March 2010. Fábulas is showing the latest wonderful works by a Polish artist, Joanna Latka (r), currently living in Portugal, actively integrated in the Lisbon art scene with a Masters in Fine Art.

The stone arches give this space a unique characteristic. Antique furniture where some tables are old sewing machines.

Our choice: Cuzcus Prince (€ 7), soup (€ 2,60), glass of wine (€ 2,40). The atmosphere is very relaxed, it’s also a great place for lunch or just lounging.

The menu honors the fables (Fábulas means fables in Portuguese), like Cinderela, a delicious warm pumpkin salad, spinach and chevre foam…or Figaro, (chickpea, pumpkin, eggplant, cherry tomato and goat cheese….)

The exhibitions are organized by Galeria das Salgadeiras 

Joanna Latka, fine art printmaking – illustration – drawing

Continually producing for exhibitions, presently incorporating unique variations of contemporary ink techniques in illustration and etching – inspired from personal life-experience and autobiographical interpretations.

Fábulas, Calçada Nova de São Francisco, 14, (00351) 213 476 323, open from 10:00 – 24:00, Saturday from 10:00 – 01:00, Sunday from 11:00 – 19:00. Highly recommended!

In summertime it has a pleasant terrace on the sidewalk.

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 November 11, 2009, what a wonderful sunny day! Lunch in restaurant ‘Peixenalinha‘,  Bafureira beach, Av. Marginal.

In summertime São Pedro do Estoril beach is very crowded and this region is also a popular surf spot .

On the background: Cascais, one of the favourite tourist destinations in Portugal.

Our choice: 2 Couvert Bafureira (bread, butter, olives and paté) € 4.00; Risotto al Funghi (mushrooms)  € 15.50; Taglioninni Nero Gambas (shrimps) € 14.00; small bottle of wine (Vinho da Casa) € 7.50.

By car this beach is about twenty minutes to thirty minutes away from the center of Lisbon. You go along the “Marginal” (the name of the road), in direction to “Cascais” . About half way across the “marginal” you get signs of  “S. Pedro do Estoril’. Free parking for approximately 200 cars.

Restaurant Peixenalinha, Praia da Bafureira,  São Pedro do Estoril. Email: peixenalinha@gmail.com. Tel. (00351) 214685389. Highly recommended!

Outside or inside dining, Open: every day from 12:30 – 15:30/19:30 – 00:30; there’s also a dining area open to smokers and a Sushi restaurant. 

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A Friday afternoon, around 16:00. Ramiro is open from 12:00 till midnight, so if you like to come in at 17:00 you’re welcome!

Portuguese love there seafood with beer (or with ice cold vinho verde , young wine). You can order big shrimps (gambas or camarão tigre), scampi (lagostim) and crab (sapateira). Cooked fresh seafood tastes fantastic with mayonaise, grilled seafood goes very well with ‘molho de limão’. This is a sauce of butter, lemon and a bit of piri-piri.

Pedro Miguel P. Gonçalves, manager restaurant ‘Ramiro’ : “You may start by tasting the delicious dark smoked ham “Pata Negra 5, J Sanchez Romero Carvajal”.

Gamba Cozido (€10.83),  Pao Manteiga (hot buttered bread €2.55), agua (S. Pellegrino (€1.50), Carne Lombo (steak sandwich € 3,60), small bottle of white wine (Plenalto €5.50), coffee (€0.90).

My favorite dish: Camarão à Guilho (garlic shrimp). If you’re only in the mood for a snack, try a ‘prego’ , a steak sandwich. The steak is grilled on the plate. The Portuguese eat the prego’s (literally: nails, referring to the full stomach after eating one) with mustard or piri-piri.

History : The Ramiro Beer house was founded on the 7th of April of 1956, by the hand of Ramiro’s father, being a small “pasture house”. With the passing of the years Mr. Ramiro, having a main role within the business, slowly introduced seafood. This concept aroused a great interest creating a beer house (Cervejaria). Joined by his wife they amplified and improved the space focusing uniquely on the concept of seafood house: the selling of seafood, ham and “steak sandwich” . Today it is known nationally and abroad for its excellent quality of raw-materials, for its level of service and for the price-quality relationship. More….website restaurant Ramiro

I can sincerely recommend this place! If you are more in the mood for a restaurant with red candles and soft music, you might be disappointed, but upstairs you can make a reservation for a romantic ‘table for 2′.

‘RAMIRO‘, Avenida Almirante Reis 1 G-H, Intendente, Lisbon. OPEN on Sundays!

TAKE AWAY. Call at +351218851024 and order a seafood meal. Order before (24 Hours). The restaurant is closed at Mondays.

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Cook Jesus Lee (Goan origin) and owner Maria dos Angus (Maria of the Angels) are really nice people. The genuine Goan family food is created with Jesus’ love.

Jesus Lee: “I was born in Goa in 1979. My mother expected a Christmas baby, but I finally arrived January 5. She is a fan of Jesus and my father admires Bruce Lee. I learned cooking from my mother, she really is a talented cook and I love it too. After finishing school, at the age of 14, I came to Portugal. In 1996 I met Maria, the owner of this restaurant and then we started to work together”. “I’m still a bachelor, looking for a nice woman

The atmosphere is very cosey and informal. I like the local cuisine very much, but the taste of the dishes (hot or medium hot) of the former Portuguese colony is delicious!  Lisbon has many immigrants from all the former colonies – amongst them the folks from Goa.

Camarão rechado (Prawn Massala 13,50 euro), small bottle of white wine 7.50, Chetni of coriander (sauce), Goan curry sauce, Chapati (Goan bread). Whow! From now, I am a fan of Jesus

Francisco Torres, Antonio Policarpo and José Pedro Torres

Tentações de Goa”, Rua S. Pedro Mártir, nº 23. Open for lunch from 12:00, dinner from 19:00 – 00:00. Closed on Sundays and Holidays. It is advised to make reservations! Vegetarian friendly. Call (00351) 218875824, Tlm: (00351) 914 814 043.

History: Goa, visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year, is India’s smallest state, located on the west coast of India. Vasco da Gama is the largest city, named after the Portuguese explorer. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the influence of Portuguese culture, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants, and conquered it soon thereafter. The Portuguese overseas territory existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961.

The tiny street in the afternoon

Jesus & Maria are taking a break….

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Restaurant ‘O Fogareiro’ (The Stove) is located Rua da Atalaia 92, Lisbon

Try the traditional Portuguese gastronomy like their house specialties Bacalhau à Minhota (cod fish), Polvo á Lagareiro (grilled octopus), Arroz de Marisco (Portuguese seafood risotto), or ‘Bife A Fogareiro’.

Owner Francisco Barros preparing ‘Lombinho de Porco grelhados’ (porc), € 7,70

Rua Atalaia, Bairro Alto more…..

My choice for dinner: espetada con carne (delicious grilled meat on a stick, served with french-fried potatoes and dry rice) € 7.20, salade de tomates € 4.50, (tomato salad), copo de vinho branco (glass of white wine) € 1,80 , small bottle of water (agua) € 0,70.

Bottle of ‘house’ wine (vinho da casa): € 5.50 (really good): ‘Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo Vinho Regional Beira

Owner Manuel Dias: “Together with my friend Francisco Barros and his wife Maria we opened this restaurant 16 years ago; we still like it! You are very welcome, except on Sundays”.

At work in the small kitchen: Maria Barros (owner) and Alice Cerqueira

Rua da Atalaia in June 2009

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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. 

The inner-garden

‘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.

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.

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.

One of the 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’.

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

Clube de Jornalistas, Lapa/Estrela
Rua das Trinas 129
1200-857 Lisbon
+351 213 977 138
Open: Monday through Saturday 12.00-02.00

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

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In January 2009 ‘Casa da Comida’ (’ the house of food’) opened a new cafetaria/ restaurant in the wonderful new bamboo garden of Museum São Roque, just a few steps away from Bairro Alto (a legendary old neighborhood in Lisbon’s historical center). This museum and church is home to Italian art from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The new restaurant/cafetaria is located near one of Lisbon’s most interesting churches: Igreja São Roque (Church of Saint Roch), the earliest Jesuit church in the Portuguese world with its magnificent baroque interior and the Museum São Roque : Museum de Arte Sacra (Sacred Art), one of the oldest art museums in Portugal, housed in the former ‘Misericórdia’ old people’s home and orphanage. After (or before) your visit to the church and the Museum (€ 2,50), it’s a good idea to enjoy a coffee, a light lunch or an afternoon tea in this wonderful and quiet inner-garden.

At the entrance of the Museum the receptionist will open the door for you, but it’s not necessary to buy a ticket. There’s a varied menu, and in wintertime you can also sit inside the restaurant to eat or relax.

The atmosphere is perfect for a leisury lunch. We ordered Carpaccio de carne (meat €  8.00), salade de atum (tunny € 6.00), a salade with goat-cheese (cabra € 8.00), agua (water € 1.50) and 2 glasses of (delicious) Planalto Douro wine (€ 5.00, bottle € 10.00). Coffee € 0,90.

Thanks Manuel Silva, muito obrigada for your perfect service!

Largo Trindade Coelho

Restaurant/Cafetaria ‘Casa da Comida’, Lisbon cafetariasaoroque@casadacomida.pt  (00351) 21 323 54 46. Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 – 18:00.  (On Sundays a lot of restaurants are closed in Lisbon). Thursday 14:00 – 21:00.

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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.

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. If you wish you can order online.

My friend Erika 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.

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 each Friday, at 15:00. More…….

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.

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.

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

Tlm (0351) 919450754

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The location, right next to the river Tagus, is an ideal place to take just a coffee or a beer after a walk in the center of Lisbon, a typical Portuguese lunch or a romantic night and dinner for 2….

The very old wooden building of the restaurant has a long history.  It was built in 1904, used by the Fiscal Guards (Guarda Fiscal) as an observation post to watch the ‘contrabando’ (smugglers) who arrived by boat from overseas.

Inside the restaurant you can see a picture of the original building.

Three times a fire destroyed parts of the building. In the 30’s it was rebuilt and during the second World War, it was used for operations in support of Jewish people, trying to catch a boat to America. (Portugal was a neutral country).

José Carlos Viejas, the owner of Restaurant ‘Guarda Rio‘ since 1994, and the very friendly waiter Carlos Antunes.

My lunch; a delicious grilled dorado (also known as dolphin-fish) 9 euro, a glass of white wine (um copo de vinho branco) 2,00, small bottle of water (agua) 1:00.

José Carlos Viejas: “in 1994 I bought this place. Due to the fire that destroyed the building it was rebuilt from scratch, going to host a nice coffee house/restaurant with two floors and large windows to show how beautiful the Tagus is”.

September 2008

There are 2 terraces just above river level, one is covered.

Restaurant Marisqueira Guarda Rio
Rua da Cintura Armazem 22, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon
Antigo Pavilhão da Guarda Fiscal
Thursday, Friday and Saturday open from 11:00h/02:00h
Monday – Wednesday from 11:00/ 24:00h
Sunday from 19:00

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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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