Aug 10, 2025

Lisboa Cidade do Fado Lisbon

Portuguese soul

""Lisboa Cidade do Fado" in Lisbon is a record shop with Mr. Antonio Cardoso's car outside that always plays fado. There's no better place to enjoy it..."

It is not new that Portugal is Fado, but Lisbon is its cradle and therefore there is no better place to listen to it.

Since I was a child, I remember this image: going up Rua do Carmo to hear some Fado playing. Some songs I recognized automatically and others we did not know but automatically began murmur along.

After moving to Lisbon I realized that it was a real privilege to walk up this street and if we wanted, at no cost, listen to Fado and get to know some of its history.

The car of Mr. António Cardoso, known as Fleur de Lys, is parked every day in front of the number 63 of Rua do Carmo, where, before the fire that decimated the warehouses of Chiado in 1988, the record store Cardoso (so called Distoqueca Cardoso) was located. Now you can hear Fado all day long without interruptions - except on Sundays.

The highlight of this spot - in addition to being free and that Mr. António Cardoso loves telling stories about Fado - is the fact that we can also buy the records of our favourite Fados.

And after hearing some Fado you can always climb up the Rua Garret and eat one of the wonderful cakes of the pastry Alcôa (check out my article "Alcôa - you will not be able to eat just one") that I have already told you about.

029-guitar-instrument-1
Music

About this spot

Rua do Carmo 63

free

+351

213470276

find your way in Lisbon, download our app.

Find your way with 208 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Lisbon guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Lisbon

Lisb'On Rollers

Inline skating community

"Lisb'On Rollers" is the quintessential inline skating community in Lisbon. Come here to make new friends and share your passion for this exciting hobby!

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 13, 2025

Largo do Carmo

Square in downtown

"Largo do Carmo" is a very charismatic square in downtown Lisbon. Its history stretches from before 1755 to the more recent Carnation Revolution...

002-building
Art & culture
028-beach-bar-1
Bars
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 13, 2025

Mondego

A breath of fresh air

"Mondego" is a restaurant in Lisbon in a hidden corner behind Rossio that's a true breath of fresh air, despite being wholly traditional & Portuguese...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 13, 2025

Stage Center Maiolle

Dance studio for everyone

"Stage Center Maiolle" in Lisbon will change your opinion about ballet dancing. I had a trauma surrounding ballet, and when I came, I didn't want to leave.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 13, 2025

Fábrica Braço de Prata

A cultural factory

"Fábrica Braço de Prata" in Lisbon is a cultural venue located where there used to be an armaments factory. Swords to ploughshares, you might say!

002-building
Art & culture
028-beach-bar-1
Bars
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music

by

Erik

Lassche

Sep 13, 2025

Elisabeth'Nails

Nail salon

"Elisabeth'Nails" in Lisbon is a reminder that you don't need to neglect feeling pretty & confident when you're away from home! It's an experience...

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

31 d'Armada

Bar and restaurant

"31 d'Armada" in Lisbon is a

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

La Villa

Italian restaurant - wood oven

I've been on a quest for the best truffle pizza in Lisbon and I feel like "La Villa" at Campo dos Mártires da Pátria is on its own quest to earn the first place...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

O Caco da Marquesa

Traditional pottery store

"O Caco da Marquesa" in Lisbon is an ideal pottery shop for beautiful gifts. It will definitely help you better appreciate what Portugal has to offer...

002-building
Art & culture
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

Ink & Wheels

Tattoo and piercing store

"Ink & Wheels" in Lisbon is a cheerful, picturesque, cool tattoo studio with a unique aesthetic that's the best place to get your new or first tattoo!

002-building
Art & culture

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

Alcântara 50

Sophisticated typical food

"Alcântara 50" is a very cosy Portuguese restaurant in Lisbon where you will feel like you're in a typical home of someone's grandparents...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

Tasquinha da Linha

Typical restaurant

"Tasquinha da Linha" in Lisbon offers affordable full lunch & dinner menus. You can go there every day of the week and never eat the same thing twice!

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Sara

Trigo

Sep 9, 2025

Heading to Lisbon?

208 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

208 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Lisbon

Our team loves Lisbon

Get to know our other Spotters from Lisbon

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
22
Made with the 💚 of 496 Spotters.
Filters