Image by erik lassche

4 exposition rooms, 2 bookstores, 3 shops, a bar, a restaurant, a terrace…. all this is Fábrica Braço de Prata. And I think I still forgot half of it.

This cultural venue is located on the former location of an armaments factory. Swords to ploughs one may say! It’s a bit out of the way (located near the docks, between Santa Apolónia and Expo) and not that known actually.

It’s a very accessible and fun way to sniff some culture. The crowd is young and dynamic. Due to the variety of rooms and bars, there is always something interesting going on. From time to time (in the warm months) there’s a tent outside for concerts.

Listen to a Bossa Nova concerts, see an exposition or just have a drink. Check out the agenda online!

There is also a nice bookstore inside the building.

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Fábrica Braço de Prata | Art & culture, Bars, Music | everything € 5.00
Rua da Fábrica de Material de Guerra | Riverside | +351967435743
Ticket office: Wed – Sat 20:00 – 02:00, Sun 16:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Erik Lassche

Portuguese love their tiles, or Azulejos as they call them! And they should, since they are beautiful and represent a rich multicultural past. So, after you have probably visited the Azulejo museum, you are now ready to some yourself before flying back home. You have come to the right place.

I don’t really like to write about “tile stores” in Portugal, since most of them are a bit cheesy. But this one is the real thing. It opened pretty recently, but it looks already 500 years old, which, in the case of Azulejos, is a good thing.

They primarily sell antique tiles (so don’t ask for an azulejo with “Cristiano Ronaldo” written on it please) and are also in the business of restauration of azulejos.

Prices range from “I can afford that” to “this is going to be a very expensive bathroom”.

Have a look, it is smack in the middle of Chiado and who knows, maybe you will bring a bit of Portugal back home.

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d’Orey & Cardoso | Art & culture, Shopping
Rua do Alecrim, nº68 | Chiado & Baixa | +351912948961
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Erik Lassche

I love this place! It is “hidden” at the top floor of the Benetton shop at the beginning of Rua Garrett. Fabrica is the Benetton Group international communications research center (I had to llok it up as well!). This space has an ever-changing variety of design objects, both useful and useless, but always interesting. It displays work of Portuguese artists (as for instance JIMMY styleshop does) and international works. All items are for sale, ofcourse.

Besides this “shop”, half of the space is dedicated to temporary exhibitions. This means that you will always find something new and interesting when you visit (especially compared with Benetton clothes, but that’s a personal opinion).

If you are not one convinced yet: you can step out on one of the small balconies and have a bird’s-eye view of Rua Garrett.

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Fabrica @ Benetton | Art & culture, Shopping
4º andar, Rua Garrett, 83 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213556764
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 08:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Alvalade quarter was planned in the 40′s and even nowadays it’s surprising that this urbanism example is not more valued in other new cities. It’s an ideal form of urbanism with small three floor buildings – all yellow or pink – with simple, functional architecture, large sidewalks, gardens and magnificent avenues. It’s still my favorite place to live. Here, everyone has their own small garden and friendly neighbors still talk to each other. I have friends since school days.

Alvalade is still a good and peaceful place to live well. The quarter is surrounded by famous buildings like the Cinema Alvalade and old pubs like Grog (check the Grog article), parks and small shops. These places are open and working since my childhood. Here the portuguese punk movement also started, giving birth to bands such as Censurados and Tara Perdida. You can sing “Sheena is… a punk rocker!”

The Igreja Avenue is a good place to start the day, shopping or just strolling along the main streets, enjoying the crowded and noisy marketplace where you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits. Try the quiet atmosphere of small cosy and charming places like Tin Tin at Roma Avenue and Ó Chá near Igreja Avenue (check the Tin Tin and Ó Chá articles). Roma Avenue is also good place to take a long walk and if you get starving, go straight to the original Frutalmeidas small grocery (check the Frutalmeidas article) for the best traditional portuguese pastry – “Pastéis de Massa Tenra”.

It’s central neighborhood with nice people, good transport, schools, gardens and shops… sounds like I’m a real state agent… I did mention you can hear planes landing?

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Bairro de Alvalade | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping
Avenida da Igreja | Avenidas
09:00 – 20:00 daily (depending on location)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Created in 1948, the Portuguese Cinematheque is working since than as an institution dedicated to preservation and promotion of Cinema. Inside the building there’s a small cinema, an archive, a bookstore, a library, a cosy restaurant and the Film Museum. The place is located in a 19th century well preserved building in Art Nouveau style with an impressive Neo-Mudejár atrium, right next to Liberdade Avenue in central Lisbon. It’s a great place to go for a good “night at the movies” and also a pleasant place for a coffee or a snack – don’t miss the open-air terrace if you go there on a sunny afternoon!

The museum is divided into 3 rooms: The Cupid Room, the Oak Room and the 6×2 Room. Here you’ll find relics that tell the story of Cinema from magic lanterns to Lumiére projectors or other cinematographic objects like film reels, books and photographs.

If you love a good old story, check your favorite director’s tribute at these cosy small cinema. Sessions start in the afternoon – the so called Matinés - at 15:30h screening movies from great directors: Ford, Bergman, Polansky, De Sicca, Vidor and Ridley Scott. There are also retrospectives of the most acclaimed film directors and actors.

Here, there’s only a short list of Hollywood movies. European, Experimental and Author Cinema can be hard to follow sometimes, but forget blockbusters for a day and give these guys some credit… You won’t be sorry. And… cut!

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Cinemateca | Art & culture, Cinemas, Snacks | Cinema Ticket € 3.00
Rua Barata Salgueiro, 39 | Liberdade | +351213596200
Mon – Sat 14:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Located 1667 Km from Lisbon in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – you could say – in the middle of nowhere, the Azores Islands are still a paradise on earth. It is told that for every man, there’s two cows. So, the beautiful nine volcanic islands produce milk and cheese in large quantities. Azores Islands are one of the best destinations for trekking, whale watching and diving. It’s also a good place to chill out and enjoy a peaceful break, and, for food lovers like me… it’s a place of exile. Unfortunately, flights are outrageous and one must choose the best dates to avoid overpriced tickets.

Open since 2009, Loja Açores brings a little bit of Azores to the continent. From the traditional cakes and “Mulata” cookies to some fruits like the small pineapples, vegetables like yam, tea (the only place in Europe producing it), licours, wines, beer, jams, yogurts and the famous Saint George cheese. I love to eat, and, if you’re staying at a place where you could cook, buy some milk, jam, bread, cheese and “Massa de Pimenta” (red chilly sauce) for your breakfast - I know you’ll come back for more.

I use to go there after work, to buy the traditional “Bolo Lêvedo” bread for my breakfast the morning after – Try it toasted with butter or jam…yummy! The place usually has some other things to offer such as newspapers, books, handycraft, and all the products you can buy locally. This is a good place to buy a different souvenir, it’s a supermarket disguised as a tourism office… and it works!

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Loja Açores | Art & culture, Shopping, Snacks | Mulata Cookies € 3.15
Rua Elias Garcia, 57 | Avenidas
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Belenenses football club (founded in 1919), now in the second division, was one of the strongest Portuguese teams until the 80′s. Winning several cups in sports such as football, rugby, handball, basketball and athletics. Now, despite the team poor results, old “Restelo” stadium still remains one of the best in Portugal to enjoy our national sport – Football. 

Although low attendances and sometimes home defeats, besides Benfica and Sporting - the major teams from Lisbon - At Restelo Stadium you will enjoy the authentic football passion. Belenenses will be always my favorite football club despite recent history.

I used to go there every Sunday afternoon with my grandfather, watching my idols playing while eating “Pastéis de Belém” (check the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém article), showing my blue flag and jumping out of my chair when a goal was scored. There I learn also how to swear – some words you just won’t learn from language courses. I could never forget the noise from the crowd: The applause, the whistles…

I believe that Restelo is the prettiest stadium I have ever seen: The atmosphere is authentic, the view is breathtaking: The Tagus river, the 25th April Bridge, the Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries… Well, if the game is too boring you can always enjoy the view, but when the ball goes past the line…you can scream your lungs out: Gooooooooooaaaaallll! Belenenses!!! 

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Clube de Futebol “Os Belenenses” | Art & culture, Relaxing | Match Ticket € 10.00
Estádio do Restelo | Riverside | +351213010461
Match day

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Going out at night usually means you’re heading for a bar at Bairro Alto, a small pub in Alfama or a disco at the Docks (Expo or Alcântara) so, we’re used to skip all the areas in the heart of Lisbon because there’s nothing going on there… Until now. Open since June 2011, Arte & Manha brings culture back to Lisbon and kicks you right in the stomach. Located in a place where a Chinese shop once used to be, there’s now a new big thing!

I was there one week ago and the place was so packed that I just thought – There’s something big happening there… and I keep thinking about it because it’s trendy, cozy, vibrant but also alternative. I went there again… and now I just can’t wait for the next time. Seems like you’re somewhere else, but it’s just here, near the Marques de Pombal square. At Arte & Manha you’ll find live music, art exibitions, theater, african music, jazz, bossa-nova, poetry, cooking workshops… and much, much more.

This is the place to be, with 400m2 and several rooms, open from 20:00 untill 04:00 in the morning. Here you’ll find a melting pot of Erasmus students, artists, and locals. Explore Arte & Manha and go for a cup of tea, a glass of wine or a cold beer.

The bar is usually very crowded and there is a strong reason – The place is alive and kicking with a busy agenda and it has easily become my favorite spot to go out at night – Lisbon night is back!

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Arte & Manha | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Snacks | Entrance € 5.00
Avenida Duque de Loulé, 22 B | Avenidas | +351218258532
Wed – Mon 08:00 – 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Claudio Carneiro

The museum, or site, is located below a bank building, the Millenium BCP. Thanks to some restoration work they started in the 90′s, they discovered this whole underneath remains of more than 2500 years of the city history, and even greater, they decided to save it for city history’s sake. In a whole block, under the building, you can witness Lisbon Visigothic, Islamic, Roman, Medieval and Pombaline history.

I arrived in Lisbon in early 2000, and it took me almost three years to find out about this spot, thanks to a great friend of mine who got me a night visit. Before that I used to cross Rua Augusta and stop in front of the Bank windows to stare at the museum articles they have on display, but foolishly never imagined there was really a museum inside there.

Worse, I never imagined there were galleries under the building. It is actually a criptoportico, and it is a very nice visit. They even have an unidentified skeleton around there, that moves constantly where the caves flood. Besides the Bank site, the only other opportunity to see the criptoportico is once in a year, when the fireman close rua da conceição to open the only other access to it.

The Lisbon Baixa neighbourhood is full of surprises, and I consider this spot one of many good ones!

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Rua dos Correeiros | Art & culture | Free
Rua dos Correeiros, nº 9 r/c | Chiado & Baixa | +35121211700
Thu 15:00 – 17:00, Sat 10:00 – 13:00 & 15:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Claudio Carneiro

Let´s say I have a birthday dinner somewhere in Bairro Alto. And I had the busiest day and hadn’t have any time to buy a present. No problem, now we have Bairro Arte to solve our lack of gift-shops during nightlife.

Bairro Arte, besides being a gift shop, is also an art gallery. It’s an art gallery like any other, but as any other art gallery it’s unique by nature. Nevertheless, one thing Bairro Arte can’t be called is a simple gift-shop, for each thing they sell is very exclusive and original.

I feel like being in a shop in Barcelona when I enter the shop, because the stuff they sell is creative and colorful as Barcelona is. For example, they have marble tiles with nice and fun paintings, giant kangaroos statues for our living room, puffs in shape of balls, trendy bags and many things more.

The building where Bairro Arte is installed is a very nice example itself of Lisbon old architecture and a well-restored building. And it has a very picturesque and outstanding chimney. The entrance is in the middle of the building, which divides the room for the shop and the room for the art gallery. I always take more time on the shop side. Shame on me!

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Bairro Arte | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
Rua das Salgadeiras, 5 | Bairro Alto | +351910571594
Mon – Fri 16:00 – 01:00, Sat – Mon 14:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon