Archive for May, 2009

Lisbon’s Ladra Alternativa (Alternative Flea Market) unique & original

At the urban handicrafts Fair, Ladra Alternativa, you can find every type of item, from jewellery to home utensils, always with the knowledge that you are buying unique and original items for a cheap price. If you happen to be around: four times a year this indoor fair is held at the Dr Magalhães Lima Cultural Centre, Rua [...]

The strange history of National Theatre Doña Maria II, Lisbon

Teatro Nacional Doña Maria II has a strange history, like a lot of historical buildings in Lisbon. It was built on the ruins of one of the city’s finest buildings, the Palácio dos Estaus, which had burned down and which had housed the court of the Holy Inquisition. The liberal revolution and the end of the [...]

For young globetrotters: Lisbon’s cheap & finest Hostels

Since 2005, Lisbon has become home to some of the world’s finest hostels, offering more than just ‘bed and breakfast’, from  €18-20. These places afford comfort and quality to create a happy and festive atmosphere where different languages and cultures can mix.

The Living Lounge Hostel is an exponent of the ’boutique hostel’ genre. Themed dormitories and bedroons [...]

Bistro/cafe ‘Les Mauvais Garçons’ Bairro Alto & owner David García González

Les Mauvais Garçons is a very popular spot in Lisbon. It’s a small, cosy ”très-chic” cafe/restaurant in the heart of Lisbon’s famous Bairro Alto quarter.

They serve delicious Spanish dishes like gaspacho and tortilhas, Italian (lasagna, spaguetti, also vegetarian) and Portuguese dishes inspired by the French cuisine.

The charismatic owner David García González was born in Spain, lived in [...]

Leitão assado a lenha: suckling pig, popular by locals and tourists

Suckling pig has been a delicacy since ancient times. In many European countries it’s a traditional Christmas entrée; the dish is usually reserved for special occasions. Traditionally it is roasted. A real speciality in Portugal, known as leitão assado a lenha.
 
Suckling pig is a young pig that has only fed on its mother’s milk. The piglets are slaughtered between [...]

Saldaña, Estefania & Arroios: wonderful areas to discover in Lisbon

If you like to walk around outside of tourist areas go to Saldaña , the fashionable Avenidas Novas (a part of Lisbon built in the 1950s), with department stores, cinemas, museums, supermarkets and libraries.

Avenida da República near Saldaña square. A must-do is to have breakfast or lunch in the wonderful old tea- and lunchroom Pastelaria Versailles (opened in 1922) which has [...]

Tomé Costa & his Afro hair saloon in Mouraria Lisbon

Mouraria, one of the oldest, historical areas in Lisbon, is an intriguing earthy place. Nowadays it’s a melting pot: there are the people with their origin from the once Portuguese colonies, especially from Angola, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe Islands, but also from other African countries; the Indian and the Chinese, the [...]

Excellent cuisine: Blues restaurant, bar & discoteque, a famous hotspot in Lisbon

‘Blues‘, located on the banks of the Tagus River, is a distinghuished restaurant/bar in Lisbon. Inspired by the Louisiana traditional architecture, it offers an atmosphere to the sound of blues and jazz. ‘Blues’, a mixture of restaurant, bar and discotheque, is a famous hotspot, very popular by the Lisbon nightscene.

Here you can enjoy the restaurant, the nightclub (Fridays and Saturdays, 1am [...]