Things to do

All conferenced out? Time to explore this beautiful, historic city.

Thanks to the Spotted by Locals team we are be able to show you another side of Lisbon.

“Claret-y”2010 – Free wine tasting in central lisbon

Last modified on 2011-03-11 11:37:15 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Vini Portugal is a wine tasting service in Praça do Comercio. It is  a trade association that promotes Portuguese wines, brandies and vinegars on the domestic and target international markets.

Each week they have a selection of wines from different regions of Portugal for the public to taste. So it is a bit like a lucky dip but with great wine! “Ainda melhor”, as the locals say.

It is a wonderful space that also contains a small museum dedicated to the history of wine production in Portugal and some interactive exhibits.

There are 100′s of spectacular Portuguese wines available (in Portugal) and this is the perfect opportunity to decide which ones to take back home with you. The staff there are great to chat too and you should come away with an expanded knowledge of local grapes and probably purple lips too.

As you’d expect in a place that gives away free alcohol, there are some characters that visit who are more interested in quantity than quality. As it is a fairly upmarket establishment they are hard to spot. Sometimes however they like to strike up a conversation in order to make their cover seem more plausible. Quite often this ploy backfires and soon you realise that they are not a film director, artist or eccentric professor as you originally thought. But don’t be deterred, it is all part of the fun and seeing the deftness with which they top up their glasses while the staff’s backs are turned is worth a visit in itself.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vini Portugal | Wine tasting
Sala Ogival de Lisboa
Terreiro do Paço
1100-148 Lisboa
Mobile: +351 916 606 576
Tel.: +351 213 420 690
Closes on Monday, Holidays and for Private Events

Fabrico Infinito – Uniqueness at its finest

Last modified on 2011-03-11 11:37:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This particular store has a very unique slogan: “In nature nothing repeats itself, there aren’t two identical trees, two birds alike, two rain drops alike, two kisses alike. In this Fabrico Infinito also everything is unique and doesn’t repeat itself. It doesn’t come back. Enjoy. And be happy.” (by José Trabucho).

In Fabrico Infinito different types of original and peculiar things come together. You have an area of designer products from books, cd’s, jewelery, great chandeliers and also a wide selection of Brazilian artsy products such as bags, bathing suits or even plastic shoes that smell like strawberries.

In the back of the store you have a sort of delicatessen with divine cakes, which is a perfect place to just chill and enjoy the view. If you are in a working mood, just bring your laptop because here you have wireless internet.

Most of the products are biological (and really tasty!), and even the tea is served in a beautiful golden china set – this place is all about the details, you definitely shouldn’t miss it!

Vee’s favourites: Melissa Shoes.

Rita’s favourites: Great music selection.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Fabrico Infinito | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Merenda € 1.00
Rua D. Pedro V 74 | Príncipe Real | +351212467629
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 19:00

This article by Rita Esgalhado & Verónica do Carmo was originally published on Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Photo:  Rita Esgalhado

Download an up-to-date Lisbon cityguide by locals for Euro 3.99

À Margem – Take me to the river

Last modified on 2010-09-26 21:29:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Tagus River is one of this city’s great draws and at this café/restaurant/bar it’s undoubtedly the focal point. Situated just across the train tracks from the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) and a stone’s throw away from the water, it’s perfect for a drink, a nibble, a chat or a read.

The kitchen serves up casual meals including toasted sandwiches, carpaccio, a cheese platter and a choice of robust salads. Apart from coffees, teas aplenty, freshly-squeezed juices and shakes, there’s a lengthy list of wines and cocktails.

The architecture of the place deserves a round of applause (and indeed several adverts and photo shoots have been set here). It’s basically a glass “box” within an iron frame, sleek and streamlined in white-on-white, making the most of natural light and the view.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
À Margem | Bars, Relaxing, Restaurants (Intern.) | Salads from € 10
Doca do Bom Sucesso | Riverside | +351918225548
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00

This article by Andreia White Tavares was originally published on Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Photo:  Andreia White Tavares

Download an up-to-date Lisbon cityguide by locals for Euro 3.99

Miradouro Senhora do Monte – Lisbon at your feet

Last modified on 2010-09-26 21:29:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Perched on a hillside in the Graça neighborhood, Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Hill) is Lisbon’s highest lookout point and hands down the spot offering the best view of the city. With a field of vision spanning nearly 250 degrees, not even a fish-eye lens can take it all in.

I love it here. It’s peaceful and romantic and an awesome place from which to watch the sunset. Being slightly out of the way, it’s one of the city’s least used viewpoints, meaning it never gets too crowded and you can almost always find a seat on one of the benches.

There is no café but the bar at neighboring hotel Albergaria Senhora do Monte(which also serves light snacks) is open to the public. 4 floors up, the view is pretty spectacular from there, too.

A small statue of the Virgin stands on the grounds, as does a chapel dedicated to Saint Gens, an ancient bishop and martyr. Curiously, this chapel attracts some rather “fertile” visitors. As the story goes, S. Gens’ mother died in childbirth, giving rise to a tradition that relies on a reversal of that (mis)fortune, whereby pregnant women who sit on his chair (inside the chapel) are ensured a safe delivery. How’s that for taking life’s lemons and making lemonade?

It’s a short walk from Largo da Graça – trams 28 & 34.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Miradouro Senhora do Monte | Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Rua da Senhora do Monte à Graça | Alfama & Graça
24 hours daily

This article by Andreia White Tavares was originally published on Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Photo:  Andreia White Tavares

Download an up-to-date Lisbon cityguide by locals for Euro 3.99

Casa Fernando Pessoa – A Lively Literary Tribute

Last modified on 2010-08-20 18:41:39 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Casa Fernando Pessoa blends historical artifacts and images with a bright space and colorful art exhibitions to give visitors a lively and contemporary perspective of Portugal’s literary darling, Fernando Pessoa.

The building is where Pessoa spent the last years of his life, though only one room has been designed as an historical model. Everything else is modern, including the expansive library, which is an ideal read/writing spot on a scorching summer afternoon.

Two rooms host art exhibitions; one on the top floor and one on the entrance level, which presents an array of Pessoa portraits, including a Pessoa foosball table. Yes, a Pessoa foosball table. One team is all Pessoas (perhaps symbolic of the many different characters he took on) and the other team is a compilation of other Portuguese literary stars. Art, poetry, and a foosball table- what more could you need?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Casa Fernando Pessoa | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Rua Coelho da Rocha, 16 | Estrela | +351213913270
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00

This article by Sara Roffino was originally published on Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Photo:  Sara Roffino

Download an up-to-date Lisbon cityguide by locals for Euro 3.99

Doce Real – When hungry, stop here!

Last modified on 2010-08-20 18:27:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

From the outside, you might think this is just one more of the hundreds of patisseries that Lisbon has, yet you are wrong. It is one of the best kept secrets of Príncipe Real.

Located near the garden, it is a corner patisserie, where looking through the window you can see the most perfect wholewheat muffins, astonishing cream tarts (“Pastel de Nata”) as well as amazing warm brioche sandwich filled with cheese and ham (“Merenda”).

Also Doce Real makes its own bread, so if you are up for it, just ask for a simple bread with cheese and an orange juice.

We can’t write a lot more about this place: just go there and then you will agree with me: words aren’t enough to describe how good everything really is. This really is where all the portuguese delicatessens do meet for you to find out.

Vee’s favorites: Try the merenda and ask them to warm it up and ask for “Vigor” Milk (bottled chocolate milk). Best combination possible!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Doce Real | Snacks | Merenda € 1.00
Rua D. Pedro V 121 | Príncipe Real | +351213465923
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 19:00, Sat 08:00 – 13:00

This article by Rita Esgalhado & Verónica do Carmo was originally published on Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Photo:  Rita Esgalhado

Download an up-to-date Lisbon cityguide by locals for Euro 3.99

Lisbon views

Last modified on 2010-08-24 17:33:08 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Here are some of the amazing views you can catch in Lisbon just walking around its 7 hills…