Image by erik lassche

4 exposition rooms, 2 bookstores, 3 shops, a bar, a restaurant, a terrace…. all this is Fábrica Braço de Prata. And I think I still forgot half of it.

This cultural venue is located on the former location of an armaments factory. Swords to ploughs one may say! It’s a bit out of the way (located near the docks, between Santa Apolónia and Expo) and not that known actually.

It’s a very accessible and fun way to sniff some culture. The crowd is young and dynamic. Due to the variety of rooms and bars, there is always something interesting going on. From time to time (in the warm months) there’s a tent outside for concerts.

Listen to a Bossa Nova concerts, see an exposition or just have a drink. Check out the agenda online!

There is also a nice bookstore inside the building.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Fábrica Braço de Prata | Art & culture, Bars, Music | everything € 5.00
Rua da Fábrica de Material de Guerra | Riverside | +351967435743
Ticket office: Wed – Sat 20:00 – 02:00, Sun 16:00 – 22:00

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Image by Rita Esgalhado

Delidelux is the place to find a wide choice of international products (good Italian and French selection) as well as the finest national specialties (excellent for Portuguese wine, cheese and seafood preserves).

We also have to mention that the fruit and vegetables on display are always fresh and most importantly, they taste like old times !

Apart from being a Delicatessen and Gourmet Store, Delidelux has also a Bistrô area. Depending on the weather, you can choose to stay inside or enjoy the river view and sun in the terrace.

If you go there on a weekend or a national holiday, you must taste the Brunch (served from 10:00 until 16:00). Otherwise, the menu includes a lot of options from a simple snack to a complete meal.

The cuisine is mostly fusion (with marked Italian and French influences), but they make an effort to mix it with some traditional Portuguese ingredients.

Overall it’s a superb place to chill after work or in the weekends (albeit a bit crowded sometimes)!

P.S.: It’s useful to know that all the ingredients used in the menu are available in store, so if you leave the Bistrô craving for more, you can always try and cook it yourself!

Rita’s favourites – Bistrô: cheese and charcuterie plates, yogurt with fruits and honey. Store: sesame bagels, cumin gouda cheese, Italian products selection.

Vee’s favourites – Bistrô: Sunday Brunch – to die for. Store: Kumin teas, Cantucinni biscottis.

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Delidelux | Shopping, Restaurants (Fusion) | Sunday brunch from € 9.50
Av. Infante D. Henrique Armazém B Loja 8 | Riverside
Tue – Fri 12:00 – 22:00, Sat 10:00 – 22:00, Sun 10:00 – 20:00

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Image by Rita Esgalhado

Casanova is an Italian restaurant located near St. Apolónia, on the riverside. It opened in 2000 and since then it has given itself the award for the best wood oven pizzas.

It has a very simple and clean look, in a canteen style, where you can be seated next to a stranger.

Casanova has a very particular way of calling the waiters. You don’t get to shout and wait for someone to come to the table. All you have to do is light up the red light on top of the table and the first available waiter will come.

Casanova does not accept reservations, all you have to do is wait in line. First come first served!

In addition to having pizzas made with authentic Italian products, it also has a good selection of pastas, antipasti as well as crostinis or bruschettas. Everything is to die for. Don’t forget to ask for Casanova’s trade secret – Lemon iced tea.

For dessert? Ask for one of the fruit Cremolatti (typical Italian ice-cream), panna cota or tiramisu.

Vee’s favourites – Pizza Sfillaci, Passionfruit and Raspberry Cremolatti

Rita’s favourites – Spaghetti Aglio, Oglio e Pepperoncino, Tiramisú

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Casanova | Restaurants (Italian) | Main meal € 20
Av. Infante D. Henrique, Cais da Pedra 7 | Riverside | +351218877532
12:30 – 01:30 daily

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Image by Rita Esgalhado

As soon as the weather starts to get warmer, this is the spot to watch the perfect sunset. It can be a place to go on your own with a book or magazine to keep you company, or with a noisy group of friends after work.

Meninos do Rio (river boys) or just Meninos, as its called by locals, is a big terrace filled with chaise longues and comfortable poufs. One can find a somewhat peace here due to the fact that it’s on the river side, and can just sink in the amazing scenery.

The atmosphere is really cool, fueled by some lounge or bossa-nova music and a young and cheerful clientele. They always have a great variety of drinks and appetizers on the menu, from cocktails to iced teas, potato skins or salads. Just relax and enjoy. The only disadvantage of this place is that, when it’s really busy, service tends to be slightly on the slow side… But the atmosphere and view are definitely worth the waiting!

May you wish to prolong your stay for dinner, you can always opt for the sushi restaurant located behind, named Sushi Rio. The view is also magnificent and the sushi-men are really creative, so it’s definitely worth a visit!

Rita’s Favorites – Some nice drinks and chatty company make this the perfect after work spot!

Vee’s Favourites – Great strawberry Morangoska! (Strawberry caipirinha made with vodka instead of the regular Cachaça)

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Meninos do Rio | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Caipirinha € 5.00
Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa Arm. 255 | Riverside | +351213220070
12:00 – 02:00 daily

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Image by Veronica

If there is a place where all types of people gather it’s Lux. It’s the most democratic place to go clubbing, since it has 3 floors, all playing different types of music.

The top floor is an open area with a Wine Bar which always varies in the décor. The perfect timing is when the sun rises above the river – breathtaking! The middle floor – the Bar is where people gather to have a drink and talk, or just chill on one of the many beds that are laying around.

This area also has a great balcony facing the river where people hang out if not too cold or rainy. The bottom floor – Disco is where the hard partying really happens. Here all DJ’s show their best tunes. Every time we go there it’s a completely different night! Lux has the ability to reinvent itself every week, so this is why it has been a success for so many years. Check their website for the weekly program.

It is located in the west downtown area, near the Central Station of Santa Apolónia, making it a really easy to reach spot (it is also served by the blue Metro line). If you wish to dinner nearby, you can try Casanova (check the Casanova article) for the most delicious pizzas in town.

Rita’s favourites: Any Saturday night is always fun!

Vee’s favourites: Any night when Dezperados play.

Tip: when clubbing on a Saturday be sure to enter before 02:00, otherwise you’ll risk some serious queueing!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Lux Frágil | Bars, Music | Entrance (include two drinks) € 12.00
Av. Infante D. Henrique | Riverside | +351218820890
Tue – Sat 22:00 – 06:00

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Image by Claudio Carneiro

This is a very fancy bar and, incredibly, most of the times that I have been there it was very easy for me and my friends to find a comfortable sofa to sit. I am not a fancy person, but I do love fancy places that make you feel fine.

The bar belongs to the Belem Altis Hotel & Spa and as usual nowadays in Lisbon, the old fashioned and heavy furnished hotel bars are becoming history, and 38º41′ is a proof of it. It’s a very trendy space to relax, with good ambient music and a wonderful and huge view to the Tagus River, as well to the bridge “25 de Abril”.

38º41′ , the name of the bar, are the coordinates of its location, which is between two of the most famous Lisbon landmarks: The Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries. Yes, I always keep my eyes on them from the bar, a perfect luxury!

They have very good cocktails, toasts, and also a book of choices to order, and I am not kidding, it’s really a book. I enjoy going there to watch the sunset having a margarita, or follow the boats sailing along the Tagus river. They have good natural juices and smoothies, since I am not always in the mood of drinking alcohol.

All in all, this is the perfect place, for me, to be with friends or with a book, and a lot of spare time, because, by the river, time really goes slow.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
38º41′ | Bars, Restaurants (Intern.) | Average € 15
Doca do Bom Sucesso | Riverside | +351210400200
Daily

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Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Belenenses football club (founded in 1919), now in the second division, was one of the strongest Portuguese teams until the 80′s. Winning several cups in sports such as football, rugby, handball, basketball and athletics. Now, despite the team poor results, old “Restelo” stadium still remains one of the best in Portugal to enjoy our national sport – Football. 

Although low attendances and sometimes home defeats, besides Benfica and Sporting - the major teams from Lisbon - At Restelo Stadium you will enjoy the authentic football passion. Belenenses will be always my favorite football club despite recent history.

I used to go there every Sunday afternoon with my grandfather, watching my idols playing while eating “Pastéis de Belém” (check the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém article), showing my blue flag and jumping out of my chair when a goal was scored. There I learn also how to swear – some words you just won’t learn from language courses. I could never forget the noise from the crowd: The applause, the whistles…

I believe that Restelo is the prettiest stadium I have ever seen: The atmosphere is authentic, the view is breathtaking: The Tagus river, the 25th April Bridge, the Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries… Well, if the game is too boring you can always enjoy the view, but when the ball goes past the line…you can scream your lungs out: Gooooooooooaaaaallll! Belenenses!!! 

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Clube de Futebol “Os Belenenses” | Art & culture, Relaxing | Match Ticket € 10.00
Estádio do Restelo | Riverside | +351213010461
Match day

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Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Two steps from the Hyeronimite Monastery in Belém quarter, baked from an ancient and secret recipe from Catholic nons, you can find the “Pastéis de Belém”, a Portuguese egg custard tart, served warm straight from the oven and sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. The Fábrica Pastéis de Belém, receives as many pilgrims as the world heritage site located on the other side of the road, and the locals go there often as well… by night.

Tourists from all over the world gather in front of the main doors making huge cues. The old tiles and the interior ”19th century factory” style sure makes an impression. The egg tarts are best while eaten warm… others enjoy them cold. I always enjoy these cakes the problem is I just don’t know when to stop eating more and more. If you’re on a diet, head straight to the gardens for a walk and try not to smell the magic aroma from the cinnamon and the freshly cakes. 

Try to avoid it on rush hours and if you have the time, go there for a night coffee and a cake. Try also the other specialties: King cake, Queen Cake, English Cake, Homemade Marmelade and Jams. Every year there’s a contest to choose the best cake, so, try the other places as well and at the end you will decide the best “Pastél de Nata” from Lisbon.

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Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Egg tart € 1.00
Rua de Belém, 84-92 | Riverside | +351213637423
Winter 08:00 – 23:00 daily | Summer 08:00 – 00:00 daily

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Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

When the Portuguese took chili pepper from the Americas to India in the 16th century, they didn’t realize that they invented one of the best cuisines in the planet: Goan food. The mix between Portuguese and Indian products gave birth to an original, delicious and spicy cuisine.

Here, at “Nau do Restelo” Restaurant (open since 1985), two blocks from the Belém Cultural Center, “Sarapatel” and “Vindalho” are kings among the other specialties. I always start with “Chamuças” – the best in Lisbon – and they go really well with a cold one. Why not trying a Cobra beer, brewed in India? For dessert, the delicious “Bebinca” is mandatory. This is a traditional Goan sweet, “built” patiently, layer by layer, for more than 4 hours… and it disappears so quickly from your plate!

The restaurant also works as take away. Moreover, here you can also buy one of the special powder “Quinhentos” - a ready-to-cook Curry, Sarapatel, Chacuti or Samarém seasoning. If you like to cook, you just need to add the “magic” powder to your favorite: meat, fish, seafood or vegetables… anything goes. But, shhh! Keep the secret if you`re cooking for guests so that they will be amazed with your skills. Frendly staff, cozy place, delicious food… need to say more?

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Restaurante Nau do Restelo | Snacks, Restaurants (Goan) | Chicken Chacuti € 11.00
Rua de Pedrouços nº 1 A | Riverside | +351213020675
Mon – Thu 12:00 -21:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 21:30 (Closed Sun)

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Image by Cláudio Carneiro

This museum is one of a kind. It houses the greatest world collection of royal coaches, dating from 17th Century to late 19th Century. The building itself is a “must see”, since it is in the old Royal Riding Arena of Belem Palace. The museum is also one of the most visited museum in Lisbon. But even with all this publicity, I hear from a lot of people that don’t visit it. Shame on them!

When you enter you realize you have entered a special place. I like to spend a long time just staring up to the graceful roof paintings,or on the second floor, where the view over the museum is tantalizing. But the museum is about the royal coaches, so let me talk about them. Most of them are very well preserved, and some of them are a complete luxury, golden covered and decorated with huge detailed sculptures.

While the first and larger room is well organized, where the coaches are put chronologicaly, the last room is too packed and you barely can walk around the coaches. That is the main reason there are current plans to move the museum to a new and larger building. It’s a very controversy change, but I think it’s necessary, since there are a lot of coaches that aren’t in the museum simply because there is no space. If they preserve the actual building for visiting, I think it’s fine.

Tip: Free on Sunday till 14:00

Details about this spot (Show on map)
National Coach Museum | Art & culture | Adults € 3.00
Praça Afonso de Albuquerque | Riverside | +351213610850
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

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