Cais do Sodré | The Lisbon Connection

April 11, 2023October 26, 2023

Restaurant/winery Vestigius Lisbon: great riverfront dining & vintage decor

Located in the Cais do Sodré area in Lisbon with a privileged view of the Tagus River, restaurant/cafe Vestigius offers a fabulous terrace space!

Vestigius cafe/ restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river

Vestigius offers Portuguese and Italian cuisine: pizza’s hamburgers, tapas, Portuguese petiscos and snacks, to accompany the great diversity of wines, gins and cocktails. In addition it’s a meeting place for arts & culture, music and literature.

Vestigius restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river & wonderful vintage decor

Former warehouse in ruins & artistic charm

Originally this place was a port warehouse in ruins from the nineteenth century near the river Tagus. Now it’s turned into a space with a wonderful vintage decor, made from abandoned warehouse wreckage and second-hand parts, acquired in auctions and fleamarkets like the legendary Feira da Ladra in Lisbon

Vestigius restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river & 2nd floor terrace

Stunning river views

The terrace on the second floor gives stunning views of the April 25 bridge and the Cristo Rei statue, but the (good) music from the speakers near our table was too loud to talk with each other.

Vestigius restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river & wonderful vintage decor

Exhibitions & Music

An essential component in Vestigius are the exhibitions, whether painting, drawing, photography or other areas and supports. Every month there’s a new exhibition.

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Fridays – Live music at 8.30 pm & DJ’s at 11:00 pm

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Blues and rock from the 60’s to the 80’s, as well as adapting electronic music to an acoustic version.

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Vestigius restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river & tapas

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Delicious tapas

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Calamares (squid), pão (bread), baked potatoes; glass of white wine: Portal da Calçada Reserva (vinho verde, young wine).

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Vestigius restaurant Lisbon near the Tagus river & remarkable bathroom

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Restaurant Vestigius

Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa – Caís do Sodré

Cais do Gás, Armazém A, n.º 17

Lisbon – facebook

Website . Open: every day of the week

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Vestigius restaurant Lisbon: location near the Tagus river

August 25, 2021October 8, 2021

Cascais: famous vacation spot, easily reached from Lisbon & favorite restaurants

Cascais is a famous & chic vacation spot in Portugal by the Atlantic Ocean, quite close to Lisbon (about 25 km; 30 minutes by train, 15-20 minutes by car).

Center of Cascais in summertime

Cascais is a pleasant mix of history, tourism and local life. Once a small fishing village, nowadays packed with elegant boutiques, luxury hotels and restaurants. But still many small colourful fishing boats are bobbing up and down in the water in front of the village’s sea front. Fresh fish every day! 🙂

Fishing boats in the bay of Cascais, Portugal: Praia dos Pescadores

Cascais is situated on the north side of the mouth of the River Tejo which flows through the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Cascais’ popularity dates from 1870, when King Luís I decided to convert the 17th century Citadela here into his summer residence.

Cascais, very popular place for tourists: Rua Direita , 2016 ( nowadays this street is called Rua Frederico Arouca)

Portuguese pavement workers are real artists! What a lovely design, you feel like you’re walking on waves like Jesus did 😉 😉

Terrace restaurant, cafe & bar ‘O Poéta’ Cascais

Restaurants Cascais center & aggressive waiters

On this square aggressive waiters try to entice you to eat in their restaurant.

Football lovers : huge screens are strategically placed outside and inside the restaurants.

Vegetarian restaurant House of Wonders in Cascais: great, quiet location 🙂

Easy to reach from the trainstation, 5 minutes walk: Largo da Misericordia 53, Cascais

Vega Restaurant House of Wonders Cascais: Sofia, Pasang, Sandeep & Bipek, November 2019

My favorite vegan restaurant and roofterrace in Cascais is House of Wonders, delicious vegetarian food

Lovely new terrace Vega Restaurant & cafe House of Wonders Cascais

July 2019

Facebook House of Wonders Cascais

December 2019

Restaurant Maritimo, Cascais & Ben Weijers, owner of holiday paradise Quinta do Corvo in Colares (near Sintra)

In case you prefer fresh fish or meat, go to nearby restaurant Maritimo

Set under 2 centuries-old trees there’s tiny restaurant Maritimo ‘s terrace where you can enjoy fresh fish and salads. Instagram

Restaurant Maritimo Cascais & delicious prawns with garlic: 15 euro.

Instagram

The big square next to the restaurant is an ideal place to let the kids play. Portuguese family restaurant Maritimo (closed on Sunday).

Largo Cidade de Vitória 37, Cascais

Cascais in September

There’s free bike-rental for tourists, and the nearby (5 km, easily accessible by bus or by train) popular Guincho beach is one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing beaches in Europe.

YouTube movie Graham goes Guincho

Cascais: Museum Conde Castro Guimarães

This Municipal Museum is near by the sea and it keeps a very original architecture because its aim is to promote art. The palace is from 19th century and it was property of Manuel Castro Guimarães (a Portuguese Count from Cascais). MORE

How to get there from Lisbon?

Lisbon, train to Cascais

Cascais is easy to reach from Lisbon by train: ‘Linha de Cascais’ (name of the train line joining Lisbon to Cascais) from Cais do Sodré, Lisbon’s major bus, metro, ferry and trainstation.

Return ticket: cheap.

Cascais & wonderful pavement, November 2019

Great beaches, and a promenade that connects Cascais to Lisbon providing one of the most spectacular costal walks available.

More: Visit Cascais

November 10, 2020February 9, 2022

Restaurant Ibo Lisbon: sophisticated cuisine & Mozambique flavours

Restaurant Ibo in Lisbon is a remarkable culinary experience! A sunny day, delicious food and a beautiful view over the river Tagus: what more do you want for lunch during a trip to Lisbon?

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon facing the Tagus river: a surprising culinary experience

Lisbon is divided into 2 parts by the river Tagus, Portugal’s longest river. Restaurant ‘Ibo”, situated at the north bank, is housed in a former salt warehouse built in the beginning of the 20th century, next to Cais do Sodré ferry terminal.

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon: my friend Erika Reusens likes dishes with flavours from Mozambique

The restaurant’s name refers to an island in the Indian Ocean north of Mozambique: Ibo. We ordered:

Caril de Camarão (shrimp curry) 19 €, Caril de Galinha à Mocambicana (chicken curry) 19 €, a bottle of white wine, Castello D’Alba 18 € (exclusively wines from the best Portuguese producers and winemakers), agua (water) 2 €.

If you are not curious for a different experience: restaurant ‘Ibo‘ also offers Portuguese gastronomy.

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon & wonderful views from the terrace

Former colony of the Portuguese empire

Mozambique became independent in 1975, after over four centuries of Portuguese rule: famous explorer Vasco da Gama reportedly rested on the island in 1502. In the late eighteenth century, Portuguese colonialists built the Fort of São João, which still survives, and the town, as a slave port, became the second most important in the region. Nowadays the beautiful Ibo island is a popular tourist area.

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon, a sunny day in November & one of the friendly waiters

Starters: in the more expensive Portuguese restaurants you have to pay for starters like bread, cheese and often olives or shrimps.

The waiter will bring you some unrequested starter dishes: as those are not free, feel free not to touch them and they will not be charged on your bill (não, obrigado). In this restaurant you pay 3 € for a starter (some bread, tapenade and humus) which is OK, because sometimes 10/15 € is added for a small starter you did not ask for.

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon & flavours from former Portuguese colony Mozambique

Camarões selvagens à Laurentina (wild shrimps), € 19: really delicious! Glass of white wine (VB Crasto) € 5.50

Lovely ladies & Laurentina beer

The waiter told me that Laurentina is Mozambique’s oldest beer brand. The name is dedicated to lovely ladies: ‘laurentinas’ 😉 . Read more…

Restaurant ‘Ibo’ Lisbon: papaya dessert (sobremesa)….. whow!! 🙂 € 8

This restaurant specializes in the food of Mozambique but adds a few influences from another former Portuguese colony, India’s Goa. The freshness and quality of products is ensured, because the owner, João Pedrosa, daily visits the nearby old and Lisbon’s legendary market Mercado da Ribeira (really worth to go there , only 5 minutes walk).

Restaurant ‘Ibo‘ Lisbon: casa do banho (ladies’ room)

Don’t expect an interior decorated with all kinds of art from Africa. There’s a modern and bright decoration inside the restaurant. Until I visited the ladies’ room: a beautiful portrait, this African lady on the wall! But she doesn’t seem to be very happy….

Restaurant ‘Ibo‘ Lisbon & terrace view: ferry to the other side of the river Tagus

From here you can easily take the ferry (every 10 minutes) to Cacilhas (a part of Lisbon, the other side of the river), return ticket: cheap : more………….

Ibo Restaurante, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon, Armazem A – Compartimento 2. Phone (00351) 961 332 024. Also open for lunch on Sundays.

Website Ibo restaurant (also in English)

October 1, 2018August 22, 2021

Nostalgic Moorish kiosks in Lisbon, gathering places & Portuguese snacks

On August 6, 711 Lisbon was taken by the Moors, 400 years later the city returned to Christian rule. Nowadays the Moorish influence is still present, like the nostalgic kiosks (quiosque), serving traditional Portuguese refreshments and snacks.

Kiosks in Lisbon Camões Square

Kiosk Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões), Lisbon

Just behind Camões’ statue , close to the statue of Portugal’s famous writer and poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), still mobbed by many tourists nowadays ; nearby great city views from luxury hotel Bairro Alto’s roof terrace and, one of my favorites, a cheap and traditional Portuguese restaurant ‘Casa da India’.

Kiosks in Lisbon drinks Principe Real

Small kiosk Park Lisbon 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!

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

Kiosks in Lisbon drinks Principe Real2

Lisbon 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.

Kiosks in Lisbon Sao Roque museum church restaurant

Lisbon kiosk 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.

Kiosks in Lisbon Cais do Sodre train station and ferry

Small kiosk Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

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.

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.

Wonderful 20 minutes ferry trip idea from here : ferry to Cacilhas at the other side of the river Tagus and how to reach the amazing Cristo Rei monument

Kiosks in lisbon Viewpont city de São Pedro de Alcântara

Lisbon 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.

Kiosks in Lisbon fleamarket Feira da Ladra

Kiosk above Lisbon’s famous flea market Feira da Ladra .

The Moorish influence is still present in areas Alfama and in Mouraria, where the Moors kept on living in the city after the conquist and gathered in this area.

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 Portuguese food for a good price.

Adamastor Moorish kiosk near Tagus river

Kiosk river Tagus viewpoint Miradoura de Santa Catarina. Lisbon

‘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

Kiosks in Lisbon Sao Paulo near Cais do Sodre

Kiosk Rua de São Paulo, near Cais do Sodré station Lisbon

On the other side of the road, Mercado da Ribeira (famous market near the river, since 1882), topped with a Moorish-style dome.

Kiosks in Lisbon snacks1

August 7, 2017June 5, 2021

Cais do Sodré Lisbon station to Cascais, ferry to Cacilhas & Caparica beach

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 to Cacilhas , Seixal and Montijo .

Lisbon Cais do Sodre Railway station

Cais do Sodré railway station Lisbon to Cascais

Cais do Sodré railway station is serving westbound suburban route to f.i. Estoril, Belém and Cascais, and subway or bus for any spot in Lisbon. It is adjacent to the Lisbon Metro station (website incl. network diagram & how to use the metro) of the same name which is the terminus for subway’s Green Line (Linha da Caravela).

Lisbon Cais do Sodre Duque da Terceira square

Statue Duque da Terceira, Cais do Sodré, Praça do Duque da Terceira

Cais do Sodré is situated in central Lisbon on the bank of Tagus River. Although the official name is Duque da Terceira Square, everybody knows it by Cais do Sodré. Duque da Terceira was a hero in the Peninsular War (1807-1814) that united Portugal, Great Britain and later Spain against Napoleon.

Ferry to Cacilhas, the river Tagus left bank

From here you can also take a ferry to river Tagus left bank to Cacilhas , for a walk along the river to the elevator of the famous Cristo Rei statue.

Lisbon Caiso do Sodre ferry Cacilhas people

Lisbon, ferry Cais do Sodré

Transtejo (and timetable) is the company responsible for the fluvial crossing of the Tagus River. People from the other side of the river have to cross it every day to work in Lisbon or in the environment. The company offers every 10 minutes a ferry to Cacilhas (Almada, district of Setubal), a return ticket cost 2.00-2.60 euro.

From Cacilhas you can take the bus to the beaches of Costa da Caparica (bus 135 or 124). Ticket €2.40, purchased from the driver.

Lisbon Cais do Sodre ferry view Christo Rei

Transtejo also offers the Tagus River Yellow Boat Tour

Wonderful views on downtown Lisbon!

Lisbon Cacilhas Ferry and fisherman

Ferry in Cacilhas, the other side of the river Tagus.

June 4, 2017February 20, 2021

Ferry from Lisbon to Montijo: Samouco beach, great day trip & pink flamingos

Away from the crowds, on the south bank of the river Tagus (Sul do Tejo), there’s the beach of Alcochete, located near the small city of Montijo . From Lisbon you can take a bus across the Vasco da Gama Bridge directly to Alcochete centre at Oriente station (431, the most frequent), or 432 and 437.

Ferry to Montijo from Cais do Sodre station Lisbon

Ferry boat from Lisbon to Montijo

But it’s really worth it taking a ferry from Lisbon to Montijo (time schedule ferry boats, also from Cais do Sodré ferry terminal), walk around in this picturesque village, have lunch, take a bus to the centre of Alchochete and walk to the beach called Samouco (ca. 15 min.)

Ferry to Montijo at Cais do Sodre Lisbon 25 April Bridge

Beautiful views ferry boat to Montijo: Lisbon city and the 25 April Bridge.

The ferry trip to Montijo takes about 20 minutes which gives you a chance to enjoy the river and the views of Lisbon and also the surrounding areas. Return ticket: around 5 euro.

Montijo city centre Portugal

Montijo, Praça da República

You’re away from the crowds…and it is really a pleasure walking around here.

Montijo near Lisbon city centre cafe

Montijo , a lazy afternoon in September, Rua Guerra Junqueiro.

Not one tourist in sight! Coffee (bica) euro 0,60.

Beach Alcochete near Lisbon Samouco

Alcochete , Samouco beach

PINK FLAMINGOS

From Montijo, take a bus to Alcochete centre and walk 15 minutes to Samouco beach (YouTube). You can enjoy watching pink flamingos or egrets (white heron) near the Reserva Natural of the Tagus river, which is famous for the birds.

Beach Alcochete Samouco near Lisbon2

Alcochete , Samouco beach

Of course in July and August there are more tourists. On the background: Lisbon, Parque das Nações.

Alcochete, like Sintra, has in the past been a popular haunt for royalty, coming here to relax and holiday. The town’s foundation dates back to the 7th century, after the Moors conquered Lisbon. Its name derives from the Arabic word for kiln, as there have been many found in the area.

Bullfighting also has a history here, and bulls are still let loose in the streets during the Barrete Verde and Salinas Feasts (the second weekend of August). 🙁 🙁

Alcochete , Samouco beach

Fitness exercises at the beach…. ! On de background: Vasco da Gama Bridge

beach near Lisbon Alcochete small cafe

Alcochete , Samouco beach

Near the beach there’s a small cafe. Very nice people!

Typical Portuguese snacks and drinks: coffee (bica) euro 0.60.

Lisbon Vasco da Gama bridge

Beautiful Vasco da Gama bridge Lisbon

By car it’s about 30 minutes from Lisbon to Alcochete beach.

The wonderful Vasco da Gama Bridge connects Alcochete and Montijo with Lisbon. It is the longest bridge in Europe (including viaducts),with a total length of 17.2 km (10.7 mi). The bridge connects the north of Lisbon with the south bank of the Tagus near Montijo.

Beach Alcochete near Lisbon

Alcochete , Samouco beach

June 27, 2016August 10, 2020

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon: too pricey food, too noisy, terrible service & boring decor

Due to the great Tagus riverviews and good affordable food, I used to visit this great location in Lisbon a lot. Lately former restaurant ‘Cariocas do Rio’ has been replaced by a new restaurant: ‘Monte Mar’.

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon: near the Tagus river & great riverview

Good reputation: ‘Monte Mar’ restaurant in Guincho, 30 km from Lisbon

The location of the new ‘Monte Mar’ restaurant near the Tagus river in Lisbon could not be better, and besides the restaurant with the same name in Guincho, Cascais (30 km from Lisbon) has a very good reputation: it’s famous for its fresh fish and seafood dishes.

‘Monte Mar’ also has a ‘mini-restaurant’ spot in the trendy old market Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon: the ‘Time Out’ Food Hall/Gastronomical area.

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon near the Tagus river

Our bill (2 persons) 99.10 €: good food but too overpriced in Lisbon 🙁

1 copo Terras Alter Branco € 3.50 (glass of white wine); 2 água sem gás 0, 25 lt. € 5.00 (2 small bottles of water); 2 couvert € 5.00 (bread); 1 queijo Azeitao € 7.50 (Portuguese handcrafted, unpasteurised sheep’s milk cheese); 1 Sapateira Recheada (litt. stuffed shoe rack 😉 Stuffed Crab) € 32.00 ; 1 Gambas à guilho € 19.70 (garlic prawns): 1 bottle Muros Antigos Alvarinho Vinho Verde € 26.40 (Vinho Verde means ‘green’ wine).

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon near the Tagus river: wonderful views

Bad service & big TV screens

The waiter was totally not interested to solve our complaints about the noise coming out of one of the big TV-screens (football), placed quite close to our table. Sometimes we were not able to talk to each other. He could suggest us to be moved to another table? The atmosphere in this place feels like ‘just making money’.

Decor & plastic chairs

My friend, wearing a skirt, has to put a cotton napkin on her chair. The ‘industrial-chic’ chairs are made of a plastic material being too sticky in warm temperatures 🙁

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon near the Tagus river & TV screen near our table

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ asks an average of € 25 to 30 for a plate. You would expect great service for that price.

Planning a trip to Lisbon? There are lots of other restaurants situated near the river Tagus with delicious food ( where you pay half of the price)…. and besides with super friendly waiters 🙂 🙂

like f.i. closeby restaurant IBO

BTW: that night also the ladies room was certainly not a place to recommend in restaurant Monte Mar….

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon near the Tagus river

Monte Mar Lisbon R. da Cintura, Arm. 65, Cais do Gás

Phone (00351) 213 220 160

Tuesday – Friday 12h00 – 23h00; Saturday – Sunday 12h00 – 23h00

Website facebook

Restaurant ‘Monte Mar’ Lisbon & decoration inside the former old warehouse

I long for the old days when restaurant Cariocas do Rio was still here: a wonderful place to relax near the river Tagus in Lisbon….a very pleasant atmosphere even though the service was a bit slow!

February 13, 2016June 22, 2021

Bar/Cafe ‘Sol e Pesca’ Lisbon: canned fish decor & vintage memorabilia

Portugal is famous for the beautiful coloured tin cans of tuna, squid and sardines . Tin cans serve as wall decoration in cafe/bar “Sol e Pesca ” ( litt.Sun and Fishing), but are also intended for consumption. A great idea!

Cafe/bar “Sol e Pesca“, Lisbon decorated with lovely coloured fish tin cans

Former old shop

This bar used to be an old shop with fishing equipment and that past now inspires the décor (like rods and hooks). Now the shop is also decorated with hundreds of colorful tins of the Portuguese favorite fish.

Cafe/bar “Sol e Pesca“, Lisbon

“Sol e Pesca“ also inspires what is served (or sold to be enjoyed at home), because in addition to the drinks (beer and local wines) it offers cans of a variety of fish that, if you like it, can be accompanied by bread and wine.

Mauro Fialho, Cafe/bar “Sol e Pesca“, Lisbon

Nowadays the Cais do Sodré area in Lisbon is a trendy place to go after the bars in the Bairro Alto close their doors. You’ll find here some clubs like Roterdão, and Musicbox. In July 2010 “Sol e Pesca” opened its doors.

Cafe` Sol e Pesca`Lisbon: Catarina Rebelo Lucas is preparing the mise en place

Catarina: ” In this area (Cais do Sodré) near the river Tagus there are a lot of shops for fishermen. This typical Portuguese old store closed 20 years ago and all the old stuff associated with fish is still there…

The new owner, sr. Henrique Vaz Pato (pato means duck in Portuguese) 😉 bought the shop and opened cafe ‘Sol e Pesca’ (Sun and Fishing) in July 2010″.

Muxama, a delicacy typical of the south region of the Iberian Peninsula, consisting of filleted salt-cured tuna.

The Arabs developed this salt curing technique and the term muxama comes from the Arab word musama which means “dry”. However, Phoenicians and Romans also used a similar process to preserve the fishes caught until the return of the fishing boats ashore.

Nowadays, in Portugal muxama is produced in the Algarve region, following a technique used for more than 1000 years almost unchanged.

Delicious! Muxama, salad, sardines, olives, bread, white wine, a small bottle of water: 22 euro

Bar/cafe Sol e Pesca (Sun and Fishing), Rua Nova de Carvalho 14, Lisbon

Hours: Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 02h00, Saturday from 18.00 to 04h00. Closed on Sundays, Facebook

MINERVA – Portuguese sardines

Minerva is a well-known Portuguese canned fish brand. Famous Lisbon city center cannery store Conserveira de Lisboa

Lisbon, Cais do Sodré , the new hotspot, December 2011

Nowadays the Cais do Sodré area in Lisbon is a trendy place to go after bars in the nearby Bairro Alto area close their doors

July 26, 2015April 22, 2021

Restaurant ‘Casa de Pasto’ Lisbon: culinary traditions & Mick Jagger

Inspired by the late 19th-century traditional Lisbon eating houses favored by the bourgeoisie, restaurant Casa de Pasto serves very tasty Portuguese dishes. Worth a visit!

Restaurant Casa de Pasto Lisbon: wonderdul vintage decoration

Cool Cais do Sodré riverside area & a former brothel

Restaurant Casa do Pasto opened in December 2013 by the hand of chief Diogo Noronha, a.o. responsible for the very successful ‘Lx Factory’ (a former industrial area surrounded by restaurants, galleries, studios, an open air market on Sundays), and the unique nearby bar ‘Pensão Amor’, a former brothel.

Restaurant Casa de Pasto Lisbon & the very sympathic waiter

Beside this imposing space there are two more dining rooms: the first is small (but beautiful), with a long, narrow table, ideal for group dinners that do not exceed ten people. For a more romantic meal is advised the room with only two small tables where stands out an antique chaise longue and corner with images of saints.

Restaurant Casa de Pasto Lisbon, area Cais do Sodré: mouthwatering dishes!

Our lunch (almoçar): delicious tuna steak (atum) and vegetables (ca. 20 euro), home made chips, costeletas de borrego (lamb, ca. 15 euro, 2 glasses of wine, water and a dessert (sobremesa): a total of around 60 euro.

This restaurant goes back in time, but mixes modern cooking methods with Portugal’s culinary traditions.

Restaurant Casa de Pasto Lisbon: dessert ‘Wild Desire’ a combination of fruits with chocolate (facebook)

Casas de Pasto (litt. houses of pasture) & Portuguese history

Lisbon people (Lisboetas) once had the curious custom of going to stroll gardens to withdraw from the city in order to enjoy some pleasures of the countryside, usually on Sundays. They organized family picnics or simply had lunch in the old Casas de Pasto, so called because initially only giving fodder to the animals while the owners were negotiating at the fair. In many of them, still retain the rings that held the animals.

A ‘Casa de Pasto’, near Amadora, close to Lisbon, late 19th century/beginning 20th century. Picture: Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa

With the time the owners of the Casas do Pasto also began to feed the animal owners and so flourished a business that came to give rise to modern restaurants.

Source: Folclore Online de Portugal

Restaurant Casa de Pasto February ’15, Lisbon: Erika Reusens and Luc De Leersnyder

Bordalo Pinheiro: traditional Portuguese ceramic designs

One of the corner tables is next to the bookcase with traditional Portuguese Bordalo Pinheiro (1846–1905)ceramic designs, a very famous Portuguese artist known for his illustration, caricatures, sculpture, considered the first Portuguese comics creator. More….

Restaurant Casa de Pasto , Rua do São Paulo 20, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

Big plastic pig

Restaurant Casa de Pasto is located in a typical Portuguese 19th-century antique building, on the first floor. Very easy to find: look for the big plastic pig hanging on the wall

Location: Rua São Paulo 20, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon. Closing time: 02:00. Reservation advised. Average price: 20.00 euro. Phone: (+351) 963 739 979.

Hours: Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00 and 20:00 to 23:00 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 24:00. Closed: Sunday. Facebook

Restaurant Casa de Pasto Lisbon & one of the funny bathrooms

May 2014, The Rolling Stones in Lisbon: Rock in Río YouTube, Mick Jagger dined at this fine restaurant. Mick Jagger & restaurant chef Diogo Noronha (facebook)

March 23, 2013August 25, 2021

Bar ‘da Velha Senhora’ Lisbon: burlesque, revue & the day Cesária Évora died

If you like burlesque performances, glittering revue shows and cabaret a must-go place is bar “da Velha Senhora” (Old lady’s bar) in Lisbon! Video:

‘Hallooooooooooooooooooo!” 2 beautiful ladies invite you to enjoy the show

Bar ”da Velha Senhora” Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

While eating traditional Portuguese snacks (“petiscos“) you can enjoy various artistic performances. This bar is in the same typical Portuguese 18th-century building as “Pensão Amor” (a former ‘love’ guesthouse), with a wonderful unique décor . Also really worth a visit!

Stage Bar ”da Velha Senhora” Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

Inside, almost everything complies with the burlesque theme and imagery of Lisbon in the early twentieth century. The building itself – a cultural and artistic project – witnesses the time that thirsty sailors docked in the harbor and spent their free time drinking booze and have fun with women.

Bar ”da Velha Senhora” Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

Former Lisbon’s red light district

The stories of prostitutes and sailors are inseparable from Cais do Sodré, formerly known as Lisbon’s red light district with bars named after northern European capitals (like Copenhagen, or Roterdão, Rotterdam) to attract their sailors who stepped off their boats here.

But times have changed: nowaydays it is a great area to go out at night! Musicbox is a trendy hotspot for live bands and DJ’s, disco clubs Tokyo and Jamaica became two of the most loved alternative clubs in Lisbon.

Bar ”da Velha Senhora” & DJ Rycardo Lisbon, December 17, 2011

The day Cesária Évora died

I will never forget the day Cesária Évora died, December 17, 2011. Early in the evening we went to Bar da Velha Senhora. When DJ Rycardo started to play the famous and wonderful songs of Cesária, suddenly all the people in the bar started spontaneously clapping their hands and some began to cry … I still get goosebumps thinking about that day…!

Bar ”da Velha Senhora” & DJ Rycardo Lisbon: the day Cesária Évora died

A woman jumped on the table and started to dance……. Amazing!

Popular singer Cesária Évora, “the Barefoot Diva’, has made Cape (Cabo) Verde famous all over the world. She generally performed in bare feet, as a sign of solidarity for the large number of women and children back home in the Cape Verdean Islands who cannot afford shoes.

Cesária Évora: ‘Miss Perfumado (youtube). More about former Portuguese colony Cape Verde (from 1456-1975)

Bar ”da Velha Senhora” Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

Rua Nova do Carvalho 38, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon, tel. (00351)351 213 468 479. Open: Tuesday to Sunday 6pm to 4am . FACEBOOK

Metro: Cais do Sodré. Facebook.com/bardavelhasenhora