Loja Açores is the closest you can get to The Azores islands without leaving Lisbon. The 9-island archipelago are a hidden paradise on earth, but the location is still a bit remote. The best is to walk inside.

Here at this grocery, there are Gorreana tea and liqueurs, wines, yogurts, exotic fruits like small pineapples and passion fruits, and the famous Saint George hot and spicy cheese.

Far from the European continent and halfway to the Americas, the islands were too far from the mainland (1667 km) and completely isolated and uninhabited, with no means of subsistence, until the Portuguese colonization in 1427.

The Portuguese navigators re-discovered the islands in the 15th century, and they were amazed by its beauty. The Paradise-like islands are still far enough to avoid mass tourism. They remain unspoiled and in some places almost untouched. The landscape is absolutely wonderful and there are three main products exported to the continent: milk, cheese and butter. And the best place to buy them if you’re in Lisbon is at Loja Açores.

When I was working near this place, every Friday I headed to the shop to buy the traditional “Bolo Lêvedo” for Saturday breakfast – toasted is delicious! Try also the Melo Abreu black beer.