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 Veronica

A Vida Portuguesa is the kind of store that mesmerizes every visitor: on display you’ll find an amazing archive of genuine and typical Portuguese products, some of which I thought were no longer in production. It’s a walk through memory lane, which brings great childhood recollections!

Located in the late David & David building (an old perfume company and warehouse), the store maintains a lot of the place’s original features.

This is the spot to find Portuguese goods with superb quality, design and authentic retro flair. They have a careful selection of the best kitchen, home, bath and beauty products, as well as school supplies, ceramics, jewelery, toys and much more!

You must visit this place to discover its real Portuguese spirit – as it’s claimed on the company’s manifesto “These are our products. These products make us who we are”!

Vee’s Favourites – Old advertising posters, Bordalo Pinheiro porcelain designs.

Rita’s Favourites – Portuguese crafts designer Rosa Pomar tote bags made with chita (a vintage flower-pattern fabric) and Ach. Brito hand-made soaps.

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A Vida Portuguesa | Shopping
Rua Anchieta 11 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213465073
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Nov 24 – Dec 24 10:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica Leitao

The Bertrand Bookstore in Rua Garret opened in 1773, and it’s the oldest store from the Bertrand chain (the first one, built in 1732, was devastated by the Lisbon 1755 Earthquake). It has also been considered the oldest bookstore in the world!!

Bertrand, which once was a privileged space of cultural debate and a literary club, frequented by the intellectual elite of the city, is now transformed into a regular bookstore, but keeps a few peculiarities that are worth a visit.

Still located in the original building, the shop has an amazing quantity of books, divided into maze-sections that respect the original architectural features of the space.

The staff is polite, helpful and glad to be of service when asked to. You also won’t be disturbed if you just wish to sit quietly and read a novel.

This is an excellent spot to relax and recharge batteries, and can as well be the place to find information about Lisbon and Portugal.

Rita’s favorites – Top selection of travel and art books.

Vee’s favorites – Great place to find hidden book marvels as well as a great selection of magazines from all over the world.

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Bertrand livreiros | Relaxing, Shopping
Rua Garrett 17 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213476122
10:00 – 19:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Rita Esgalhado

Some months ago, while driving downtown, we noticed a somewhat distinct window display amongst the gazzilions of haberdasher stores one can find in Rua da Conceição. When we finally got the chance to check it out, we discovered Papabubble, a wonderfully designed candy store, crammed with colourful and original sweets.

We were immediately sold by the whole store concept: a clean and minimalist space, with neat displays, where you can see the artisans while they work, stretching the huge sugar paste rolls or cutting them into small candy drops.

Everything is nicely packed in cool designed bags, which can be a perfect gift or souvenir from Lisbon. If you are uncertain of which flavours to get (because there are plenty of options!), you should ask the store assistants for help, and you’ll probably end up getting a free tasting

And if you really wish to surprise someone, they accept custom orders for different shapes, sizes or flavours – you name it and they will do it! (just be sure to timely place your order, as they can be pretty busy, especially around the holiday season.)

Vee’s favorites: Peppermint and passion fruit candies

Rita’s favorites: Lime and mint “sushi maki” shapped drops with wood sticks – tasty and original!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Papabubble | Shopping | From € 5.00
Rua da Conceição n.º 117/ 119 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213427026
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 19:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica

If you are a candle person like us, then this is the store for you.

Here you can find all sorts of shapes, colors and sizes of candles. Their selection is amazing, and the prices very affordable. The fun thing is that this is a very traditional store, but then you check their windows it has always a theme. Fun none the less!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do every time we pass by.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Casa das Velas do Loreto | Shopping
Rua do Loreto 53-55 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213425387
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Sat – 09:00 – 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

According to the legend, Martim Moniz was a noble knight who died during the siege of Lisbon in 1147 – He saw the Moors closing one of the main doors of the castle and he led an attack alone, preventing them from closing one of the gates of Saint George Castles. He sacrificed himself and he died. The Gate is called since then ”Porta de Martim Moniz” – Gate of Martim Moniz - There are more monuments of the heroic knight in Lisbon, and also a square, Martim Moniz square. Multicultural Lisbon starts here.

Looks like you’re in Chinatown or Little Bombay, but once you get inside the Mouraria shopping center you’ll find African products as well like dried fish, coconut milk, okra and hot piri-piri. Good Indian products are difficult to find at local supermarkets, but here you’ll find traditional and strange things like achar (Indian pickle), cardamom, turmeric, tamarind, saffron and nigella – Not the TV chef, although if she comes to Lisbon, she will definitely shop here.

I usually go to Martim Moniz square when I’m planning a dinner for my friends – Proving my cooking skills and testing their patience - what can go wrong? For fresh ideas and strange flavours, this square has it all. I always start my search for Indian products at a small grocery store near the Metro… and I enter all the groceries just for fun.

I buy Besan Laddu (chickpea cake) and vimto (raspberry juice) for snack everytime I go there. My only big trouble is to decide what to buy for dinner and how to cook it… feel the aromas.

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Martim Moniz | Shopping, Snacks | 0.70 € Vimto can
Largo Martim Moniz | Chiado & Baixa
09:00 – 20:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by KatyP

I love this store! Situated down from Largo do Carmo on Calçado do Carmo towards Rossio, this bright, airy shop with the cool multi-coloured logo has got a wonderful selection of Lisbon souvenirs with a difference. The shop stocks mainly t-shirts and what funky t-shirts they are.

Lisboa Carmo’s designs all in some way relate to Lisbon, but what makes these shirts unique is that each of these designs has been created by a different young Portuguese artist or designer. The shop has agreements with most of the designers so the t-shirts are unique to Lisboa Carmo and can’t be purchased elsewhere.

When you go into the store, the staff are very welcoming and are happy to explain the intricacies of each design, what they represent and give you a little bit of background into the reason behind the design. Most of the t-shirts have several different colours to choose from for each design.

They also stock coffee mugs with designs similar to the t-shirts as well as an array of fridge magnet and keyrings, some of which you will have seen in other tourist shops and some of which are unique to Lisboa Carmo

If you want to buy something a little different in the way of gifts or souvenirs to remind you of your stay in Lisbon, I highly recommend a visit to this store!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Lisboa Carmo | Shopping | T-shirts from € 14
Calcada do Carmo, 26-28 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213474374
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon