Museu d’Avó (translates to Grandmother’s Museum) couldn’t have a better name: a place where you can eat surrounded by old memorabilia. Sounds familiar? Yep, thats a Grandmother’s place all right!
And what the name doesn’t express is that it’s open until 04:00, working as a food station for every hungry belly that needs a break from all the drinking. Museu d’Avó has a large spoil of old stuff, kept in cabinets or simply on top of some shelves, and my personal favourites are the Graphonole in the balcony, the old bicycle in the entrance and, of course, the representation of Torre dos Clérigos on Portuguese tiles.
But not only in its decor does Museu d’Avó appeal to a certain Portuguese nostalgia. The menus are Firmo classic notebooks, quite popular when we were all growing up, now back in vogue with the new vintage tendencies. The beer and other beverages are served in small glasses that, at least for me, unleash a lot of memories (the milk in my primary school was served in these).
Each table has candles, and the food choices are really varied, from some individual dishes such as “Caldo Verde” (an iconic soup made of potatoes, collard greens and with a slice of “chouriço”) or bifana (pork meat sandwich) to small plates of Portuguese “aperitivos” (we can call those Portuguese tapas), more suitable for groups.
If full, try the door across the street! Same place, but a bit less charming! A must-go for every out-of-time foodie!
