once we agree on this - and that you have to drink at least a glass of vinho verde and another of muscatel -, we can reveal the secrets of the Lisbon night, always effervescent.
The Bairro Alto will be your best ally : here, the march is such that shops open in the afternoon and don't close until dawn . Between Street of Alecrim and the one in São Paulo, there are countless bars with interesting proposals, such as the ** Pensão Amor , an old hotel** whose rooms were rented by the hour to prostitutes and sailors. Today, converted into multidisciplinary space , houses an erotic bookstore, a sexy underwear store, a hairdresser who cuts the hair of "students, sailors and strollers" and an artistic bar, where you can find everything from jazz performances to poetry readings.
Sexy, sexy, sexy!
In fact, if you like that bohemian and cultural roll, also stop by ** Clube Royale **, a restaurant that is at the same time a bar, theater, concert hall... anything that combines good food, good drink and lots of fun. Don't forget to stop by too! LX Factory, which even houses concert halls ! And if what you prefer is to give everything and remember nothing the next day , the river bank is your place. There, in the Rua da Cintura do Porto in Lisbon , is where the biggest and most brutal nightclubs in the city are concentrated.
You are going to miss the city even before you have taken the plane...
...And up to here we can read. We have given you many clues to take advantage of this intoxicating city of water and melancholy, but, we repeat: the best is melt aimlessly through its streets, mingle with the locals (they are one of the Lisbon's best attributes ) and let them guide you through their customs, their dishes, their broths, for the endless nights of your city, always ready to embrace -and surprise- to those who visit it.
You will end up exhausted, but it will have been worth it