Category: Tourist information

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Unique bar ‘Pensão Amor’ (brothel) Lisbon: former red light district & pole dance

Closed two years ago, Bar Pensão Amor reopened on Thursday July 14, with several new features. Lisboa Secreta

Rua Nova do Carvalho in Lisbon, located near the river Tagus, was for decades known as a street in the city’s red light district with bars named after European capitals (like Copenhagen,  Oslo or Roterdão (Rotterdam) and Jamaica to attract the sailors who stepped off their boats here.

Bar ‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon: wonderful drawings on the walls of the stairs

Former red light district In Lisbon

‘Pensão Amor’ is located in a typical Portuguese 18th-century building. Once a cheap pension with rooms rented by the hour to prostitutes and their clients to enjoy a short moment of love 😉

Along the 5 floors of the building you can admire remake copies of old posters from burlesque shows and peep shows.

Drawing artist Mario Belem

Bar ‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon: burlesque decor & ceilings with frescoes

Wonderful décor

The ceilings of this former ‘guesthouse’ are painted with frescoes, the walls are covered with mirrors, paintings and old posters, and decorative pieces give the space an old burlesque, relaxed atmosphere. Amazing! The wonderful décor is recalling the history of the building.

Bar ‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon: the pole dance room

Pole dance & YouTube: Marina mey

Now ‘Pensão Amor’ is one of the most popular bars in Lisbon with various spaces for events like concerts, ateliers, a book store (love/erotica), a trendy hair saloon, bars and a bar with Peruvian specialties. The pole dance room is decorated with leopard and gold. Pole dance workshops are held here to learn the tricks of seduction…

Rua Nova do Carvalho, hip and trendy street in Lisbon

Area Cais do Sodré  

Nowadays this area is a hip and trendy region in Lisbon. YouTube

Rua Nova do Carvalho is a street lined with hip bars and clubs that become crowded after 2AM when the bars in the legendary area Bairro Alto start to close.

Rua Nova do Carvalho, hip and trendy pink street in Lisbon

More remarkable bars in this street:

bar/cafe Sol e Pesca, and Bar da Velha Senhora (Old Ladies Bar).

‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon – Erika Reusens admires the bar in burlesque style

The bar has two entrances:  Rua do Alecrim 19  including an outside café terrace) and on Rua Nova do Carvalho.

YouTube ‘Pensão Amor’ & culture Lisbon

Open:  every day.  More information : Facebook

Bar ‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon – stairs to the bar

YouTube

Bar ‘Pensão Amor’ Lisbon : drawing stairs to the bar

Facebook

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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
Facebook
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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Restaurant/winery Vestigius Lisbon: 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.

vestigious-lisbon-restaurant-nov-16-tagus-river-vintage-furniture

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

vestigious-lisbon-restaurant-nov-16-tagus-river-terrace-upstairs

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.

vestigious-lisbon-restaurant-nov-16-tagus-river-vintage-decor

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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Hamburger Vestigius: € 11.50; Spark water € 3.50, coffee € 2.50
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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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Vestigius
Cais do Gás, Armazém A, n.º 17
Lisbon – facebook
Website . Open: every day of the week
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vestigius-lisbon-restaurant-nov-16-tagus-river-location
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Vestigius restaurant Lisbon: location near the Tagus river
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Rooftop cafe 8th floor POLLUX Lisbon: scenic views & delicious lunch

Many years ago I discovered a small cafe on the 8th floor of a huge department store in Lisbon, Pollux : good coffee (bica), a pastel de nata .. and stunning city views!

Restaurant & bar Pollux Terrace in Lisbon: this view will never be boring! 🙂

8th floor classic department store Pollux

In 2017 restaurant & bar LESS was opened, on the 8th floor of department store Pollux (9 floors, 5.000 m2), founded in 1936, offering typical Portuguese luxury items for home decoration and household goods.

Restaurant & bar POLLUX Terrace  in Lisbon: legendary Santa Justa Lift
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Makeover in 2017
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The terrace, offering views of the legendary Santa Justa lift and the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, (Carmo Convent) used to have a small cafe with plastic tables (a hidden gem..)
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Basic snacks, soups and coffees were served nearby products for sale in the store such as plastic flowers, garden chairs and camping tables.
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Cafe/restaurant POLLUX Terrace & view river Tagus
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In September 2017 the entire 8th floor of the department store was transformed into a modern casual dining space serving delicious food (Chef: Miguel Castro Silva) .
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Restaurant POLLUX Terrace Lisbon & 8th floor September 4, 2018
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Delicious lunch with Margarethe de Vrieze.
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Restaurant & Bar POLLUX Terrace Lisbon
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Appetizer, smoked salmon tartar with horsera dish cream, soup, leek risotto with cod shavings, water & 2 glasses of house wine: 33 euro.
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Restaurant & Bar POLLUX Terrace, March 2018
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‘Are you being served?’
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BESIDES: When I entered the Pollux department store for the first time, around 16 years ago, the old-fashioned atmosphere and the (good) hierarchical service-model reminded me a little bit of the legendary British sitcom  “Are you being served?’ 😉 (YouTube), broadcasted between 1972 and 1985.
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Restaurant & Bar POLLUX Terrace Lisbon, March 2018
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The menu card is very inviting! Vega Burger on bread with potatoe chips, spices , red onions, mushrooms, onions & Port wine: very tasty!
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Restaurant & Bar POLLUX Terrace: new dining space & terrace
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POLLUX Restaurant & Bar Terraço Editorial Baixa, Lisbon
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Open: check Facebook
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December 5, 2018
 
The restaurant can only be reached by taking the elevator in department store Pollux: 8th floor. Rua dos Fanqueiros, 276, Lisbon.
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Restaurant & Bar Pollux Terrace Lisbon, March 2018
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Muito obrigada João and Samanta 🙂
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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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Restaurant ‘RAMIRO’ Lisbon: superb seafood, great steak & history

Cervejaria ‘Ramiro‘ is not just a restaurant in Lisbon. If you look for superb fresh seafood at a good price, this “Cervejaria” (litt. beerhouse) is the place to be! It’s always crowded and rather noisy, with tables full of locals, all having a great time. The atmosphere is loud and exciting.  YouTube

Ramiro restaurant 1

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

Portuguese love there seafood with beer (or with ice cold vinho verde , young wine). You can order big shrimps (gambas or camarão tigre), scampi (lagostim) and crab (caranguejo).

Cooked fresh seafood tastes fantastic with mayonaise, grilled seafood goes very well with ‘molho de limão’. This is a sauce of butter, lemon and a bit of piri-piri.

Ramiro restaurant Lisbon Pedro Goncalves manager

Restaurant Ramiro Lisbon

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

Ramiro Gamba Cozida

Restaurant Ramiro Lisbon

One of my favorite dishes: Camarão à Guilho (garlic shrimp).

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

O Ramiro restaurant Lisbon superb seafood

Restaurant Ramiro Lisbon

History : The Ramiro Beer house was founded on in 1956, by the hand of Ramiro’s father, being a small “pasture house”. With the passing of the years Mr. Ramiro slowly introduced seafood. This concept aroused a great interest creating a beer house (Cervejaria).

Ramiro Restaurant lisbon 6 seafood

Restaurant Ramiro Lisbon

Romantic ‘table for 2’.

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

If you don’t like seafood, here you can also enjoy a real good steak .

Ramiro restaurant Lisbon Av Almirante Reis

RESTAURANT ‘RAMIRO‘

Restaurant Ramiro is open from 12:00 till midnight.

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

December 2019: The Ramiro restaurant in Lisbon is very popular

There’s often a long line of people waiting in the street..

TAKE AWAY. Call at +351218851024 and order a seafood meal. Closed on Mondays.

Ramiro Restaurant Lisbon street view

Restaurant Ramiro Lisbon near  beautiful square Intendente

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Restaurant Clube Naval Lisbon: fresh fish, sailing school & 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

Very friendly waiters! The menu is varied: always fresh fish and traditional Portuguese dishes, like f.i. roasted fish fillet with razor clams, prawns, sirloin steak and black pork.  Ask for the ‘daily suggestion’ (prato do dia).

Read more about the menu

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

Because the climate in Lisbon is mild all year round, it is often possible to enjoy your meal on the terrace near the river. Octopus salad (salada de polvo) € 8.50, mussels (mexilhões) € 9.50. Bottle of white wine € 10.

Lisbon, Belém & Monument to the Discoveries

View from restaurant Clube de Naval’s esplanada. 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 (Naval Club)

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

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Building Associação Naval (sailing association) & beautiful wall drawing

Restaurant do Club de Naval
Brasília Avenue, Belém Dock, Lisbon Naval Club Building
Open: Wednesday – Monday 12h – 22h (closed Tuesday)
€ 30 (average price).  Website

From Lisbon by train from Cais do Sodré railway station : stop Belém (Linha de Cascais). Facebook

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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
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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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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….