Chiado 16

Local restaurants

The owners of A Velha Gruta Restaurante (+351 213 424 379) on Rua da Horta Seca may be French, but their informal eatery, with its seductive salads, meat and fish mains and delicious desserts feels right at home in Portugal. For pizza, carpaccio and staff as good-looking as the menu, visit Esperança (+351 213 432 027) on Rua do Norte. To crank up the sophistication levels, dine overlooking the river at Bica do Sapato (+351 218 810 320) on Avenida Infante Dom Henrique; sit by the fire and look out for reindeer and buffalo dishes. The best place for traditional treats is Pinóquio (+351 213 465 106) on
Praça dos Restauradores, sample gambas à ajillo (prawns with garlic, olive oil and rock salt) or the house special, pica pão (three-inch hefts of steak also cooked with oil and garlic).

Local bars

Intermezzo (+351 213 421 500) on Rua Garrett is part of the Mezzogiorno Pizzeria so if you start to feel peckish, you’re perfectly placed. The bar is a tranquil retreat from Chiado’s buzz; sit out on the terrace, cocktail in hand, and breathe in the wood-fire oven aromas and bathe in the Lisbon light. If you want to sip something fruity with a spot of sushi, head for Estado Liquido (+351 213 972 022) on Largo de Santos; try a saki-soaked caipirinha cocktail and the Estado Liquido hot maki. Mrs Smiths – leave your high hemline and stiletto heels at home, the low, Japanese-style tables make graceful mini-skirt manoeuvres improbable.

Local cafes

A three-minute walk away from Chiado 16 on Rua do Alecrim is chic but unpretentious eatery Olivier’s Café (+351 213 421 024) which serves up rich treats such as scallops in cream sauce or truffle linguini. Don’t forget to visit Café a Brasileira (+351 213 469 541) on Rua Garrett; it's the city’s oldest and most famous eatery.

For a full list of eating and drinking recommendations in Lisbon, check out our Lisbon eating & drinking guide

Worth getting out of bed for

Chiado’s cultural curiosities make a day of forays-by-foot essential. Visit the São Carlos Opera House, stroll through the Chiado Museum and visit the famous Bertrand Bookshop, which first opened its doors in the mid 18th century. Don’t forget to admire the bronze statue of 16th-century poet and former Chiado resident António Ribeiro. Riberio’s nickname was ‘Chiado’ (meaning ‘squeak’) and he is thought to be the source of the area’s name. Chiado’s current buzz and allure is even more impressive given that it suffered a devastating fire as recently as 1988.

For a full list of recommended activities in Lisbon, check out our Lisbon destination guide