Cláudio Carneiro (1972)

Not just another kiosk in Lisbon, but actually the most romantic one. It’s located in a charming palace from the mid-17th century, and nowadays hosts the public municipal library.

I have been to this palace many times before, mainly for events and receptions in their saloons or poetry recitals. And one thing that I had always noticed was the underused garden. A wonderful space, very historical, with its old Portuguese tiles and peacocks, but normally closed to public.

Now finally it’s open with this gorgeous kiosk. Nice and delicious cakes (I’m still in doubt if the chocolate one was a cake, a mousse or a dream), nice coffee, a terrific atmosphere, surrounded by the palace, Palácio de Galveias, peacocks that dare to join you for coffee, and the vision over Campo Pequeno, and the temple-like headquarter of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, facing the Culturgest entrance.

Also, they provide lovely colourful blankets for the cold days and in case you forgot to bring a book, no problem, they’ve got a basket full of them!

Whenever you are searching for coffee, a beer, cakes, a toast, a rest or just peacock watching, this is the place!

This is a very fancy bar and, incredibly, most of the times that I have been there it was very easy for me and my friends to find a comfortable sofa to sit. I am not a fancy person, but I do love fancy places that make you feel fine.

The bar belongs to the Belem Altis Hotel & Spa and as usual nowadays in Lisbon, the old fashioned and heavy furnished hotel bars are becoming history, and 38º41′ is a proof of it. It’s a very trendy space to relax, with good ambient music and a wonderful and huge view to the Tagus River, as well to the bridge “25 de Abril”.

38º41′ , the name of the bar, are the coordinates of its location, which is between two of the most famous Lisbon landmarks: The Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries. Yes, I always keep my eyes on them from the bar, a perfect luxury!

They have very good cocktails, toasts, and also a book of choices to order, and I am not kidding, it’s really a book. I enjoy going there to watch the sunset having a margarita, or follow the boats sailing along the Tagus river. They have good natural juices and smoothies, since I am not always in the mood of drinking alcohol.

All in all, this is the perfect place, for me, to be with friends or with a book, and a lot of spare time, because, by the river, time really goes slow.

Since I am not Portuguese, I usually would not care about visiting a foreign country association in Lisbon, other than my own (Brazilian). But out of the blue my friends invited me to have lunch in this Cape Verdean restaurant and I accepted, and thank God I did, because only now I found out this treasure in the heart of Lisbon!

The place is located on the top of a commercial building, so if you think you are in the wrong place, that’s exactly where it is. Once leaving the elevator, on the 8th floor, you enter in a wide room, with really nice views over the city.

The place is rather simple, but, believe me, quite packed. So it’s better to make a reservation beforehand, at least on music days. The food is gorgeous and very tasty. The staff is very kind and efficient. Try the famous “Cachupa” (low cooked stew of corn, beans, and meat), or a tempting chicken creole or, like I did, a wonderful onion tuna steak, along with rice and beans.

If you dare, go there on a Tuesday or Thursday, and you will witness good live Cape Verdean music, the famous “Morna“, and a lot of people dancing happily while you have your delicious lunch. I know, sounds very strange, but it’s a perfect unique experience!

Now in the heart of Chiado, with the specific goal of making organic-products reachable for anyone. Everyone knows that there is only one and huge problem with organic products: they are insanely expensive! But Brio supermarket arrived to change the rules, making good organic-products available for much fairer prices.

It feels good to know you are buying a reliable product and helping to increase this kind of market, which I know is the best thing for the environment. It takes from nature without damaging it. I love their huge offer of cereals, where you can fill your bag with the quantity you need. I confess it’s even hard for me to describe everything they sell there, since they always surprise me with the variety of organic-products that exists up to date.

What I can tell you is that Brio, apart from providing organic-products, it is nothing different from an ordinary supermarket. I buy anything I need there, even good imported products. All organic, of course!

Coelho da Rocha is another of my neighborhood’s favorite restaurants. It’s one of those places where tradition wins over changes, but in this case for a good cause: it keeps being the best hunt food restaurant in town.

It’s hard to say which is the best dish. Sometimes I go there only for their fish and shrimp mayonnaise salad, very refreshing during summer time. In winter I would rather go for their partridge or pheasant pie. And sometimes it’s hard not to order their cooked cod, the best one I have ever tried, I swear. Plus, for entrance, they serve us with a buttered toast that is so well done I have to beg them to stop bringing it, otherwise there is never room for more.