A popular concept in Lisbon is for hamburgers to be served ‘on the plate’ which means that when you order the burger it will arrive, complete with all the relevant garnish, salad and side orders exactly as described on the menu – on the plate with no evidence of the traditional hamburger bread roll. I personally find this rather refreshing as I inevitably end up leaving half the bread behind so I can enjoy the rest of the burger.

Café do Rio specializes in every type of freshly made gourmet hamburger you could think of – my favourite is one that consists of Roquefort cheese and bacon mixed up with the burger mince meat to form a flavorsome patty, and this is then garnished with a smaller patty of the same kind, an enormous salad and yummy potato chips cooked with the skin on them. The burgers are succulent and juicy and the salad is fresh and there is no room on the plate for a burger bun!

The menu has a selection of vegetarian burgers, and fish burgers all of which are freshly made in the restaurant. The meat burgers are split into different categories – traditional, spicy and the house specialties (of which the Roquefort burger is one). Finish off the meal with the special chocolate cake – a slice of chocolate tart filled with gooey chocolate mousse. Perfection!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café do Rio | Restaurants (Hamburgers) | Main meal € 10
Rua da Alfândega 114 | Riverside | +351218868050
Mon 12:00 – 15:00, Tue – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 19:30 – 23:00

Brunch. On Saturday and Sunday. In Cais do Sodre. 

Cafe Tati, situated on the road directly behind Mercardo Ribeiro, opens at 11:00 at the weekend and, for €10 you can have a delicious, filling brunch, complete with freshly-squeezed orange juice and coffee, tea or hot chocolate, and a choice of fruit salad or cereal and yoghurt to start out with.

The main course is a beautifully arranged plate of local cold salamis, hams, salmon and cheeses which are accompanied by a portion of scrambled eggs and toradas (huge, fat slices of hot toast), jam and butter. Then, just when you think you can’t possibly eat more and are contemplating another shot of coffee, a little slice of carrot cake appears on your plate, just to finish things off.  

The atmosphere is casual and laid back and the cafe tends to start filling up after 12:30 when people have finally woken up to the world of the weekend.

This quirky little cafe is decorated with a random selection of chairs and tables and the crockery is all mismatched and some of it is delightfully old-fashioned.

It is also possible to have lunch or dinner throughout the week in this charming venue, and it is a good place to meet in the evening for a drink before heading on to one of the other bars in the area. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cafe Tati | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | Brunch € 10
Rua da Ribeira Nova, 36 | Riverside
11:00 – 01:00 daily

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

The Champalimaud Foundation is a research biomedical center, founded in 2010. The building was built from scratch, in a zone just behind the Belem Tower, where nobody would go before. But now, inside and around the building, there are plenty of places to promenade, relax and most importantly, enjoy Lisbon’s fantastic views. Fortunately no one has to be a researcher to go there, since the promenade is open to public, and even the tropical garden, inside the building, is free admittance.

And, to make this place even better, it houses the wonderful Darwin’s Cafe, for when your stomach starts to rumble.

I have been there many times now, because the place has a fantastic view of the river and the Belem Tower, plus the building itself is an architectural pleasure, with many spots to discover.

I guarantee this is an amazing spot, still not in the guidebooks, but a place you wouldn’t want to miss.

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Champalimaud Foundation | Relaxing | Free
Av. Brasília, Ala B | Riverside | +351210480200
09:00 – … daily

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

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

Adega Victor Horta is a small cosy restaurant/wine bar tucked away near Santa Apolonia station.

The food menu consists of a large variety of petiscos (tapas) dishes all of which are cooked in the wood-burning fire in the kitchen. The owners are very proud of the fact that nothing here is prepared using a microwave or an electric oven, but is all cooked on the wood stove, and the kitchen is part of the restaurant itself where you can see the chef preparing and cooking your order.

Victor Horta is a wine producer and all the wine served in the restaurant is from his own vineyard. The wine is stored in barrels that are stacked against one wall and the wine you order comes straight from the barrel. It is possible to taste the wines before choosing what you want to drink. Wine is sold by glass or by the bottle and the prices are reasonable. There are a variety of grapes from which to choose – including Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated and although it was quiet when we were there, it has been laid out in such a way that you are not aware of other diners. The adega has only been open a month, but I was so impressed with the concept, the food and the wine that I will definitely be returning.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Adega Victor Horta | Restaurants (Wine bar & tapas) | Tapas +/- € 5
Rua Cais de Santarem 6 | Riverside | +351218825082
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 02:00

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

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

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