Avenidas Lisbon – All our local tips

If my memory serves, 20 years back there was one Japanese restaurant in the Lisbon area, and the main draw was watching the chef’s acrobatic grilling techniques, which included doing dangerous-looking things with big knives. I’m not even sure if they had sushi, and I suspect most customers would have approached the raw fish with trepidation.

But times have certainly changed, and the Portuguese have since taken to sushi like – you guessed it – fish to water. Japanese restaurants of all sorts are scattered all around the city, and after years of exhaustively acquainting myself with them, Assuka gets my vote as offering the best value for money.

You won’t find any Michelin stars here, but the ingredients are fresh, the sushi is mouthwatering and most times I’ll drop no more than 20 Euros if I’m in a group, sharing different dishes, and we opt for green tea over wine. Luckily, it’s close to where I work, so I come here regularly for lunch and it’s always full. I’ve spotted Japanese customers here on a number of occasions, too, which is always a good sign.

Some of my mouth-watering favourites: Gyoza (grilled dumplings; €6.50), Sushi to Sashimi platter (26 pieces; €22.80), and Futomaki Especial (lightly battered and fried roll with salmon; €15.00). If tempted by dessert, the green tea ice cream is delicious, particularly when enveloped in a crêpe.

Grab your chopsticks and dig in!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Assuka | Restaurants (Sushi) | Meal with drinks from € 20
Rua São Sebastião da Pedreira 150 | Avenidas | +351213149345
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 19:00 – 23:00, Sun 19:00 – 23:00

You know autumn has set in when the chestnut trolleys roll out onto the streets, serving up the steaming, fresh-roasted snacks to ward off the chill and satiate hungry bellies throughout the colder months. Castanhas assadas – roasted chestnuts – are one of the country’s most endearing traditions, beloved by pedestrians young and old.

Chestnuts have been a staple food of southern Europe for millennia. The healthy nuts are gluten-free, low in fat and high in vitamin C. But above all, they’re just GOOD. You’ll find them on street corners all over the city, particularly in the more central, bustling areas.

Senhor Eduardo (pictured) is proud to have been at it for 50 years, and stationed in Praça de Londres for the past 22 (nearest metros: Alameda or Areeiro). And get this – as I waited for a fresh batch, this gentle soul with bright blue eyes told me that four couples have approached him over the years to thank him for bringing them together. As it turns out, Sr. Eduardo became an unwitting matchmaker when they struck up a conversation while waiting in line for his chestnuts, and the rest is history. Now that sure beats telling your grandkids you met on match.com!

So, yes, you may have to be patient while production tries to keep up with demand, but the chestnuts are worth the wait. And, who knows, you might even come away with more than the dozen you’ve paid for!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Castanhas assadas | Snacks | Dozen € 2.00
All over the city | Avenidas
Daytime

Cinema Londres is one of the city’s oldest theatres that still remains open. Don’t go there expecting state-of-the-art screens or uber-dolby surround sound because this is not what “Londres” is about! Instead, you enter into a somewhat dark and obscure movie theatre which still features the 60’s typical architecture and décor.

One of the major surprises here are the chairs – you get to sit in a real couch! I think these are the comfiest chairs ever as they surprisingly move and adjust when you sit! (plus, it is really hilarious to watch people’s faces when they go there for the first time!)

The other surprise in this spot is the Magnolia Caffe located inside -this is a cute little gourmet café, where you get to choose from a variety of muffins, natural fruit juices, quiches, pies, and other delicious pastries. It is definitely a great variation from the regular popcorn and coke combo!

It also has a relaxed reading corner, with a series of books and magazines, and where you can take a book home if you leave one in its place! If you go there in the afternoon, you can also try the 5′oclock tea- the scones are just delicious!

Vee’s Favorites – Chocolate cake and smoothies

Rita’s Favorites – Surprise-moving chairs, 5 o’clock t

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cinema Londres | Cinemas, Coffee & tea | Movie ticket € 5.00
Av. Roma 7-a | Avenidas | +351218401313
Open daily

Who said that sandwiches should be seen as fast food? The Italian chef Michele Guerrieri wanted to defy that concept when he opened City Sandwich.

Located in the business district, this small restaurant has a menu composed exclusively of Sandwiches and simple salads, but don’t be fooled by this simplicity, and specially, don’t think these are mere sandwiches!

For starters, the bread is a kind of “rustic” baguette, crunchy, hot and really tasty! Then you have the ingredients: only Portuguese cheeses, sausages, vegetables and other delicatessen are allowed on the menu! You have a wide choice of combinations: you can taste strong ingredients like morcela, alheira (sausages) or codfish, but you also have light and vegetarian options just as delicious.

Mayonnaise and butter are absolutely forbidden, so all the sauces are made with yogurt, olive oil or honey mustard. You have also a great wine selection served by the glass which is the perfect company to go with your meal.

Vee’s Favorites – Season’s vegetables sandwich and fresh spinach salad.

Rita’s Favorites – Shrimp & water cress Sandwich and petit gateau au chocolat

Details about this spot (Show on map)
City Sandwich | Snacks | Menu from € 5.00
Avenida Joaquim António de Aguiar 73 | Avenidas | +351213876261
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 16:00 & 19:00 – 23:00, Sat 12:00 – 16:00

The overbearingly grand headquarters of one of the country’s largest banks might not be most people’s idea of the best situation for one of Lisbon’s most exciting and inventive cultural institutions.

Yet here is Culturgest, consisting of two auditori which house concerts, theatre (Portuguese and touring foreign productions) and other cultural events, and also a gallery with regularly changing exhibitions from exciting artists.

Recent productions that have caught the eye have included an interpretation of William Faulkner’s The Sound and The Fury and uncatogrisable Once and for all we’re gonna tell you who we are so shut up and listen, a magical performance of theatre by a troupe of Dutch teenagers.

Culturgest is also the home of the annual DocLisboa festival where it plays host to screenings, workshops and interviews with the filmmakers.

Helpfully the website is regularly updated and is in Portuguese and English and there is a sister institution in Porto.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Culturgest | Art & culture, Music, Festivals & events
Edifício Sede da Caixa Geral de Depósitos | Avenidas
Mon & Wed – Fri 11:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 14:00 – 20:00

This is the place I have always hoped it would open in Lisbon, and it did last year, by the end of November. The only Tintin store I have visited till now has always been in Brussels, and although the Lisbon store is not as big as the Brussels one, you can find in here almost everything the trademark Tintin sells, such as postales, pins, agendas, notebooks and PVC figures. They also sell clothing for all seasons, books, watches and miniatures of the famous car from Hergé stories… There is even a room filled with Tintin’s book covers, which belong to the owner and Tintin fan, Paulo Ferreira de Almeida.

At the same place, you have a very nice and cozy Cafe-Lounge with also recalls Hergé Character’s heroism, as it has some very nice original lithographs of Tintin books as wall decoration. What attracted me most, besides being a cafe with Tintin’s allusion, is the way the tables are organized, making each space of the cafe very different and private. The menu holds no surprises, except for the Belgian beers, of course. I suggest their muffin – unbelievably good!

The only problem the cafe still faces is a lack of organization. Sometimes the delay in the service is just unacceptable, but I like the place so much that I really never cared about that.

They also serve lunch, as a “meal of the day” basis and salads and are opened till really late, and best of all, on Mondays.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Espaço Tintin | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Av. de Roma, 39 A | Avenidas | +351217935582
Mon – Thu 08:30 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 08:30 – 01:00, Mon 14:00 – 19:00

Galeto is something of a Lisbon institution. If you mention the restaurant to anyone over 40 they will recount to you tales of late nights out which were finished off with a quick steak in Galeto early in the morning.

Offering a menu full of the most typical of Portuguese dishes (here grilled meats and fish feature heavily), you are served from behind the intricate twisting balcony which extends throughout the inside of the restaurant, seemingly trapping several waiters to a lifetime of service.

Sitting at the bar to eat, likely flanked by swarthy mustachioed businessmen is a Portuguese right of passage that every visitor should enjoy at least once and there are few places in Lisbon with the quality of Galeto in which to experience it.

One of the great draws of Galeto is that it is open until 03:30 meaning that it’s the perfect place to stop by after the theatre/a concert/your friends have left you to go to Lux (check the Lux Fragil article).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Galeto | Bars, Restaurants (Portuguese) | From € 10.00
Avenida Republica, 14 | Avenidas
07:00 – 03:30 daily

Do you know when you are in a mood for something pretty good and amazing and don’t know where to find it? This is it.

This little piece of heaven has all the good stuff you dream of.

There is Neuhaus and Godiva for those who have a sweet tooth. Amazing cookies, maple syrup or even bellinis. You dream it, they have it.

Amazing pastas from Italy, and my personal favorite – cheeses.

Every time we get to winter season, they have this amazing cheese called mont d’or. This is the closest you’ll ever get to heaven.

Also they have a very good selection of wines, being named by Revista de Vinhos (Wine Magazine) as a wine reference store. If you particularly like Ice Tea, they have the best one ever – Arizona lemon Iced tea. It’s to die for!!

I know this is an amazing place. Go check it out.

Vee’s Favorites – Mont d’Or, Arizona iced tea, Bellinis, Nero di Seppia Risotto

Rita’s Favorites – Italian Pasta, Spanish delicatessen and preserves

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gourmet El Corte Inglés | Shopping, Snacks | Mont d’Or, Arizona Iced Tea € 9.30
Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 31 | Avenidas | +351213711700
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sat: 10:00 – 23:30, Sun 10:00 – 01:00

The Gulbenkian rises out of the sea of concrete, tiles and stones of Lisbon like an oasis. Most of the articles about this place talk about the fantastic museum and galleries that are housed in these grounds, and many about the open air amphitheatre which hosts live music and theatre in the summer, but I would much rather recommend the Gulbenkian as quite probably the best park in Lisbon.

Lisbon does open spaces very well and there are numerous squares, esplanades and miradors to enjoy a coffee from but sadly few places to sit on the grass, under a tree, with nothing to disturb your musings but the soft sound of a water feature or the gentle quacking of a passing duck.

Weekends are when the quiet nooks are filled with reading students and languidly amorous couples and the expanses of grass with families picnicking but there is inevitably a corner to make your own whilst you while away a couple of hours.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gulbenkian | Relaxing
Rua Do Marquês do Bandeira | Avenidas
09:00 – 20:00 daily

We recently stumbled upon this great new spot – a little japanese restaurant inside Amoreiras Plaza, just in front of Amoreiras Shopping Center (the oldest shopping mall in Portugal, which has grown to be an architectonical symbol of the city).

Located on the business district, this spot is the ideal place for a healthy lunch between meetings or for a relaxing dinner after a day of work.

Before you order, they offer a little amuse-bouche: a salmon and lettuce roll which is simply divine! From there on, you’re only up for good things. They really do have a good assortment of dishes, from hot and cold appetizers to Japanese sobas and the traditional sushi pieces.

We decided to innovate a little, and instead of ordering the regular sesame chicken skewers, we tried the spicy filet mignon ones. There aren’t enough words to describe it… pure yumi-ness! It’s better not to reveal a lot more of the stunning dishes they have, but let’s just finish with this: leave room for the dessert!!

Rita’s favorites – Green tea tiramisu and spicy filet mignon skewers.

Vee’s favorites – Salmon Philadelphia huramakis and sesame petit gateau with green tea ice-cream.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kanji | Restaurants (Japanese) | Meal & dessert € 25.00
Rua Maria Ulrich, n.º 1, loja 1 | Avenidas | +351213888147
Mon – Sat 12:30 – 15:00 & 19:30 – 22:00

Lisbon has quite a number of public libraries but I am fortunate enough that my own favourite is located not two minutes from my own front door.

The magificent (and very pink) Palàcio Galveias houses a geat collection of books and facilities for the local population.  For the casual visitor to Lisbon however the Palàcio offers an excellent opportunity to visit one of Lisbon’s smallest, and often most intereting, galleries.

The top floor of the library has seen in recent times exhibitions on Finnish childrens’ illustrators and Fernando Pessoa.

After a quick walk round the gallery the Palace also has a great esplanade in the garden at the rear where you can share your coffee with the many wandering peacocks.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Palácio Galveias | Art & culture, Coffee & tea
Avenida Campo Pequeno | Avenidas
Tue – Fri 10:00 -19:00 Sat & Sun 14:00 – 19:00

One could say the place has nothing to do with zen. Its an ordinary restaurant, well decorated, smoke-free and with some giant flower pictures on the wall. But a restaurant is about paladar, right? And if the restaurant is vegetarian, and serves some delicious food, then we could talk about our paladar being zen!

And best of all, it’s an “all you can eat” buffet, meaning I will always eat until I can’t anymore. And believe me, even with vegetarian food this may happen, because the food is so good and I always want to try everything. The menu varies every day and they hardly repeat. I have been there a lot of times and never got an repeat. And normally they have, available for you, one kind of soup, many salads and many juicy and tasty hot plates. On their website it’s possible to check the meals they are serving that day.

Only the food is included in the price. If you want to drink their weird and good natural juices or eat their wonderful desserts, which are not diet at all, you have to pay apart.

I am not vegetarian, and I love eating meat, but I never miss it when I go to Paladar Zen.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Paladar Zen | Restaurants (Vegetarian) | All you can eat buffet € 5.90
Avenida Barbosa du Bocage 107 C | Avenidas | +351217950009
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 15:30 & 19:30 – 00:00

Pão Doce stands for sweet bread, which is a very nice name indeed. Why exactly would I speak about a bakery? Well, because Portuguese have something to do with good bakeries around the world, and that’s not for any reason, Portuguese are really good bakers, and this bakery is the perfect example of this ability.

Actually the owner is Brazilian, of Portuguese descent. The bakery is always crowded, basically around the time the bread is still smoking, which is early morning and late afternoon. But even if there is a line, it is worth waiting, since there is nothing better than a just cooked bread. I cannot list all the types of breads they make, the variety is immense and I haven’t tried even half of them. There is the “tiger bread”, the grandma’s bread, the dark bread, the eight cereals bread, the Spanish, the German…it’s exhausting!

My favourites are the yummy scones, the perfect croissants and the pies they make are really delicious. I am always amazed by the huge bags full of breads people carry with them out of Pão Doce. No one can resist!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pão Doce Bakery | Coffee & tea, Snacks
Av. Duque Ávila 56 – D | Avenidas | +3513141068
Tue – Sun 08:00 – 20:00

If you happen to be in town for business, there are a lot of nice places to go and spend a relaxing time around the financial district.

One of my favorite places to splurge during lunch break is Pedra Dura. This is Lisbon’s nicest jewellery store (located in Monumental – a small shopping mall and movie theater in Saldanha).

The main quality of this spot is the extreme uniqueness of the pieces on display. One can spend hours exploring an immensity of cabinet drawers, filled with the most eclectic and original designs.

They also make cute and eco-friendly gift-wraps, so “Pedra Dura” could also be a great option for souvenirs.

The price tags can be sometimes harsh, but there are also “wallet-friendly” (and equally lovely) options)!

Vee’s favourites – N2 and Les Néréides Jewelery.

Rita’s favourites – I can’t absolutely decide what I like the most, especially since they receive new stuff every week!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pedra Dura | Shopping | From € 10.00
Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo 51 | Avenidas | +351912228748
10:00 – 23:00 daily

Call me old-fashioned, but “Pó dos Livros (books’ dust)” bookstore is the authentic bookstore.

First, you can go in there and touch the books, read the books, change the books on the shelves (probably this would be too much), and nobody is going to ask you what do you want. In a bookstore this is the best thing that can happen, because I always want to try to find “the book” by myself before asking for help.

And second and last, and this is the most important characteristic of this bookstore, is that if you need help and ask for help, the owners of the bookstore will bring down the world to satisfy you. Sometimes I don’t remember the author, or the title, or I just remember the book is about something very particular. No problem, here they come with the exact book I am looking for. And they understand all about it, they tell you what are the following releases of our favourite writers, they tip the writers we don’t know but certainly we would enjoy reading and always makes me come back, because, you know, one book leads to another.

The owner, Jaime Bulhosa, also runs a blog for the bookstore, where he and his team suggest and write about new and old releases and publicize and the bookstore events. And of course, you can ask them anything and order any book through their blog.

Also at the bookstore there is a tiny lovely cafe, where we can have all the time in the world to drink a tea or a coffee while we browse some pages in a total solitude.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pó dos Livros Bookstore | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping
Avenida Marquês de Tomar n.º89 | Avenidas | +351217959339
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 20:00 , Sat 10:00 – 19:00

What can I say about any Pizzeria which is actually necessary to be said? Not much. But if this little makes all the difference, that’s another story.

So Finestra is one of the best pizzerias in town. And I can testify that their pizzas are absolutely yummy. Most pizzas are named after an Italian city, like Modena, Parma, Padova, Ferrara… My favourite one is “Venezia”,which obviously is the most non-diet pizza they serve. To begin with, It has an poached egg on the top! It may seem gross, but believe me, it’s delicious!

Another thing that I always order there is their “Sangria“. They don’t serve that simple and boring, although good, normal sangria. They serve pineapple sangria, mango sangria, melon sangria, and others I cannot remember, probably for drinking them too much. I also use to drink their delicious non-alcoholic cinnamon Italian tea, which is not to be missed!

The desserts are another highlight. I usually go for the Panna Cota, a classic, or the chocolate cake with ice-cream. And what a creamy chocolate cake! As you can see, I am a perfect glutton when I go there.

A good advice is to reserve a table before going there. A good restaurant is always crowded.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ristorante Pizzeria La Finestra | Restaurants (Italian) | 3-course meal € 20
Avenida Conde de Valbom Nº52-A | Avenidas | +351217613580
12:00 – 15:30 & 19:00 – 01:00 daily

First, a warning: this is not a restaurant for those who are on diet. Second warning: expect to eat more than you actually can, because it is humanly impossible, especially for me, to hold myself back from trying every delicious recipe they serve at this restaurant.

The recipes are mostly from a specific region from Brazil, called Minas Gerais. It’s food is mainly known for its exquisite flavoring, which uses a lot of onions, garlic, green pepper and parsley. You will also find black beans, meat, chicken, fish and vegetables, one more enticing than the other. And when you think you have had the most delicious meal, and have eaten more than you could possibly bear, you still have to face the dessert buffet, which combines all the good sins of gluttony.

What I mean, with all this enthusiastic exaggeration, is that everything you eat there is not good, but delicious, and because of that you will probably feel guilty for eating too much and satisfied for eating such a banquet.

And then, of course, you can taste the famous “caipirinhas”, the tropical Brazilian juices and enjoy the good mood and service of the restaurant staff and owners, always asking you if you want anything else. And I will say no more.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tempero de Minas | Restaurants (Brazilian) | Buffet € 10
Av. Luis Bivar, 83 | Avenidas | +351213555038
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 23:00 , Sun 08:00 – 16:00

The first time I ran into this store I felt like I was in DisneyLand. Probably I’m exaggerating a little bit, but that’s the closest impression I can define. Until now, it’s like a box full of surprises. The name itself says a little bit of what the store is about. Zen, well-being, comfort, relaxation and son on. Well, that’s true, for I can find there the best incenses I have smelled, a bunch of them! Add to it a wide variety of massage essence oils, plus, you know, therapy shampoos, therapy soap bars and all kinds of therapy stuff I can think of. But that’s not all.

If I have to buy a gift for a friend, this is the right place to go.  Mainly if I have no idea of what I am going to buy. Perhaps a fabric coin pig, or a inflated gift bag, one of the very creative Koziol products, some hand made jewerly, Millefiori candles,  or maybe a very original cushion, or a cd with good music, or clothes, or a postcard…Well, you got the picture, didn’t you?

Nowadays I try to avoid going there, since it’s impossible not to buy anything. Like going to Disneyland!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Zen Store | Shopping
Av. Miguel Bombarda, nº 102 | Avenidas | +351217971401
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00

Everyone knows that a good pair of shoes is hard to find, even more if you want affordable prices. Fear no more, Zilian is here!!

If you are a girl, then you have reached shoe heaven! As proud shoe-aholic girls, we felt like our prayers were heard since this store opened!

Here you can find hip, cool, high, low shoes. All sizes, all colors, all types. It’s basically shoe democracy with a twist. You can find shoes from € 20 until € 200, but the average is € 70/80.

The store has a pretty smart layout, with more than 4500 shoes to choose from. Yes, you read right: 4500!!

Once you get there, there’s no turning back. Just find the big cube displaying your shoe size and go crazy! Don’t dare to leave the store empty handed, since the odds of finding the shoes there when you return are pretty slim!

Since they’ve opened, they’ve added some good services from having Nespresso – just take your pick! to Valet service for free.

Rita’s Favorites: Amazing mary janes and summer sandals

Vee’s Favorites: Ballet slipers, confy and stylish.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Zilian | Shopping | Average shoe price € 80.00
Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 29D | Avenidas | +351213878455
10:00 – 20:00 daily