I love this store! Situated down from Largo do Carmo on Calçado do Carmo towards Rossio, this bright, airy shop with the cool multi-colored 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.

The staff in the store 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 colors 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 key rings, 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

The most unexpected place to find a coffee and cake bar – in the middle of a Portuguese style homeware store in Chiado. What is even more unexpected is that the little chairs and tables of the cafe are set up as if they are part of the showroom, placed carefully next to sideboards full of pretty, rustic blue and white crockery that is for sale. Go into the store and head up the stairs on the left.  

Whilst wandering towards the goods situated near the windows, you find yourself next to a coffee bar. You can buy simple beverages like coffee and various teas and there are always a couple of scrumptious looking cakes for sampling too, so this is a perfect (and quiet) place to rest your feet whilst you are doing some shopping. There are only a few chairs and tables, but it is a very calming atmosphere.

This fabulous store contains mainly Portuguese-made goods – textiles for the home (both for indoors and outdoors), cosmetics and restored furniture. It also has a variety of beautifully-packaged homemade gourmet goodies like jams and pickles for sale and these are all displayed invitingly on a table at the top of the stairs – you cannot miss it.

I recommend you pop in and browse (and drink coffee and eat cake too!).

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VOA Chiado | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Coffee & cake € 3
Rua Nova do Almada, 96 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213427097
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 17:00

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Fabrica @ Benetton | Art & culture, Shopping
4º andar, Rua Garrett, 83 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213556764
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 08:00

Legend has it, 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.

It’s been a long time, and besides the gate, there’s also a square, Martim Moniz, that pays homage to the noble hero knight. Multicultural Lisbon starts here and it looks like you’re in Raval (Barcelona) or Kreuzberg (Berlin). Down the Almirante Reis Avenue, there are small Chinese groceries, Turkish kebab houses, Indian restaurants and stores, and looking like you’re in Chinatown or Little Bombay.

Inside the Mouraria shopping center, located in the Martim Moniz square, you’ll find African products as well as dried fish, coconut milk, okra and hot piri-piri. I love to cook and I always prefer to buy the original stuff in a local small shop. Popat Store’s owners are friendly and if you’re lost, they’ll kindly help you finding the exotic spices and products from far far away. There’s achar (Indian pickle), cardamom, turmeric, tamarind, saffron, ginger, dried coconut, nigella and things that I don’t know yet how to use in the kitchen.

Everytime I go there I buy Besan Laddu (chickpea cake) and vimto (raspberry juice) for snack. My trouble is to decide what to buy for dinner and how to cook it… I’m still looking for fresh Lemongrass in Martim Moniz, and sadly I always buy the wrong herb…

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Martim Moniz | Shopping, Snacks | Tikka Masala € 3.75
Largo Martim Moniz | Chiado & Baixa
09:00 – 20:00 daily

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bertrand livreiros | Relaxing, Shopping
Rua Garrett 73 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213476122
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 11:00 – 20:00 (holidays 10:00 – 19:00)

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
A Vida Portuguesa | Shopping
Rua Anchieta 11 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213465073
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Nov 24 – Dec 24 10:00 – 21:00

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

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