Image by Erik Lassche

Royal Café is a nice, almost hidden, place to have breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. The setting is modern and clean, without being distant. In the back you can find a (rather tiny) terrace.

The main specialties are natural- and biological products. They have a good assortment of salads, sandwiches, fresh juices, various teas and infusions.

It is not cheap, compared to your average Portuguese pastelaria or snackbar, but nothing scandalous, especially if you’re used to Northern European prices.

I like to come here to have lunch or a snack when spending time in Chiado. It is just 100 meters away from the main street in Chiado, but a lot more quiet and less touristic. And it is open on Sunday!!

If it is full try Vertigo.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Royal Café | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich & juice € 9.00
Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 29 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213469125
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 00:00, Sun 10:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Erik Lassche

Hidden away next to the picturesque Largo do Carmo, Vertigo is one of the more trendy places in Chiado. It’s a perfect spot to have lunch or a cup of coffee in the afternoon. Or have a drink here before going for dinner in Bairro Alto!

The menu is rather healthy and features lots of salads, sandwiches, fresh juices and more exotic offers. (Not that easy to find in Lisbon, trust me!). The interior is very cozy yet stylish.

The area around Vertigo is becoming more and more interesting, with lots of cafés, shops and restaurants opening. Check it out.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vertigo | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich & juice € 8.00
Travessa do Carmo 4 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213433112
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica

Santini is a traditional italian icecream shop, that has been in business since 1949! They started operating in the “Linha” – around Cascais and Estoril, but finally decided to open a store in Lisbon in 2010. And what a wonderful idea it was! Sometimes there can be a line at the door but it is worth the wait! Trust us!

Santini creates the best flavoured ice-creams in the world They use real fruits, no crappy fake stuff and always fruits that are in their season. After I lived in Italy for a semester, I can assure that Santini icecreams are just as good as (or even better than) the ones you find at the best Gelaterias in Milano!

Be a dare devil and create your own double scoop.

Vee’s favorite – passion-fruit and coconut

Rita’s favorite – strawberry, strawberry and strawberry!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Santini | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Double scoop € 2.50
Rua do Carmo 9 | Chiado & Baixa
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

When I think about lemonade, and although it’s still a popular drink in Portugal, I always remember some American movies where students raise money doing garage sales, or… working in backyard homemade lemonade stands. Here in Lisbon, the best lemonade in town – and the cheapest, as they say - was at Merendinha, near Bairro Alto.

The old place was a small and claustrophobic restaurant, serving besides the lemonade also snacks like sandwiches, cakes and pastry. But when the crisis came, they didn’t hold much longer, and they had to close the place.

I was a little bit sad when Merendinha closed after 74 years serving the legendary lemonade, I thought the famous homemade drink of Lisbon has gone for good. One year later, the place reopened in a different, modern but yet very cosy style. The new name is Liquid, but you can still read the old name “Merendinha” at the entrance.

They have smoothies – With funny names like “Peter Pan”, or “Doctor Away” (with apple in it I’m sure) - juices and also some pastry and soups. The purpose is to change habits, replacing big meals for a light, but healthy smoothie with enough vitamines to cure a cold. Drinks come in different sizes, from small shots to half a liter, and you can add wheatgrass, ginger or other ingredients and give some flavour to your own the magic potion.

Now you can say they’re back in business – New owners, new vision, modern design, soon they’ll be famous again for good reasons, for here, lemonade is back in town. Yummy! Keep it simple.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Liquid na Merendinha | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Lemonade € 1.50
Rua Nova do Almada, 45 A | Chiado & Baixa | +351917646195
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 19:00

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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 Nuno Lopes de Paula

Lisbon was conquered in the year 1147 by King Afonso I with the help of northern-European crusaders, who left Darthmouth in England and set sail to the Holy Land. The crusaders decided to help the Portuguese king and his army attacking Lisbon, with an agreement that the king would offer the crusaders the pillage of city’s goods. Some were fighting for honor, some for money, and many ended up here after a three month siege before defeating the moorish troops. Thirsty and tired, they decided to settle in the conquered town.

Trobadores, the first medieval bar in Lisbon, pays tribute to those times – The Middle Ages. Grab a cup of Hydromel, a horn full of beer or cider, or a small glass of liquor and celebrate your own achievements as a knight. The place is decorated according to theme and it could be noisy sometimes… afterall, it’s a Medieval tavern.

The place is perfect for Medieval Ages knights and princess - From Game of Thrones fans to Goth Subculture, here, there’s also room for the Bards – Expect some good old celtic live music performed by local bands – There’s a jam every monday.

Trobadores is a nice place really well located in the downtown of Lisbon, two steps from the Sé - Lisbon Cathedral. It’s a great place to bring your friends, drink some paints and make some noise. Be carefull with your manners though, foreigner! The castle is up the hill and king’s knights are watching all your steps.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Trobadores – Taberna Medieval | Bars, Snacks | Cider € 2.00
Travessa de São Julião, 25-27 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213593100
Mon – Sat 17:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

-”Castanhas! Quentes e Boas!” you hear in some streets, from the old town to the outskirts. When you hear someone screaming that, follow the sound… or the smoke. Typical food from North of Portugal, chestnuts ruled Europe untill the introduction of the potato.

Now they are getting a little bit more popular again. Because of diets and old recipes, chestnuts are back in town and served on the main squares, near train stations or at the entrance of museums and monuments. Take that, potato!

People start selling roasted chestnuts in the streets somewhere in October. Chestnuts and Autumn arrives at the same time. Nights are getting colder, and temperatures are below 10º. It’s freezing for a Portuguese, but still looks like Summer for an Icelander. Sidewalks and gardens are covered with beautiful falling leaves and now… It’s chestnuts time!

Although street food isn’t common around here, you’ll find roasted chestnuts sellers in almost every corner or at the most visited and touristic places. If you feel the delicious smell of roasted chestnuts you’ll know Autumn has arrived, and Winter is on his way.

Saint Martin’s Day – 11th November – Celebrated with roasted chestnuts and jeropiga or àgua-pé (drinks made from wine with sugar or water added), is the official Chestnuts Day.\

You’ll find roasted chestnuts until the end of the Winter, depending on the weather and production. Try the ones at the Rossio Square, or near some of the most visited monuments. They are usually served warm in a newspaper with a little bit of salt.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Roasted chestnuts | Snacks | Dozen chestnuts € 3.00
Praça D. Pedro V | Chiado & Baixa
Autumn/Winter 13:00 – 20:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Claudio Carneiro

This is one of my weekends favourite bakeries. I like this one specially for its “sonhos” (dreams), which are normally a Christmas season specialty, but they have it, fortunately, all winter long. “Sonhos” are fried cakes, much like donuts, but lighter and fluffier. There are the normal and the pumpkin ones, the last being my pick. Also their “rabanadas” (well, I don’t know how to translate that!) are just perfectly done. It’s like a sweet french toast, but much better. And for last, if they are not the only place in Lisbon that sells bagels, they surely are the only one that make authentic ones.

Another great thing is their storefront. It’s always decorated accordingly to the season, or happening or celebration.

And the best of all is that this bakery is in the middle of the best stores and tourist places in Chiado. And it’s there that I normally buy my bread for the whole week. Did I mention their bread is spectacular?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Panificação do Chiado | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Breakfast € 5
Calçada do Sacramento, 26-32 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213424044
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 18:00, Sat 08:00 – 19:00, Sun 11:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon