History | The Lisbon Connection

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.

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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

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July 8, 2021May 10, 2022

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo Lisbon & amazing former 17th C. Moorish Palace

A few minutes walk from Rossio Square, behind a small door in a popular tourist street in Lisbon, Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, there’s Casa do Alentejo: suddenly you step in an amazing Moorish palace, with an impressive courtyard!

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo Lisbon, a former Moorish palace

‘Casa do Alentejo’ was created 85 years ago, as a purpose to be a meeting place for people from Portugal’s historical province Alentejo (além Tejo means beyond the Tagus) and to cultivate its unique culture. At that time many people from this region left home in search for a better life in Lisbon.

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo Lisbon, a former Moorish palace

The palace dates from the last quarter of the 17th C., but its current appearance is a result of considerable alterations carried out in 1918.

Nowadays here’s the headquarters of the association of the Alentejo people.

Casa do Alentejo June 2019 Lisbon, Loesje Broere & ballroom

Ballroom & activities

Many activities take place here: on Saturdays the ‘Alentejo afternoons’ (tardes Alentejanas), with choral groups. On Sunday, dancing begins at 3:30 pm in the beautifull ballroom. Mostly elderley people come here to socialize.

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo & Thirza van Deene, September 2019

There’s also a library and a handicraft shop of typical products of Alentejo (downstairs).

Casa do Alentejo Lisbon, a former Moorish palace & one of the restaurants

Beautiful tiles (ajulejos) & Portuguese history

The dining rooms are picturesque, with open fireplaces and decorated with beautiful tiles (azulejos). The azulejo is a form of Portuguese painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tilework.

Casa do Alentejo Lisbon, a former Moorish palace & one of the restaurants

Tiles have become a typical aspect of Portuguese culture.

Azulejo (tile) 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.

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo, Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 58.

Lunch: ensopado de borrego (lamb stew): 13 €, arroz de gambas (prawn and rice) 15 €. Small bottle of wine Monte de Vaqueira: 6 €. Average price 3-course meal: 25 euro

Opening hours: 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm every day.
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Reservations: Website Restaurant Casa do Alentejo Lisbon

Former Moorish palace Casa do Alentejo Lisbon

YouTube Postkarte für Pauline

Restaurant Casa do Alentejo, Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 58, Lisbon

Street restaurant Casa do Alentejo, December 2019 . A wonderful exception in this street: no tourist trap!

More….

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May 23, 2021June 26, 2021

Popular Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao’ Lisbon: terrace, good local food & fleamarket

After browsing Lisbon’s famous flea market Feira da Ladra, it’s a good idea to enjoy a lunch in Restaurant ‘O Panteao’ (Pantheon), located above the market. One of my favorite places in Lisbon 🙂

Terrace cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon

Legendary fleamarket Lisbon

From the terrace you can see a part of Lisbon’s legendary fleamarket, and the Pantheon, in which important Portugese personalities are buried, like f.e. Amalia Rodrigues, the famous fado singer.

May 2021: no lockdown anymore in Lisbon! & friend Margriet 🙂

This popular restaurant serves real Portugese food for a good price (less than 15 euro).

Lisbon restaurant O panteao near Feira da Ladra terrace

Restaurant ‘O Panteao de Santa Clara’ near the legendary flea market

Former palace & conspiracy

The beautiful building is a former palace. About 300 years ago a well-to-do and important Italian diplomat, marquis Polucci di Calboli, and his family lived here. The story tells about a conspiracy, the fact is that the family disappeared and a lot of beautiful art, collected for generations, was robbed.

Lisbon Restaurant O panteao near Feira da Ladra

Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon

Traditional Portuguese cooking – excellent food for a good price

If you are not too hungry ask for “meia dose” (half serving). Traditional Portuguese cooking – excellent food. Price: less than 15 €. From the restaurant you can see the dome of The Pantheon.

Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon January ’17

Ths place is one of my favorites. Our lunch (almoço):

Gambas com alho (prawns with garlic) € 9.50, copo de vinho branco (glass of white wine) € 1.00. Caril de frango (chicken curry) € 6.90. Agua (small bottle of water) € 1.10, espresso/cafe € 0.80

Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon June 2018

It’s really fun enjoying a lunch on the terrace overlooking the hustle and bustle of the fleamarket, or a quick nap 😉

Lisbon Feira da Ladra man asleep near restaurant O Panteao

Near the restaurant: legendary fleamarket Feira da Ladra Lisbon

If you are looking for buying ‘opportunities’, or things that ‘fell of a lorry’, make sure you go there early, cause like on all flea markets, the good stuff is sold first

Lisbon Feira da Ladra owners restaurant O Panteao

Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon

Restaurant owners Armando Pereira Antunes, his wife Maria Guilherina and the very friendly waiter Celso. Campo Santa Clara 146-A, Lisbon , easy to reach with the legendary tram 28, a ´must do´ Lisbon attraction

The former palace near the fleamarket in Lisbon

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May 4, 2021May 17, 2021

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’: hidden gem in Lisbon’s historical city center

A little bit hidden in the former Moorish quarter Mouraria, in a small street of one of Lisbon’s oldest districts, there’s Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’. Open for a typical Portuguese lunch (almoço) from 12:00 till 16:00. Closed on Sundays.

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’ & very friendly staff, June 2019

Great typical Portuguese food and, also important, very nice people and an informal atmosphere 🙂

Lunches only. One of my favorites! (Air-conditioned in summertime).

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, street Rua João do Outeiro 34, Lisbon, June 2019

In the month of June, all the streets in the historical center of Lisbon are decorated with garlands and lights. Party time! (Festas de Lisboa in Mouraria).

Chef Ricardo & codfish (bacalhau) a very popular dish in Portugal

Large food portions meant for sharing

The menu varies every day. Restaurant Zé da Mouraria serves large food portions, meant for sharing. If you go to this restaurant with 2 people order for 1 person instead of ordering for 2 ! 🙂

Vimeo & restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’

Restaurant Zé da Mouraria Lisbon deliscious meat1

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon December 2017

Delicious almoço (lunch)! Bifinhos ao alinho (garlic steak), 4 pieces (meio dose! half serving). Bill for 2 persons, including wine, water and coffee: € 22,50. Desert (sobremesa) from € 2.50

June 2019: Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon & Artur Domingos 😉

On the wall in this restaurant there’s lots of portraits of famous fado singers, born in this neighborhood: Mouraria.

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon June 2019

Fado music

No neighborhood in Lisbon is praised more in Fado music than Mouraria. It is said that the melancholic sounds of the music and singing of the Moorish people was at the base of Fado (meaning fate) music, often described as the Portuguese blues. More…..

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon June 2019

Together with Alfama, the Mouraria area is a muddle of very narrow streets and small squares, which gives the visitor a glimpse of a forgotten age. Nowadays it is a trendy area.

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon, June 2019

Delicious: codfish (bacalhau). When you stay in Lisbon a must-try is bacalhau (dried and salted cod). The Portuguese adore it and it’s said that they know at least 365 different ways to cook it…one for each day of the year!

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon

Lunch is almost always fully booked; We waited for about half an hour in the street. Go early ( around 12:00 o’clock) or around 15:00. One of the best Lisbon restaurants! 🙂

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’, Lisbon. Picture: Margaret Schöttelndreier, July 2019

Rua João do Outeiro 24
1100 Lisbon, Portugal
00351 218 865 436

Metro: Martim Moniz

Only open for lunch, dinner is possible for groups. Closed on Sundays, no creditcards.

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April 1, 2021April 14, 2021

Famous Lisbon fish cannery store ‘Conserveira de Lisboa’ & nostalgic power

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store) has been covered in many newspapers, tv-programs and on the internet, never paid for any promotion but is listed by many touristic guides.

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store) March 2021

In this little shop hundreds of colorful tins of the Portuguese favorite fish are stored. It’s been open for 80 years.

Rua dos Bacalhoeiros Conserveira de Lisboa Maria de Jesus Silva

Maria de Jesus Silva, Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

History

The shop opened in 1930 under the name ‘Mercearia do Minho’ and changed it’s name to Conserveira de Lisboa in 1942. In the beginning days the company sold all kinds of alimentation, concentrating on canned foods.

Rua dos Bacalhoeiroa Conserveira de Lisboa canned fish shop Luís Vieira

Luís Vieira,Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

In 1942 the company applied for the registration of the first two brands of conserves: TRICANA and PRATA DO MAR.

Tricana was registered in 1948 and Prata do Mar in 1956.

Macquerel (filetes de cavala), tummy (atum), squid (polvo) and cod (bacalhau).

During the second world war the industry of conserved fish products developed rapidly and it helped the company to evolve quickly, reaching it’s peak with the colonial war in ’74. After this period, the conserves market shrinked steadily, frozen food became a more common way of conservation.

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

Confronted with this perspective of a further declining market, the Conserveira chose to remain operating on this niche market and offer only quality products. This way the shop also survived the aggressive low prices by the supermarkets.

Rua dos Bacalhoeiros Conserveira de Lisboa Manuela Preira

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

Two nice ladies in the shop are wrapping the various preserves: Manuela Pereira….

Rua dos Bacalhoeiros Conserveira de Lisboa Maria Manuela Neves

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

…..and Maria Manuela Henriques Nunes

Lisbon Conserveira de Lisboa no plastic bags

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

I bought 4 cans: 2 fillets macquerel (€ 4,54) and 2 tuna fillets (€ 3,63). Happily no plastic bags! If you like you can write a nice note in the guest book.

Lisbon Conserveira de Lisboa guestbook

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

In June 2004 Armando Jose Cabral Ferreira and Regina Maria da Silva Monteiro Baptista Cabral Ferreira became the owners of the shop.

Famous cannery shop Conserveira de Lisboa street

Conserveira de Lisboa, Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, 34 (website).

E-mail address: info@conserveiradelisboa.pt

Rua dos Bacalhoeiros means ‘street of the cod fish sellers’……). More.about this street..

Conserveira de Lisboa (The Lisbon Cannery store)

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February 1, 2021June 23, 2021

Bar Bistro ‘Josephine’ Lisbon, historic square Intendente & lovely loveseat

If you love historic districts, visit this wonderful Largo (square) do Intendente, area Mouraria. Formerly a place of prostitution and drugs, nowadays very popular.

Bar & bistro ‘Josephine ‘ Lisbon, August 2020. Square Largo do Intendente 59

Trendy place & beautiful historic buildings

Square Largo do Intendente, located in the historical area Mouraria, was for several years a place to avoid. In recent years this square has really grown into a trendy place with new cafe’s, bars and restaurants. Beautiful historic buildings, f.i. the Pombaline style, a Portuguese architectural style of the 18th century.

Lisbon Square Largo Intendente, historic area Mouraria

‘Josephine: a Portuguese bistro with an international touch’

Gary Nairn: “Josephine Bar & Bistro was opened in June 2014. Set on a corner building at the opening of the square Intendente, it brings an ambience typical of a French bistro . But its owner Marie Odile Coudert, a French native, says it has influences from all over. Being well travelled , she has also lived in the Netherlands for nearly 10 years. She prefers to call ‘Josephine’ a Portuguese bistro with an international touch”.

Bar & bistro ‘Josephine’ , Square Intendente Lisbon 2015: owner Marie Odile Coudaert & partner Gary Nairn

Gary: ” In Bistro “Josephine’ you can find at lunchtime (till 18:00) all the local basics like the traditional Portuguese sandwich, the Prego or a Bifana (pork) as well as a sturdy “Melbourne Burger “, a choice of salads and not forgetting the daily menu. For evening a range of Quiches and all prepared as well by the French chef”.

Bar & bistro ‘Josephine’, Square Intendente Lisbon: burger, French fries and salade (11 euro). March 2017

The Prego is the most popular garlic steak sandwich in the Portuguese cuisine for many years. The Portuguese eat the prego’s (literally: nails, referring to the full stomach after eating one with mustard or piri-piri).

Wonderful historical buildings! Lisbon Largo Intendente & view from Cafe/Bar Josephine, 2015

Owner Marie Odile: “What we wanted, was to create an atmosphere that would complement what was in the surrounding area. A place where you could eat simple food, hamburgers, steaks, chef quality, service orientated but at a normal price. We moved to this area nearly 4 years ago and fell in love with it, there have been many changes. Starting ‘Josephine‘ was an opportunity to be part of it all to leave my own little mark in Largo do Intendente”.

Bar & Bistro ‘Josephine: Largo Do Intendente 59 Mouraria Lisbon. Metro: verde (green) stop Intendente. Facebook

Gary, Esther & Josephine, November 2014: bar & bistro ‘Josephine ‘ Lisbon

Square Largo do Intendente 59

Square Largo do Intendente Lisbon

In wintertime it can be nice weather in Lisbon 🙂

Lisbon square Indentente area Mouraria ‘O das Joanas‘ Cafe

‘O das Joanas‘ Cafe sells breakfast, brunch and a great variety of soups, salads, quiches and cakes. More: Time Out

The Casa Independente is an artistic project idealized by Inês Valdez and Patrícia Craveiro Lopes.

Activities like concerts, exhibitions, ateliers, artistic residences, recitals and soirees. Casa Independente, Largo Intendente 45. Website, Facebook.

Square Intendente Lisbon & THE LOVESEAT created by local artist Joana Vasconcelos

Good friends & the hidden loveseat created by a famous Portuguese designer 🙂

Square Intendente 2018

YouTube movie about area Intendente – Mouraria, historical area of Lisbon

Famous vintage shop ‘A Vida Portuguesa’, Largo Intendente

Lovely loveseat hidden in the middle of the square 🙂

At the center of the square, there’s a wonderful wrought-iron sculpture created by local artist Joana Vasconcelos serving as a small garden, while the buildings surrounding it were renovated to house new residents and projects.

Top Ten most beautiful tiled façades of Lisbon

The building next to vintage shop ‘A Vida Portuguesa’ was covered with beautiful tile panels in 1865. The romantic images on the façade include potted plants and Asians recalling Portugal’s trade with the East.

Facebook area Bairro Intendente Lisbon

Square Largo do Intendente: wonderful street art!

There’s much more streetart to admire in Lisbon..

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January 15, 2021October 4, 2021

Asian food court Mercado Oriental Lisbon: 7 food stalls & taberna Macau

In 2017 the space above the Amanhecer Oriental supermarket has turned into the Oriental Market, a restaurant area with 7 food stalls dedicated to different Asian streetfood. Friendly priced. Worth a visit! 🙂

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & my favorite stall: taberna Macau

Mercado Oriental & André Magalhães

The Oriental Market is located in front of Square Martim Moniz in Lisbon, with 7 different food stalls, 3 of them created by André Magalhães, also owner of tiny & trendy bistro ‘Taberna Rua das Flores in Lisbon.

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & Macanese minchi

Taberna Macau & minchi

Taberno Macau serves dishes like pato cabidela (duck head), sopa de lacassá ( €7), recipe and Macanese minchi (beef and potatoe chips), € 8, small bottle of water € 1.

Recipe minchi (YouTube)

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & gua bao (Japanese pork belly buns), popular street food in Taiwan

Macau was formerly a colony of the Portuguese Empire .

Macanese cuisine is unique, and consists of a blend of southern Chinese (especially Cantonese) and Portuguese cuisines.

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon. Delicious 🙂

Between 1557 and 1887, Macau was governed by the Portuguese under Chinese sovereignty and authority. The colony remained under Portuguese rule until 1999, when it was transferred to China.

Mercado Oriental, Lisbon & Bao Bar: delicious oriental food, cocktails and beers

Foodstall Kamakura & Japanese sandwiches

Typical Japanese sandwiches, like katsu sando, a Japanese breaded specialty, available in different varieties. How to prepare katsu sando: Youtube

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & Kamakura 2018

Sushi House

Traditional sushi and other fusion proposals. It has take-away. Sushi combinations from 8 €, niguiris, sashimi, temakis and maki rolls.

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & Mint House

Mint House

Here you can taste Vietnamese dishes such as Vietnamese spring rolls (3 €), Pho soup, thinly sliced beef with rice(6 €), sauteed rice pasta with shrimp or chicken (6 €).

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon, Bao Bar & Sara Pezzini

K-Bob

Korean-inspired dishes, such as sundubu-jjigae, obibimbap (rice with meat and vegetables) or yangnyeom (fried spicy chicken). Also ramen and vegetable pancakes.

Mercado Oriental, square Martim Moniz Lisbon & Castle of Saint George

The Mercado Oriental is open every day from 12h00 to 23h00. Very popular, especially the weekends

Where: R. da Palma, 41
Square Martim Moniz, Mouraria Lisbon facebook

Very friendly staff 🙂

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December 13, 2020November 19, 2021

Quality Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada Lisbon & poet Pessoa’s table

Opening in 1782, Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada, located in the corner of the Praça do Comércio 37 near the Tagus river, is one of the oldest restaurants /cafés in Lisbon.

Lisbon Restaurante da Arcada Praca do Comercio 37

The restaurant’s terrace under the beautiful arcades, Praça do Comércio

YouTube about this square Praca do Comercio. Situated downtown, this cafe was once the ideal setting for the so called ‘tertúlia’s‘ (café talks). Well known names from Portuguese life, such as Bocage, Amalia Rodrigues and Portugal’s most famous 20th C. poet Fernando Pessoa, were some of its usual customers.

Lisbon Restaurante Martinho da Arcada Antonio Barbosa de Sousa

Owner of café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada’, senhor Antônio Barbosa de Sousa.

Portugal’s famous poet and writer Pessoa

Pessoa (1888-1935), worked and lived in the Baixa area in Lisbon, he wrote pieces of his work in this restaurant after closing time.

Lisbon Restaurante Martinho da Arcada table Pessoa

Restaurant Martinho da Arcade Lisbon: Pessoa’s table is still there…

Fernando Pessoa’s favorite dish: juliana soup, cod and fried eggs with cheese. Until the autumn of 1989 the cafe was retained in the style in which Pessoa enjoyed it. Meeting him for coffee….

Lisbon Restaurante Martinho da Arcada interior1

The inside dining room

These days mainly employees of the surrounding ministries and business people meet here for lunch. The staff is very friendly. Prices: not cheap, but the quality is excellent.

Lisbon Restaurante Martinho da Arcada staff

Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada Lisbon

Beautiful antique tiles (azulejos)

Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada’Lisbon 2016, senhor Antônio Barbosa de Sousa & my good friend Margarethe de Vrieze

In the afternoon this wonderful traditonal Portuguese place is worth a visit for tea and applepie ( 7.50 euro).

Clam stew 17.00 euro, veal medallions 18.50 euro, small bottle of Rimor white wine euro 9.00.

The menu lists regional Portuguese cuisine; try a amijoa cataplana (clam stew)!

More about Fernando Pessoa on this website

Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada Lisbon & very friendly waiters 🙂

Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada, located in the corner of the Praça do Comércio 37 near the Tagus river . Website

Open: Monday to Saturday 7am – 11pm (not open on Sundays)

Lisbon Praça do Comércio Feb 2011

Lisbon Praça do Comércio , February 2011

Are you a wine lover? You can taste a selection of fine Portuguese wines for free at Sala Ogival, also located at Praça do Comércio, Lisbon

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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)

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September 30, 2020June 26, 2021

Famous fado restaurant ‘Maria da Mouraria’ Lisbon & Maria Severa, femme fatale

A city break to Lisbon is not complete without a night with fado, the melancholy Portuguese music! Good fado has its home in historical areas Alfama or Mouraria, like in restaurant/bar ‘Maria da Mouraria‘.

Mouraria , cradle of fado’ Lisbon in June (Santo Antonio festivities)

Rua do Capelão (& fado monument), street entrance to fado bar/restaurant ‘Maria da Mouraria’.

Lisbon, area Mouraria: Rua do Capelão

Fado is very traditional to Portugal. It is a song expressing sadness, longing, love, passion and life (saudade) The fado singer is often dressed in black, accompanied by a Portuguese guitarra and it is sung by men and women. You are expected to be quiet when the fado is sung in fado houses.

Usually the fado singing starts from 21:00

Rosinha de Braga fadista Fado bar/restaurant ‘Maria da Mouraria’ Lisbon

The Portuguese blues

No district in Lisbon is more praised for fado music than Lisbon’s historic Mouraria area. It is said that the melancholic sounds of the music and singing of the Moorish people were at the base of fado (meaning fate) music, often described as the Portuguese blues.

Mouraria Lisbon, restaurant/bar & fado house ‘Maria da Mouraria’ in wintertime, Largo da Severa 2.

It is said that Maria da Severa was born in this house, that’s why this place was created (in 2013) to promote fado as a tribute to the legendary singer, considered by many as the first fadista. She died here, at the age of 26 years old, November 30, 1846.

Square Largo da Severa, Mouraria Lisbon, September 2018

Terrace fado restaurant Maria da Mouraria. Square Largo da Severa has been renovated in recent years. Very quiet atmosphere, because no cars can come here. Picture: Henk van de Weerd

Who was Maria da Severa?

Teatro da Revista (a sort of vaudeville theatre) Lisbon: Revue about Maria da Severa’s life

Maria is said to have been a tall and gracious prostitute, and would sing the fado in taverns, were she encounters a Count, Armando de Vimioso, bohemian, and a celebrated and aristocratic bullfighter.

After Maria sings for Armando, a passionate romance begins. Armando’s mother, Constanca, forbids the romance, being a scandal in the family! The House of the Counts of Vimioso had also close links with the Portuguese royal family.

Casa ‘Maria da Mouraria’, Lisbon: talented fadista Tania Oleiro, accompanied by Ricardo Parreira and Marco Oliveira

Fado house ‘Maria da Mouraria’, works as an extension to the Fado Museum. To better understand the history of Lisbon’s song, it is essential to visit the museum, located in the nearby area Alfama.

Fado house ‘Maria da Mouraria’, Lisbon & Saint Anthony’s feast days in June (2018)

You can have dinner, or just enjoy some snacks and a couple of drinks. We were surprised by fadista Tania Oleiro and the delights of a good dinner (from 20:00 pm). If you wish to dine here, make a reservation.

Casa ‘Maria da Mouraria’, Lisbon: dinner with friends Josephine Lucassen (tourist guide) and Jorge Torres

Dinner & fado music: € 35- 45 per person

Our dinner: Peixinhos da Horta (fried green beans), prato do dia (dish of the day: pork liver), bacalhau (cod fish), bife, and 2 bottles of red wine.