Local: Lisbon

The Age of the Discoveries and Portuguese seafarers’ adventures can be evidenced in Lisbon’s marvelous architecture and well-preserved historical buildings and monuments. Yet, despite being proud of its glorious past, the capital of Portugal gracefully welcomes progress and this combination makes it a hot-spot destination sure to entertain history connoisseurs and hip fun-seekers alike. Lisbon is one of the most enchanting European cities for its luminosity,… Read more »

An old textile company and manufacturing complex that was shut down many years ago and that has been transformed in one of the coolest areas in town. That’s LX Factory, an assemblage of galleries, design shops and venues to eat and drink. Actually, it also holds offices and studios of creative professionals and start-ups, which you can see in the different floors of the old… Read more »

We highly recommend you extend your Lisbon stay by one or two days so that you can make day trips to sights a little further away, but very much worthy of a visit. The picturesque medieval town of Óbidos, only eighty kilometers from Lisbon, is a fortified city that hides a small treasure behind its walls. It is such a jewel that many queens demanded… Read more »

One of the typical and emblematic dishes of Portugal is the salted cod, in local language called “bacalhau”. It will be very difficult to find the fresh version of the fish in the country, it has to do with history and how Portuguese fishermen used to catch them in northern seas and had them salted in order to bear the journey back (at a time… Read more »

By far one of the best meals we ever tasted and we highly recommend it. Considered one of the best restaurants in Lisbon, in a sophisticated setting and with two Michelin stars, this is where renowned chef José Avillez takes classical Portuguese dishes to haute cuisine level, with a lot of creativity in its molecular food preparations, served impeccably by the efficient staff. There were… Read more »

The food is so fabulous that the owner, who is also the Chef, has become something of a celebrity in Lisbon. José Avillez has three restaurants and we have tried them all. We found Cantinho do Avillez, in the Chiado neighborhood, quite casual and relaxing, resembling a café. The menu offers a good selection of tapas, starters and main dishes, and we appreciated the variety… Read more »

Lisbon always surprises us in terms of its gastronomic delights, which makes our job very difficult when it comes to selecting our top suggestions for dining. Well, we dare say that JNcQUOI may well be one of the best restaurants in town. The beautifully modern ambiance with nightly DJs sits amongst a bookshop, an annex fashion shop and a lively bar downstairs, all adding to… Read more »

At a relaxing hilltop location over Parque Eduardo and amidst Amalia Rodrigues gardens, this contemporary restaurant has wonderful views of the old city and the river. We had a table with fabulous views and the high glass windows really made the experience special. The food is mostly Mediterranean but the menu changes quite often, and the chef prepares surprise tasting menus some weekdays. The staff… Read more »

In a not so distant past this pedestrian street used to hold some of Lisbon’s brothels and cabarets. A renewal project transformed the street into one of the hottest nightlife spots in the city. It will likely be packed on weekends and it is still lively even on days early in the week, so take your pick! The name comes from the actual color of… Read more »

Sintra is one of the most beloved places by Lisboetas, this charming historic village is 30 kilometers away from Lisbon’s city center. There are many ways to get there but we highly recommend a car, so you can make your itinerary flexible with free stops and planned tours. Sintra´s most renowned attraction is the colorful Pena Place, set amidst a park and lushly planted gardens,… Read more »

The Bessa on Liberdade Avenue is really well located, on the famous Lisboan tree lined boulevard and just a short walk to most of the city’s nicest neighborhoods, like Bairro Alto and Chiado. The hotel is quite modern and contemporary, with a lovely staff that welcome you to the main reception, lobby, lively bar and comfortable common areas. Bedrooms are very good in size, decorated… Read more »

Évora is only 80 minutes away from Lisbon and a delightful UNESCO World Heritage site. This enchanting town, with cobblestone streets, quaint squares with fountains and cathedrals, churches, monasteries and chapels, is located in the Alentejo region. One of the most interesting churches in Portugal, the São Francisco church, is found here. Its eccentric annex, the Chapel of Bones, was built by a Franciscan Monk… Read more »

We found the Lumiares to be a perfect hotel/apartment combination right at heart of one of Lisbon’s most sought after areas, lively Bairro Alto. It offers all the infrastructure you could expect from a recently renovated hotel, including a modern reception, a nice restaurant, cleaning services, etc. Yet, most rooms are quite large with kitchenettes, ideal for extended stays. An upstairs rooftop area, which doubles… Read more »

A very interesting museum in the charming Belém region that some visitors unfortunately overlook, yet we find particularly interesting. It is one of the finest collections of antique, noble and aristocratic coaches in the world from the 16th to 19th centuries. The collection used to be at the Royal Horse Riding arena, but it has now moved to a very modern ample concrete white building… Read more »

The Lisboans is a hotel/apartment building suited to a traveler looking for a homey stay in a modern ambiance. Located in the city’s historic center, it is close to many attractions like the Sé Cathedral and excellent eateries. A fifteen minute walk will take you to the best areas in town, like Chiado and Bairro Alto. The refurbished residential building has a cool atmosphere and… Read more »

There are many beaches around Lisbon, and summers are hot, so you might want to enjoy a relaxing day in the sun, if weather allows. The beaches we suggest are within thirty minutes from Lisbon, and will provide a convenient respite in between days walking around town and visiting the sights. Carcavelos is closest to Lisbon and very popular, so we recommend you skip it,… Read more »

The inhabitants of Lisbon love their historic neighborhoods and speak of them with such pride, one can get the sense that each area is distinct from the other. To experience a traditional old town, head to Alfama, an old village where you can wander around narrow streets under the shade of the majestic St George castle uphill. We stopped at Beco do Azinhal and had… Read more »

Vincci is located next to Liberdade Square in Baixa neighborhood, we believe this four star hotel to be one of the best cost x benefit options in town. Its excellent location is suited to explore parts of the city on foot, as Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama can all be reached by foot in fifteen minutes. The reception is stylish and we loved the small… Read more »

A recent Suite49 traveler who stayed at this “Casa” summarized the experience in a single word: fantastic. The building has been in the owner’s family for five generations, and the emotional investment by management and staff can be felt in the way guests are warmly welcomed. The guesthouse is part of the Confeitaria Nacional Group, which includes one of the most prestigious and old patisseries… Read more »

This upscale hotel has received very positive feedback from all the travelers we have recommend stay at Pousada de Lisboa. Even though we find the main lobby to be a little overcrowded with furniture and art objects, its ambiances are noble and classic. Located just steps away from one of the city’s main squares, as well as the Tagus’ promenade, the property is walking distance… Read more »