Boutique hotels
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Chiado 16
- Style
- Historic hilltop high jinks
- Setting
- Chic Chiado
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Heritage Av Liberdade
- Style
- Pool-toting townhouse
- Setting
- Amid the Avenida’s foliage
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Hotel Britania
- Style
- Roaring Forties art deco heaven
- Setting
- Just off tranquil Avenida Liberdade
Lisbon Eating, drinking and dancing
Restaurants
(+351 213 808 383)
Bocca
This really is a dazzlingly chic restaurant, with white walls and white-linen-spread tables crisply offset by sleek black and citrus-green chairs. The minimalist decor complements a wow-factor menu, bursting with unexpected flavours and combinations. Young Portuguese chef Alexandre Silva comes with some serious credentials, having worked at top Lisbon hotels including Tivoli, Lisboa Plaza and Bica do Sapato. His inventive approach results in a dazzling menu: starters of monkfish and chocolate or foie gras, mango and ‘Ginja de Óbidos’, mains such as tiger shrimp and seaweed, and Muscovy duck, figs and strawberries. Linger over the wine list; there’s more than 60 tipples to choose from.
Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 87, 1250 São Mamede
(+351 213 862 211)
Eleven
Eat at Michelin-starred Eleven and enjoy fine dining in seductive, sensual surrounds. Set on a hill above Parque Eduoardo VII, next to the Amália Rodrigues Gardens, the restaurant boasts stunning views over Lisbon and the river Tagus. Unsurprisingly, chef Joachim Koerper’s seasonal menu is equally jaw-dropping; start with a saffron ‘risotto’ of scallops in a Mediterranean crust, and move on to crossed Challands duck with baby pumpkins. There’s also a tantalising tasting menu to explore.
www.restauranteleven.com
Bars
(+351 218 820 890)
Lux Club
As theatrical and unique as its owner John Malkovich, Lux Club is also the city’s most famous nightspot, regularly drawing in Lisbon’s beautiful, stylish set. Situated in a former warehouse right by the harbour, it boasts serious city-chic glamour with a myriad of interconnected rooms, impressive DJ sets, unusual sofas and furnishings, and a seductive, sociable atmosphere.
Avenida Infante D Henrique Santa Apolonia
Silk Club
Sitting pretty on the upper two floors of Espaço Chiado, Silk Club is a glamorous and exclusive venue, boasting spectacular rooftop views over Lisbon. The design is minimalist and modern, with an innovative use of light. The main bar is on the second floor, but follow the beautiful people, who parade the terrace and outside bar in all their peacock-perfection.
Rua da Misericórdia 14, 6th Floor, 1200-273
Cafés
(+351 213 469 541)
Café a Brasileira
No trip to the Portuguese capital is complete without visiting Café a Brasileira, a hangout that’s to Lisbon what Café de Flores is to Paris. Twentieth-century poet Fernando Pessoa nurtured (or should that be destroyed?) his creativity with lashings of absinthe here, and he’s been immortalised in a statue outside the café. Today’s crowd is a lively mix of young and old; expect a hubbub of conversation and a warm, friendly atmosphere. The café’s mirrored walls and wooden booths ensure comfortably stylish people-watching.
(+351 213 460 501)
Café no Chiado
Serving up delicious food at equally tasty prices, this café is a must-visit. Delicacies include shrimp crêpes, English-style roast beef and chicken liver. As well as the meat and fish mains, omelettes, salads, and desserts aplenty, Café no Chiado has daily specials, making choosing that bit more tricky.
Largo do Picadeiro, 10-12, Mártires, 1200-330
(+351 213 424 470)
Confeitaria Nacional
This pastry shop in Baixa, which opened in 1829, belonged to the same family for five generations, and claims to be responsible for bringing the King’s Cake (Bolo Rei) to Portugal. It offers sweet treats served up in historic surrounds.
Praca da Figueira 18B, 1100 – 241
(+351 213 637 423)
Pasteis de Belém
This famous pastry shop and café is the place to come for the city’s best custard tarts. These sugary treats are best eaten warm, but if you want to take some home with you, they’ll be tidied away into a prettily packaged tube with sachets of sugar and cinnamon. There are seats if you want to linger, but you may have to fight over them with the locals.
Rua de Belém 84-92?1300-085
