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.

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Vertigo | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich & juice € 8.00
Travessa do Carmo 4 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213433112
10:00 – 00:00 daily

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.

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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

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?

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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

As an alternative and healthy choice to the sodas, Lemonade is common in southern Europe and a popular drink in sunny Portugal during the hot summer. Drinking Lemonade always reminded me of American movies where students raise money by selling this homemade drink. Here in Lisbon, the best lemonade in town – and the cheapest, as they say - was at Merendinha, near Bairro Alto. Sadly, the original place closed for some reason after 74 years of history serving the legendary drink.

Now, the place reopened in a different, modern but yet very cozy style. The new name is “Liquid”, but you can still read the old name “Merendinha” at the entrance. Fortunately it changed for the better. It’s brand new in an inviting central place near Bairro Alto.

They have smoothies with funny names like “Peter Pan”, “Doctor Away” (with apple in it I’m sure), or Popeye with spinach. There are also vegetable shots. The purpose is to change habits, replacing big meals for a light, but healthy smoothie with enough vitamins to cure a cold. You can add wheat-grass, ginger or other exotic ingredients like Goji Beries and give some flavor to your own the magic potion. Lemonade can cure a cold because there’s a high level of vitamin C present in lemons. They say it cleanses the liver, helps the digestion and improve your metabolism. Well, let’s go for it!

Lemonade is back in town, and soon with summer coming I’m sure the place will be packed with thirsty travelers.

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Liquid na Merendinha | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Lemonade € 1.50
Rua Nova do Almada, 45 A | Chiado & Baixa | +351917646195
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 19:00

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

Trobadores, the first medieval tavern in Lisbon is located in the heart of the town, near Lisbons Cathedral and pays tribute to the middle ages. The place is small and cozy with wooden tables, decorated with swords, shields and horns. The music is great and takes you back to the times of kings and knights.

Inside, one can easily imagine the times when the city was conquered in the year 1147 by King Afonso I with the help of northern-European crusaders, who left Dartmouth in England. The crusaders decided to help the Portuguese King and his army attacking Lisbon, with an agreement that the King would offer the crusaders to pillage the 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.

Grab your horn full of beer and celebrate king’s victory or enjoy a cup of Hidromel (Mead), an alcoholic beverage that is produced fermenting a solution of honey with water. If you prefer, there’s also some toasts and the Portuguese Chouriço Assado (Roasted Chorizo) – Must try it!

There’s live music of Celtic inspiration from local Portuguese bands and there’s even a jam for the more enthusiastic musicians. It’s a great place to bring your friends, drink some pints and make some noise. Be careful with your manners though, foreigner! The castle is up the hill and King’s knights are watching you. Trobadores could be packed and noisy sometimes… after all, it’s a Medieval tavern.

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Trobadores – Taberna Medieval | Bars, Snacks | Cider € 2.00
Travessa de São Julião, 25-27 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213593100
Mon – Sat 17:00 – 02:00

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!

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Santini | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Double scoop € 2.50
Rua do Carmo 9 | Chiado & Baixa
10:00 – 00:00 daily

This is place has been around for some time but sadly we only found it just now.

It is magical.

It’s good all day long.

For breakfast, weekend brunch, afternoon snack or even dinner.

Our favorite time here is after-work time. It’s good to just lounge on the couches. Drink some tea, have a glass of wine.

If you are in the mood for some celebration time why not try some Portuguese sparkling?

There’s a big hype with things “bio” and Fábulas excels by nature. A lot of their ingredients are organic and biologic.

You feel like you walk around rooms and rooms with history. All different.

The food is great. From sweet and savory crepes, to a good pressed toast.

And the desserts are to die for.

Rita’s Favorite – Chocolate cake

Vee’s Favorite – Dulcineia Crepe

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Fábulas | Bars, Snacks | Crepe & Coffee € 5.00
Calçada Nova de São Francisco 14 | Chiado & Baixa | +351216018472
Mon – Wed 10:00 – 00:00, Thu – Sat, 10:00 – 01:00