Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões), just behind Camões’ statue , close to the statue of Portugal’s famous writer and poet Pessoa (1888-1935),  still mobbed by many tourists nowadays and a good, cheap and traditional Portuguese restaurant ‘Casa da India’.

Park Principe Real

After shopping people like to take a break in this wonderful park with lots of exotic plants and trees, near Bairro Alto, posssibly one of the best (and gay) spots in Europe for a night out! Les Mauvais Garçons , popular and ”très-chic” cafe/restaurant.  

Nearby you’ll find the  Botanical garden , one of Europe’s finest.

Kiosk Rua Dom Pedro

Rua Dom Pedro V  is a wonderful avenue for shopping. There’s lots of boutiques, traditional antique shops and art galleries.

 Largo Trindade Coelho

Small kiosk near ‘Casa da Comida’ (’ the house of food’), a new cafetaria/ restaurant in the wonderful bamboo garden of Museum São Roque. This museum and church is home to Italian art from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Cais do Sodré

Cais do Sodré  is Lisbon’s major bus, metro, trainstation ( ‘Linha de Cascais’  name of the train line joining Lisbon to Cascais) and ferry terminal. A major bus station is sited outside the front of the Cais do Sodré station, with a Carris  small kiosk selling transport passes, tickets and guides.

On the background Restaurant Marisqueira ‘Guarda Rio’, overlooking the river Tagus, the marisqueira (seafood) is unfailingly fresh!

Viewpont Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. This wonderful belvedere will give you a unique insight into the city and magnificent views on the old Moorish castle Castelo de São Jorge.

Above Lisbon’s famous flea market Feira da Ladra .  The Moorish influence is still present in Alfama and in Mouraria, where the Moors kept on living in the city after the conquist and gathered in this area. Authentic 3-bedroom apartment with patio for rent in this old Moorish quarter

After browsing the market it’s a good idea to have lunch in Restaurant ‘O Panteao de Santa Clara’  just above the market, serving real Portugese food for a good price.

‘Adamastor’, a popular gathering place in Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river, which is officially called the Miradouro de Santa Catarina. From this vista point you have the most breathtaking views on the Tagus river, the 25th of April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument, nearby my favorite cafe/bar Noobai 

Kiosk Rua de São Paulo, near Cais do Sodré  station and, on the other side of the road,  Mercado da Ribeira (famous market near the river, since 1882), topped with a Moorish-style dome.

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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 France and about 3 years ago he moved to Lisbon.

Besides: trendy 2 bedroom apartment for rent in this area . After going out on an evening, you won’t need to think about organising transport home. 

Our choice: salada salmão e chevre (salad with salmon and chevre, 11 euro) and tourte au canard (10.50). Glass of wine (2.00) , Caipirinha (6.00).

The cafe in the afternoon. You can relax in the deep leather armchairs, or bring your laptop (wi-fi internet connection). Try their Portuguese cakes: tarte de maçã com gelado de baunilha or bolo de dois chocolates.

Les Mauvais Garçons (the bad boys). Rua da Rosa 39, open from 12:00 to 24:00. Les Suites Du Bairro Alto

Rua da Rosa in the afternoon. Lisbon’s nightlife in Bairro Alto

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Here you can enjoy the restaurant, the nightclub (Fridays and Saturdays, 1am to 5am) and the bars, where ambience music alternates with live music shows. There are four bars (smoking and non-smoking) and lounge areas with large comfortable chairs.

Downstairs, the enormous place is divided into a smoking and a non-smoking lounge area (20-25 people in each area), also offering the possibility for a romantic dinner. If you wish you can have dinner upstairs, there’s also a cosy bar and an elegant lounge for dining.

The crew is very professional and dynamic. Dulcineia Miranda (r). The bars of BluesCafé offer a comfortable and cosy atmosphere. A glass of house wine €2, beer €3 to €5.

On Fridays and Saturdays disco opens at 01.00 until 05.00 am. The musical choice includes the commercial hits of the moment, disco, Latin and the eighties. More… Blues‘ interior is richly decorated with mahogany and palm trees (some of which reach almost the ceiling). There’s an outdoor terrace overlooking the yacht harbour of Lisbon.

Angelia Oliveira

The international recognised cuisine offers next to various dishes, 5 menus (one vegetarian) €42 – €49, Portuguese wines from different regions €5,50 – €98 a bottle and, for a special occasion, champaign (Moet et Chandon) €70 – €250 (Dom Perignon Vintage).

We enjoyed clams and mussels ceviche €11,75, Coquilles St. Jacques €9,25, ‘Voodoo’ chicken’ €10,50 and veal sirloin steak with rose pepper sauce €16,50.

The white house wine is a Portuguese gem: Lisa, produced on the slopes of Serra da Arrábida, Sado region, €9,50 a bottle.

One of the delicious desserts (Portugese: sobremesas): paper-thin crispy pastry with strawberries and ice cream €5,50.

June 2009. The Dutch Portuguese Chamber of Commerce monthly business drink

The yacht harbour of Lisbon. Blues Cafe, part of a row of former warehouses, on the leftside.

Blues, Rua Cintura Porto Armz H Nave 3, 1200 Lisbon.
blues@bluescafe.pt
Restaurant open from 20:00pm – 01:00am
Bar: 20:00 – 04:00 am
Closed Sunday and Monday. Tel. 00351 213957085

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Portas Largas, March 2009. 

Lisbon Gay Guide  - Overview of gay clubs, discos and parties with address and maps.

 Picture: Rene van Gijn

Looking for a vacation apartment to stay in this street?

June 2009, Rua da Atalaia

Whether you’re gay or straight: you’ re welcome! Portas Largas is an extremely popular bar with a friendly crew. People from all over the world meet here drinking Caipirinha’s , (€4) coctails or beer (€3 ), served in plastic cups to make it easier carrying for drinking in the street.

Inside the bar on a Saturday night in April. The ambiance is laid back and relaxed.

Portas Largas is a distinguished place in Bairro Alto. On Saturdays they have live (and good) music and the rest of the week there’s a DJ.

The building is a converted old Portuguse tasca (tavern), with many original details like the azulejos (Portuguese tiles) on the walls.

Portas Largas, Rua Atalaia 105, Lisbon. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 20:00 – 02:00; Sundays 21:00 – 02:00

Website I Love Bairro Alto, great information!

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The Bicaense bar is split into two rooms, the first is a smoking permitted lounge area.

Cheers! Laura’ s (second right) midnight birthday surprise: champaign.

Caipirinhas and champaign: we had a great time that night!

In the second room the resident DJs pumping out hip house to really get people in the mood for dancing. 

DJ Paulo

This bar is a great spot to hit before visiting Lisbon’s clubs like the legendary ’Blues Cafe’ (open till 04:00 am), Rua Cintura do Puerto do Lisboa 3-4, Docas de Alcantâra, or world famous club Lux , Website

In case the bar is too crowded: you can always take your drinks outside!

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Mercearia Castello Cafe, a bit tucked away on a tiny street, Rua das Flores de Santa Cruz behind the Castle, opens in summertime a small outdoor seating just around the corner. Quiche and salads, coffee and toast, this cafe is a great place to stop for a snack or a light meal after visiting the Castle.

Rua Bartolomeu do Gusmão, just near the Castle. The neighborhood is very charming, it’s really nice to walk through the cobbled small streets. Costa do Castelo features some of the most spectacular viewpoints of Lisbon.

A 10 minutes walk away from this street is a great cafe/bar overlooking the river Tagus, 25 April bridge and the city, ‘O Terraço‘, spectacular views!

Rua do Espírito Santo…. normal life is going on, quietly, nobody takes attention to the tourists. This hilly part of Lisbon, located in the highest hill of the historic centre,  is one of the main historical and tourist sites.

Travessa do Funil A rainy day, February 2009. Guests of Boutique Hotel ‘Solar do Castelo’   are picked up.

 more…..  an idea to walk up the hill to the Castle

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Definitely one of the coolest bars of the city! You can get there from Rua da Costa do Castelo, the neighborhood of The Castle of St. Jorge (Castelo de São Jorge).

Sergio Curto: ‘O Terraço’ opened about two years ago, the building belongs to the government. We also serve some snacks, toast and ‘2 plates of the day’. Opening times: daily from 12:00 – 24:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 – 01:00.’  Caipirinha: € 4, Mojito € 5 , a secret recipe

Update September ‘09: ‘O Terraco’ , one of Lisbon’s beloved terrace cafés, has just closed and in a few months a new restaurant will take its place. More….

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Nadir Bensmail (born in Algeria, his parents moved to Toulouse in France when he was a kid) and Silvia Mourão Bastos met each other in Paris in 2000. They both have a similar passion: talking, laughing and drinking good wine! Nowadays they are real professionals: in 2005 they opened Wine bar ‘Os Goliardos’ in Lisbon.

The patio garden of Wine bar ‘Os Goliardos’. Once a week wine-linked events are being organised here like wine tastings with explanations for groups in different languages, get-togethers between amateurs and winegrowers and various events (like Beaujolais Nouveau), to promote the wine as a part of a culture.

The project of ‘The Goliards’ was born from their passion for wine and visits to winegrowers in different countries. At the moment, Silvia and Nadir visited over 500 winegrowers (their pictures are hanging on the walls in the bar) in Portugal, France, Spain and Italy. “They are our teachers and the source of our enthusiasm. We look for winegrowers with a deep soul, who conduct orchestras of scents and flavours, in symbiosis with the soil. We are greedy, curious and demanding explorers!”

In the wine bar you can discover a weekly selection of glasses (from €2,50) or bottles of wine (from € 4- € 50), sit inside or outside in the courtyard, eat a bit, like cheese, cold meats, canapés or tarts and buy wine to take back home with you (reds, whites, but also sweet wines, Port and Madeira).

“Bishop Golias”. The Goliards were a group of clergy who wrote bibulous, satirical Latin poetry in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They were mainly clerical students at the universities of France, Germany, Italy, and England who protested the growing contradictions within the Church, such as the failure of the Crusades and financial abuses, expressing themselves through song, poetry and performance.

The derivation of the word is uncertain. It was said by them to originate from a mythical “Bishop Golias”, a mediæval Latin form of the name Goliath, the giant who fought King David in the Bible, suggestive of their posing as heavy drinking yet learned students who lampooned the ecclesiastical and political establishment.

‘We raise our glasses with different wines, different friends, old friends and new friends. We import wines from different countries directly from the winegrowers, that are very original and well-recognized by the wine-lovers of these countries. Ex: Champagnes, Sauternes, Chianti, Piemonte, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Alsace wines, Bourgogne, Bordeaux, Syrah from the Rhône Valley. We are Goliards!”

Opening hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. ‘Os Goliardos’  Lisbon, Rua Mãe d’Agua, n° 9, between Praça da Alegria and Príncipe Real. Tel/fax: +(351) 21 3462156
Mobile: +(351) 96 2022242
info@osgoliardos.com

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This is one of the most interesting and unusual decorated bars I’ve ever seen and a good start to Lisbon’s nightlife. You have to ring the doorbell, like in many other Portugese places.

Pavilhão Chines is housing a fascinating collection of all sort of things, like lead soldiers, contemporary engravings, humorous ceramics and models of war planes.

Miniscule toy soldiers are perfectly aligned. Walking from room to room is like going through a museum with curiosities and kitch from all over the world. It is said that only one man collected all this stuff….almost unbelievable!

Once sitting down at one of the beautiful tables, the choice of drinks (nothing is for sale, except the drinks and it’s a bit expensive..) is quite large: from tea, wine, cocktails to champagne.

You can have a drink while listening to the jukebox playing classic rock songs from the 60’s and 70’s or play snooker, and then walk down to the rest of Bairro Alto and enjoy the night..

Pavilhão Chines, open from 18:00 – 02:00, smoking allowed. Address: Rua Dom Pedro V 89-91, Bairro Alto. Tel: 213 424 72.

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Soft background music like French chansons or jazz, create an atmosphere like being in a French bistro in the 70s.

Traditional Purtuguese cooking, but besides they serve French Cuisine, Moroccan- and Mexican dishes. Excellent service.

Owner of  restaurant ‘Merca Tudo’ Guiomar Noronha: “11 years ago I opened this restaurant and I still love this place. Before that I was working for a travel agency and traveled a lot”.

“My background is half Spanish: my grand-grand mother married a Spaniard, they lived in Santa María del Mar. Don Angel and Linda Castro immigrated from Spain to Cuba. The Castros owned and lived on a 32.000-acre sugar plantation in the Oriente Province in Cuba. They had 2 boys: Fidel and Raoul Castro”.

Ementa (menu card). Merca is the short word for Mercado (Market), Tudo means all or everything.  Guiomar Noronha: “This picture is about 300 years old. I found it by coincidence in a very old newspaper in a bookshop”.

 ”The beautiful creamy fridge is from 1932 (!) and still working fine! It used to work on gas and the inside consists of marblestone. Sometimes it costs me a lot of trouble finding a part for the fridge, but I would never want to get rid of it”.

You can win a taste of Ginja if you manage to throw a coin in a small glas inside a big bottle filled with water. My friend Erika just throwed her coin into the bottle and… yes!

We enjoyed: two steaks au poivre € 30 ; two Greek salads (salada Grega) € 3 ; one bottle of great Portugese wine (Monte Velho) € 10, two coffees € 2:50. Sobremesa (desert): one delicious Bolo Árabe (with almonds & pumpkin ) € 4.

Excellent venue for a relaxed informal dinner, max. capacity of 50 people. Our experience was absolutely lovely!

Merca Tudo, Rua do Merca-Tudo 4, 1200, Lisbon.  Open from 20:00 – 02:00. Closed: Sunday. Phone 00351 21 396 93 68. Email: restaurantemercatudo@gmail.com

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