Category: Tejo river

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Restaurant Clube Naval Lisbon: fresh fish, sailing school & great riverfront lunch

Located on a privileged spot right near the river Tagus, a view at the 25 April Bridge and right next to the Bélem Marina, Restaurant do Clube Naval in Lisbon is a great experience!

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon & children sailing lessons

The bright sunlight of Lisbon floods the terrace on the ground floor. On the first floor there’s Clube Naval’s cosy restaurant overlooking the river through the enormous glass windows.

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon, January 2017

The inside first floor restaurant is a great place during the colder wintermonths.

Especially on Sundays Portuguese families like to enjoy a lunch together. Go early.  Great atmosphere 🙂

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon, January 2017

​Excellent f​resh fish & daily suggestion (prato do dia)

Very friendly waiters! The menu is varied: always fresh fish and traditional Portuguese dishes, like f.i. roasted fish fillet with razor clams, prawns and sirloin steak.

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon & Rinus Broere, 2024

Because the climate in Lisbon is mild all year round, it is often possible to enjoy your meal on the terrace near the river.

YouTube: Loesje, Rinus & Nelson January 2024

Bill for 3 persons: 2 x dourada (sea bream), bife atum  (tuna steak) & delicious bottle of Portuguese white (house) wine € 11 ): € 107

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon , September 2018 & Josephine Lucassen, tourist guide

Daily suggestion (prato do dia).

Octopus salad (salada de polvo), mussels (mexilhões). Ask for the ‘daily suggestion’ (prato do dia).

Lisbon, Belém & Monument to the Discoveries

Restaurant Clube de Naval’s terrace & Monument to the Discoveries

The restaurant is located right next to the Bélem Marina and the Monument to the Discoveries ( Padrão dos Descobrimentos). A visit to this historic city region of Belém is a must for every Lisbon visitor!

Restaurant do Clube Naval Belém Lisbon & river Tagus esplanade

O Clube Naval de Lisboa (Sailing school)

The restaurant is located in a part of a building of a sailing school, founded in 1892, a private non-profit association. The school currently has a paddling tank, various types of boats for learning rowing and sailing. 160 years celebration: YouTube

Building Associação Naval (Sailing Association) & beautiful mural

Restaurant do Club de Naval
Brasília Avenue, Belém Dock, Lisbon Naval Club Building
Open: Wednesday – Monday 12h – 22h (closed Tuesday).
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Website & menu ( in Portuguese and in English)
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Terrace Restaurant Club de Naval Belem Lisbon, June 2023
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From Lisbon by train from Cais do Sodré railway station : stop Belém (Linha de Cascais). Facebook

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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
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
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Kiosk cafe ‘Clara Clara’ Lisbon: Tagus river view garden & children playground

The ‘Clara Clara’ Cafe in Alfama Lisbon is a kiosk in the garden-terrace of  (Santa Clara), overlooking the Tagus (Tejo) River and the National Pantheon (Church of Santa Engracia).

‘Clara Clara’ kiosk cafe in the heart of fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon

Lovely & quiet garden

Summer, 2015. This small and quiet garden is a nice place to sit down and relax after browsing the legendary fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon or after visiting the nearby National Pantheon , in which important Portuguese personalities are buried.

April 29, 2021: cafe ‘Clara Clara’ terrace Lisbon

This lovely small garden was built in 1862. It provides a panoramic view of the Tagus River. Clara Clara Cafe presents complementary activities such as music or entertainment for kids . A little further down, there is a playground.

Kiosk cafe ‘Clara Clara’ Lisbon & Tagus river view december 2021

The cafe offers coffee, (bica), tea (chá) and Portuguese wines such as Vinho Verde (green wine), beer (imperial) and lemonade, fresh fruit shakes or a sandwich.

Cafe Clara Clara & a part of the garden overlooking the river Tagus

An inviting terrace in summertime: the kiosk cafe offers food and drinks – fresh seasonal products – with a careful selection of cheeses and wines, at tables under the trees in summertime.

Clara Clara cafe in June, the kiosk is decorated with garlands (Feast Days of the Popular Saints)

This beautiful garden was named after Pedro Amaral Boto Machado, a Portuguese Republican politician and governor (from May 1913 till May 1915) of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, discovered and claimed by Portugal in the 1470s. Independence was granted on July 1975.

Clara Clara Cafe is open daily from 10:00 AM to midnight. Easy to reach by old tram 28.

Clara Clara Cafe in wintertime (december)

In winter season the cafe offers heaters and blankets. Tea, hot chocolate or a Vinho Quente (hot red mulled wine) . The scones and hot croissants already have enough fans, as well as the chocolate muffins.

In Lisbon you can still find a lot of nostalgic Moorish kiosks cafes

The garden is surrounded by the flea market every Tuesday and Saturday

Fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon (every Tuesday and Saturday from dusk till dawn),

Cafe ‘Clara Clara’

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Breathtaking views Lisbon: restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, 10-min ferry trip & boat taxi

If you visit Lisbon, a 10-minutes ferry trip to the other side of the Tagus river is really worth it! Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio is one of my favorites, a small paradise! 🙂

Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, Cais do Ginjal Lisbon & delicious (fish) lunch with Margarethe de Vrieze and Marjolein Petersen (& dog Nelson) May 2022

Right next to the elevator to the Cristo Rei Statue, restaurant Atira-te ao Rio (litt. ‘throw yourself into the river’) is a space blessed by fabulous views over old town Lisbon.

Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, Cais do Ginjal Lisbon & friend Josephine Lucassen (official tourist guide), March 12, 2020

The menu is typically Portuguese: dishes with good presentation and tasty. We ordered one of my favorite dishes, salada com polvo  (octopus salad), and shrimps. Bill for 2 persons around 50 euro

Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, Cais do Ginjal Lisbon & view 25 April bridge

Wintertime

These pictures are made in September on a beautiful sunny day, but in wintertime there’s also the possibility to enjoy the views of old town Lisbon inside the restaurant.

Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, Cais do Ginjal Lisbon, September 2017

In wintertime the large windows allow the view to be equally (almost as) good as outside. The restaurant features an indoor room with a burning stove and a terrace with heaters and  blankets.

Cous cous & cool white wine Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio,  Lisbon

 YouTube Cais do Ginjal Lisbon

Although on Facebook  there are some negative posts about this restaurant, my experience so far is very good !

View from restaurant Atira-te ao Rio, old town Lisbon

After passing some abandoned and ruinous very old warehouses (lots of lovely graffiti ), there’s restaurant Atira-te ao Rio. ca. 10 minutes walk from the ferry,

How to get there? 

Wonderful very old abandoned warehouses with a long history

Take a (cheap) ferry trip from the Cais do Sodré ferry terminal to Cacilhas,  (timetable vice verca) and after a 10 minutes walk along abadonded warehouses near the river Tagus there’s restaurant Atira-te ao Rio.

Cais do Sodré ferry terminal to Cacilhas,  (timetable vice verca)

Restaurant Atira-te ao Rio
Cais do Ginjal, 69/70, Almada Centro, Lisbon
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OPEN: every day from 12:30 – 23:00
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Picture: Svetlana Borodina
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New: 2018 taxi boat service.
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Picture: restaurant Atira-te Ao Rio

Taxi boat service, from any deck in Lisbon.
CLOSED? Nearby restaurant Ponto Final.  More…..
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Breathtaking views Lisbon: Art Center ‘Casa da Cerca’, unique location & ferry trip

​Contemporary Art Center ‘Casa da Cerca‘ is located at the south side of the river Tagus.  Views on downtown Lisbon and the 25 April Bridge are amazing!

Superb Lisbon city views! 🙂 Garden Art Center ‘Casa da Cerca‘, Lisbon, February 2019 & tourist guide Josephine Lucassen. YouTube

How to get there?

Take the ferry from Lisbons’ Cais do Sodré (every 10 minutes, weekend every 20 min.) to  Cacilhas,  a 10 min trip. (Return ticket : cheap).  YouTube Ferry ride

Time table ferry from Lisbon Cais do Sodre to area Cacilhas and vice versa

Cais do Ginjal , Cacilhas Lisbon, February 2019

As you get off the ferry,  it takes about 15 minutes to walk along the river (Cais do Ginjal)  to reach the elevator, after passing lots of ruinous warehouses (could be a place for a movie set…!), and a few restaurants, both worth a visit 🙂  : Atire-te ao Rio and Ponto Final.

Picture: Margaret Schöttelndreier. July 2019

The elevator (elevador ‘da Boca da Venta‘, mouth of the wind) is convenient and free.

Magnificent view of the 25 April bridge, Cristo Rei (Christ the King statue), the city of Lisbon and the river Tagus .

View 25 April bridge. Picture: Margaret Schöttelndreier, July 2019

Former palace Casa da Cerca : art gallery, botanical garden & small cafetaria.

There are several exhibition spaces, a patio gallery, a cistern, a wonderful sculpture park, a chapel and a Botanical Garden – which, separately or jointly, present a regular program of individual, collective or thematic exhibitions.

Former palace Casa da Cerca & contemporary Art Center Lisbon, February 2019: tourist guide Portugal Josephine Lucassen

The former Cerca Palace is considered to be the most characteristic example of civil architecture from the 18th century, constructed between the 17th and the 18th century, with Baroque and Romantic influences, being restored in the end of the 20th century.

Art center Casa da Cerca Lisbon & tourist guide Portugal Josephine Lucassen, February 2019

February 2019: exhibition ‘O futuro do Passado’ (‘the future of the past’): Portuguese artists  Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Ana Jotta, Jorge Queiroz & poet Matilde Campilho

Eduardo Mota digitalizou “Le Saut du Lapin” de Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso.

Wonderful! Source: Wikipedia

The property was acquired by the City Council in 1988. Refurbished and adapted to the expository purposes for which it was intended, opened to the public in 1993 as a Center for Contemporary art. The first exhibition focused on a core of Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso’s work.

Website  YouTube Casa da Cerca

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Art center Casa da Cerca & garden. Picture: Margaret Schöttelndreier, July 2019
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Casa da Cerca, Rua da Cerca, 2800-050 Almada, Lisbon

Exhibitions, cafetaria & lovely botanical garden ‘O Chão das Artes’  (‘floor of the arts’): Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm

Center for Documentation and Research Mestre Rogério Ribeiro:
Tuesday to Friday from 10h to 12h30 and from 14h to 17h

Art Center Casa da Cerca Lisbon & ladies room 😉 😉 , February 2019

Facebook & news about upcoming expositions

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Breathtaking views Lisbon: Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ & short ferry trip river Tagus

The south bank of the river Tagus is my favorite place in Lisbon: views on downtown Lisbon and the 25 April Bridge are amazing!

Riverfront terrace restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, Cacilhas, amazing view downtown Lisbon. September 2017

Take the ferry from Lisbons’ Cais do Sodré (every 10 minutes, weekend every 20 min.) to the other side of the river Tagus: Cacilhas,  a 10 min trip. (Return ticket : cheap)

Time table ferry from Lisbon Cais do Sodre to area Cacihas and vice versa

As you get off the ferry,  it takes about 15 minutes to walk along the river to Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, after passing lots of ruinous warehouses.

Abandoned and ruinous warehouses, Cacilhas (Almada), Lisbon

Picture: Svetlana Borodina

Cacilhas used to be a bustling area for a long long time when shipping and fishing were still major economic activities in Portugal.

Abandoned and ruinous warehouses, Cacilhas (Almada), Lisbon

Picture: Edith Bering, February 16, 2022

Reasonable prices

You will love the typical Portuguese menu. Fish, meat and great Portuguese wines.

Restaurant Ponto Final Lisbon, September 2019

Great location

€25/30 a person incl. wine. Quite reasonable prices if you consider the view! If you’re not in the mood for food, just relax, order a coffee or a glass of wine (bottle from € 7.50) and enjoy the scenery.

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ & lunch with friends Svetlana and Sergy Borodin from Prague

We enjoyed olives, ripened cheese from Alentejo, cod salad with chick-pea, octopus salad, dogfish soup, a delicious bottle of restaurant Ponto Final’s housewine, sweet rice and a custard dessert.

Bill for 3 persons  € 58.50.

Lisbon Ponto Final Restaurant Sophie en Jurre 2015 2

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ Lisbon May 2015: Sophie Lever and Jurre Schöttelndreier

Very good Portuguese cuisine. Especialidade da Casa (specialty of the house): arroz de Tamboril (rice with monkfish), Entrecosto Assado no Forno (roasted ribs) and Peixe Fresco Grelhado (grilled fresh fish). The wine list has a quality assortment of Portuguese wines.

Great lunch in Restaurant Ponto Final, Lisbon together with Edith Bering and Anita van Zadelhoff, February 16, 2022

Romantic location

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ is a perfect location for a great dinner overlooking Lisbon by night. Make sure that you book a table outside in advance.

Restaurant ‘Atira-te ao Rio’, splendid view old town Lisbon

In caserestaurant ‘Ponto Final’ is closed, the neighbor restaurant ‘Atira-te ao Rio’, Portuguese and international cuisine, is also a great place to enjoy your lunch or dinner!  🙂

Cacilhas Lisbon view Restaurant Atira-te-ao-rio’ and Cristo Rei statue

Cacilhas and the famous Cristo Rei statue

The elevator to reach the Cristo Rei statue (free) is situated quite close to restaurant Ponto Final .

Svetlana & Sergy from Prague

Stunning views! Close to the elevator.

Several possibilites how to travel to the Cristo Rei Monument

Ferry-Lisbon Cacilhas

Ferry from Cais do Sodre , Lisbon to Cacilhas, the other side of the river Tagus

Time table ferry from Lisbon Cais do Sodre to area Cacilhas and vice versa

During winter season in Lisbon this place is also worth a visit 🙂 !  But it can be rather cold and very windy!

Wintertime Sunset video.

Cristo Rei Statue, Cacilhas, Lisbon

The 82m (270ft) high pedestal (by elevator). This enormous monument is built in 1959 in thanks to God for having spared Portugal during World War II, inspired by the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro. ‘God opens his arms to the city’.

Restaurant Ponto Final February 16, 2022 : Anita van Zadelhoff, lovely dog Nelson 😉 and Edith Bering

You can go back to the Cacilhas ferry terminal by bus # 101.

Lunch July 3, 2021, friend Margriet de Vrieze & delicious pataniscos de bacalhau (salt codfish cakes, recipe in English) 🙂

Restaurant Ponto Final, Cacilhas Cais Ginjal 72, Cacilhas / Almada,

Phone: (00351)  936 869 031 (WhatsApp also). Mail:  pontofinalrest@gmail.com.       Facebook

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National Museum of Ancient Art Lisbon, amazing river view garden & cafe

Behind one of the most famous museums in Lisbon, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, there’s a wonderful, a bit hidden garden overlooking the Tagus River and a small self service restaurant.

Terrace National Museum Nacional8 Tagus River

Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river

From this beautiful garden a marvelous view across the Alcântara harbor area to the Tagus can be enjoyed. Open from Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00.

Terrace Museu Nacional de Arta Antigua Sculpture

Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon

It’s really worth the time to wander through the sculptured garden after visiting the beautiful Museum or take a break for a drink or a lunch in the self service restaurant.

Terrace National Museum de Arta Antigua3

Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river

The self service restaurant inside the building serves daily plates for students and the Museum’s staff, but also as a visitor you can put together a meal of your choice to enjoy in the garden.

Terrace Museu Nacional de Arte Antiguo4

Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river

Here there are great views of the port of Lisbon, the Docas (nightlife area of Lisbon) the April 25th bridge and Christo Rei statue.

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Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon

Plate of the day (prato do dia): lasagna €6.50, cod fish (bacalhau) €6.50, salad €1.50.

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Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river

Beautiful sculptures! View on the the Alcântara harbor, port of Lisbon cruise ships docking and the Santos area.

Terrace National Museum Lisbon Nacional de Arta Antigua5

Garden Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river

April 25 bridge and Christo Rei statue.

National Museum Nacional de Arta Antigua Lisbon entrance

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon

The main entrance lies on the west side of the building on the Jardim 9 de Abril .

‘Casa das Janelas Verdes’ (house of green windows)

The Museum, spread through 60 rooms, has been housed since 1884 in a palace built by Count Alvor in 1690/ Both the name of the street and the common nickname for the museum, ‘Casa das Janelas Verdes’ (house of green windows) originate from the building’s shutters which were formerly painted green.  More…..

Lisbon National Museum of Ancient Art

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga  Rua das Janelas Verdes.

Opening hours Tuesdays: 14h00-18h00
Wednesday to Sunday: 10h00-13h00 and 14h00-18h00 (closed on Monday Holidays)

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Exclusive sailing cruises Lisbon: 3 mast schooner “Leão Holandês” & Dirk Gesink

January 2021: R.I.P. Dirk Gesink 😢 😢

Around 1986, the Dutchman Dirk Willem Gesink, decided to spend his honeymoon in Portugal. At that time he was a successful businessman in Holland and since his childhood a passionate sailor. He had started sailing when he was four years old at the “Loosdrechtse Plassen” in Holland.

Alcantara-boot-Dirk

Lisbon,  Doca de Alcântara

Obviously Dirk Gesink looked for a company that organized sailing trips on the river Tagus during his vacation in Portugal. He searched but didn’t find one single sailing boat dedicated to this activity. This was a determinant observation. At this moment he decided that within one year he would have his own sailing boat in Portugal dedicated to nautical tourism. And this was exactly what happened.

In 1987 he had already bought the then called “Sepha Vollaars” and was already active in the region of the Algarve. After having sold his house in Holland, the family Gesink made their home out of the centenary schooner, and accompanied the whole process. Even his two daughters were born on board.

Dirk Gesink boat

Leão Holandês

In 1991, Dirk Gesink concluded his final project of making cruises on the river Tagus. From this time on, the Leão Holandês is a reference in the Lisbon tourism branch, besides being the most ancient and experienced company dedicated to this service.

This video gives a perfect impression of a boat trip on the Leão Holandês, sailing on the river Tejo/Tagus, Lisbon

Dirk Gesink, The Dutch Lion Lisbon cruises Tagus river

Dirk Gesink

Many companies have had their names associated to the Leão Holandês. Some of these successes were the Rothmans “Tour the Country”, the sailing week with Unilever, the firework nights during Expo ´98, the publicity for Cutty Sark during the Euro 2004. And many, many others…!

 😢 😢

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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

restaurant Martinho da Arcada friendly waiter

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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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 Tagus River 2

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 Cais do Sodre Lisbon view from terrace

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 facing the Tagus river nov 14 papaya desert

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)