Month: July 2009

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Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ Lisbon: gorgeous garden & André Magalhães

You don’t need to be a member of Lisbon’s ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ (‘the Press Club’) to visit this restaurant, and it’s really worth it! Among it’s habituées you can find diplomats, politicians and, of course, journalists.

Lisbon Restaurant Clube de Jornalistas Rua das Trinas

Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ Lisbon

The Press Club’s restaurant is set in a very charming 18th century building with a lovely inner-garden. The kitchen offers creative Mediterranean food (vegetarian friendly) and the wine cellar is representative of the portuguese winemaking tradition. Located in the centre of Lapa, Rua das Trinas 129.

Lisbon Restaurant Clube de Jornalistas garden4

The wonderful inner-garden of Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’

‘Clube de Jornalistas’ is a perfect venue for group gathering or a celebration. Journalists and eating out go hand in hand, so Lisbon’s ‘Clube’ was a natural progression for local chef and Co-owner André Magalhães with his years of media experience.

Lisbon Clube de Jornalistas garden dinner 11

Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ Lisbon, garden

The excellent wine list is also served by André Magalhães, a leading light in the slow food movement and a talented food & wine journalist, writing for Wine Passion magazine, Beer Passion, Lisbon Golden Guide, Slowfood and others.

Lisbon Clube de Jornalistas Restaurant inner-garden

Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ Lisbon, inner-garden

We enjoyed outside dining in the wonderful quiet inner-garden, surrounded by trees and flowers.

Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ is a mixture of old Portuguese architecture and modern cuisine with an exotic touch.

Lisbon Clube de Jornalistas Lapa dining inside

Restaurant ‘Clube de Jornalistas’ Lisbon: a dining rooms inside

‘The Club’ was founded in 1986. During the Salazar period (Salazar was a dictator who ruled Portugal from 1931 to 1970), the Casa da Imprensa in Chiado was a secret meeting place. After the revolution, some of the members went on to found the ‘Clube de Jornalistas’.

Restaurant Clube de Jornalistas garden creative cuisine dinner5

Tuna “escabeche” with fried portuguese polenta and clam sauce (14.50 €)

‘The Club’ is an inviting space to long conversations at lunch time and to cheerful gatherings at night’.

Clube de Jornalistas, Lapa/Estrela (facebook)
Rua das Trinas 129
1200-857 Lisbon
+(351) 213 977 138/ 21 396 57 74. Mail: cj@clubedejornalistas.pt
Open: Monday through Saturday 12.00-02.00

Restaurant Clube de Jornalistas Press club garden dinner1Restaurant Clube de Jornalistas Press club garden dinner4

Carpaccio of Tuna from the Azores, wild rocket and S. Jorge cheese (10.00 €) house-smoked duck breast and sauted Pears (12.00 €)

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Top biking services in Portugal: Bikeiberia Lisbon Hub & Didier Mimoso

Bikeiberia, established in 1999, was the first local operator offering top biking services in Portugal & Spain to an international clientele. Bikeiberia offers guided, independent or tailored-made tours (like bike tours of Lisbon area or coastal areas like Sintra, through out Portugal and parts of Spain) and offers rental services for high-quality bikes & equipment at competitive rates.

Rebt a bike Lisbon Bikiberia office shop Didier owner

Bikeiberia Lisbon, Largo Corpo Santo 5

Bikeiberia founder & manager Jorge Didier Mimoso (r) and staff Tânia Caldas or Ana Rolo will be happy to welcome you in the bikeiberia office & shop in Lisbon, Largo Corpo Santo 5 ,  the headquarters and central Bike Rental station in Baixa in the heart of Lisbon downtown. Here, travelers are able to get information about the plentiful biking possibilities in Lisbon.

Bikeiberia rent a bike in Lisbon owner Didier Mimoso office Lisbon

Bikeiberia Lisbon & Didier Mimoso

Didier: “We want to share with you the parts of Portugal and Spain we know, offering some of the most unique biking experiences in the world”  bikeiberia website . “For those who do not want to be bothered bringing their own bicycles and gear by plane, we have created special bike rental – touring packages including chosen bicycle, helmet use, front bag, rear panniers, toolkit, bike pump, spare inner tube and luggage storage service. If you like, the bikes can be delivered directly to your hotel”.

Linbon bike rental bikeiberia owner Didier at work

Bikeiberia Lisbon

Didier:”I started bikeiberia to share with others the unique way in which cycling, both on and off road, opens up for the adventurous traveler the hidden and still intact landscapes, history and culture of remote areas of Portugal and Spain”.

Bikeiberia rent a bike in Lisbon 2 Didier at work biker 2

Bikeiberia Lisbon

“I was born in Mozambique (a former Portuguese colony, independent in 1975). Although I grew up like lots of kids loving to ride my bike in the neighborhood streets of Lisbon, it was only at university in Évora, an ancient town set in Portugal’s vast Alentejo, that I discovered the fun and potential of biking. After my study (economy) I lived and worked in England for three years, cycled there and in over fifteen other countries (a 3 months tour from Berlin to Istanbul and from Istabul to Lisbon for instance). 10 years ago I started bikeiberia”.

Bikeiberia office and shop Lisbon rent a bike Haroldo Castelo Brano

Assistant Haroldo Castelo Branco

bikeiberia office & shop in Lisbon

Bikeiberia rent a bike in Lisbon street bikes Pedal your way

Bikeiberia Lisbon, Largo Corpo Santo 5
phone 00351 21347 0347
mobile: 00351 96242 3455,
e-mail info@bikeiberia.com

You can directly pick up or order them to any place within Iberian Peninsula. Business hours: Monday-Friday 9:30am to 8:00pm GMT, open all year.

bikeiberia website   Facebook

Bikeiberia Lisbon shop office rent a bike in Lisbon children’s bike cow cycle bell

Bikeiberia has a variety of children bells available.

At the moment the collection of animals is very popular: a cow, a giraffe, a parrot or a crocodile.

Bikeiberia rent a bike in Lisbon shop and office vintage bike 2

Bikeiberia Lisbon

In de window a beautiful Vintage bike. Didier: ” They have been the same for over 40 or 50 years and it’s amazing how they are still being made! Maybe bikes got way better mechanically but this is a Vintage with its own charm! One of the most interesting things on it is the braking system, which does not work with cables or oil and the lights working with a wheel dynamo or the 3 hub gears by Sturmey Archer! The painting work also has some interesting details and I could not believe my eyes when we found out we could still get them brand new this way! Many people stops by to tell us they got one many years ago and how much it cost then, apparently over 40 years ago it could costs the huge sum of “15 bills of 100 Escudos”…This is equivalent to 7.5 Euros!!!”

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Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ Lisbon, great lunch & Palace of Independence

There are a lot of high quality restaurants crowding the downtown streets of Lisbon, but if you like to enjoy a great Portuguese lunch located in the heart of Lisbon in a pleasant and historic environment, I can recommend ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’).

Independece Palace Lisbon Restaurant Chamines do Palacio chimneys

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

The restaurant’s entrance and the beautiful patio of the Palácio da Independência  (Palace of Independence), located near Rossio Square on the north side of the Largo de São Domingos. The building’s foundation stone was laid in 1509 and some of Manueline details from this time can still be detected in the inner courtyard, for example the door decorations. The two conical kitchen chimneys are reminiscent of the royal palace at Sintra.

Restaurant Chemines do Palacio Lisbon Independence Palace 1

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

Paulo Saraiva de Reffóios (with sunglasses): “Recently I started (February 2009) this restaurant. I used to work as a hotel director for 20 years but besides I always had a real passion for Portuguese gastronomy and for many years I enjoyed cooking for friends”. “At the moment you are welcome to enjoy a (Portuguese) lunch here (June 2009), dining is possible on request from 12 persons”.

The other 2 gentlemen are José Cardoso (and daughter Filipa) and Henrique Santos, ‘Lucinda Tudo Bom’ wine producers. At the table a delicious bottle of Douro wine: Fraga Alta (High Crag) Douro Doc 2003.

Lisbon Restaurant Chamines do Palacio Independence Palace Rossio Paulo owner

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

My friend Erika Reusens and Paulo Saraiva de Reffóios, the very friendly and always joking restaurant owner. Our choice for lunch: salada de rucola com requeijao (salad with cream cheese) € 8; salmão fumada com boulgour (smoked salmon with bulgur) € 12; agua (water) € 2,50; um copo do vinho branco (glass of white wine) € 2,50; bread and delicious salted butter € 3.

Lisbon Restaurant Chamines do Palacio Independence Palace inside

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

Visit the Independece Palace: each Friday at 15:00

If you wish you can enjoy your lunch inside of this beautiful building.The name Palácio da Independência (‘Independence Palace’) recalls a curious event that occured in 1640: a conspiracy against the Spanish occupation. If you are in Lisbon you can visit the palace. More information…….

Independent Palace restaurant Chamines do Palacio azulejos ship

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon: beautiful tiles

The walls of this former palace are decorated with beautiful azulejos (Portuguese tiles). The azulejo is a form of Portuguese painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tilework. They have become a typical aspect of Portuguese culture. Azulejo comes from the Arabic word az-zulayj, meaning polished stone.

Independence Palace restaurant Chemanes do Palacio patio garden 1

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

Wherever you go in Portugal, azulejos are to be found inside and outside cafes, churches, palaces, ordinary houses and even ceilings, train- or subway stations. Many azulejos chronicle major historical and cultural aspects of Portuguese history.

 

 Independence Palace Rossio 12 entrance restaurant Chamines do Palacio

Restaurant ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (‘the chimneys of the Palace’) Lisbon

‘Chaminés do Palácio’, Largo de Sao Domingos 11.  Mail: chaminesdopalacio@gmail.com

Tlm (0351) 919450754

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Visit ‘Palace of Independence’ Lisbon & conspiracy Spanish occupation 1640

The beautiful Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence), located in Lisbon close to the Rossio Square (near national theatre D. Maria II ), on the north side of the Largo de São Domingos , is known by two names.

Lisbon Indepence Palaca near Rossio Suqare Entrance

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

It was given its original name of Palácio de Almada in honor of its former owner, the Count of Almada. The name Palácio da Independência (‘Independent Palace’) recalls a curious event that occured in 1640. Philip II of Spain had occupied Portugal in 1580, a year later he was recognized as King of Portugal.

Independence Palace Rossio entrance1 restaurant

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

The loss of some colonies and the intense pressure of taxes levied to finance the Spanish wars led about 60 years later to a conspiracy among several of the Portuguese nobility. On December 1st, 1640 there ensued a successful rebellion, followed by the restoration of Portugal’s independence.

Independence Palace Lisbon near Rossio the conspiracy room

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

About 40 conspirators prepared for the action under the leadership of the Duke of Bragança (or Braganza) in the grounds of this palace.

Lisbon Independence Palace near Rossio garden azulejos

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) & garden Lisbon

The Duke, from who’s grandmother the royal family descended, was crowned João IV, King of Portugal. From a neighboring monastery the nobles reached the palace garden from across part of the old 14th C. city wall and gathered there in a small, isolated pavillion. It has even been suggested that there was an underground path linking the garden with the Baixa along which people could pass unseen.

Independence Palace Rossio garden azulejos 1

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

Beautiful azulejos (tiles) representing the story of the conspiracy

Lisbon Independence Palace near Rossio

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

The building’s foundation stone was laid in 1509 and some of Manueline details from this time can still be detected in the inner courtyard, for example the door decorations. Two conical kitchen chimneys are reminiscent of the royal palace at Sintra.

Independence Palace Lisbon near Rossio kitchen chimneys

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

The Sociedade Historica da Independência de Portugal has its seat in this Palace. This society has awarded itself the task of keeping alive the memory of the happenings of December 1st, 1640 and the general consciousness of Portugal’s national history.

Every year on December 1st official memorial events take place both in the Palácio da Independência and at the nearby square Praça dos Restauradores

Independence Palace Lisbon Ana Maria Proserpio

Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence) Lisbon

Ana Maria Proserpio, Directora dos Serviços Culturais (Director of Portuguese Cultural Services). In Ana Maria’s hand the keys of the palace. If you are in Lisbon you can visit the palace .

Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm | Sat. and Sunday is also possible  (visits have a minimum of 5 people).
Price: € 3 per person or € 25 per group.

Palácio da Independência
Largo de São Domingos, 11
1150-320 Lisboa

Phone: 21 324 14 70 Facebook  Email: ship.geral@ship.pt