Experiences

André Lança Cordeiro’s food is delicately minimalist – adhering to that unavoidable principle of less is more. Essencial proves that the simplest things in life are the best.

Lead by the renowned Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, the two Michelin star restaurant Alma is a fine dining restaurant with signature cuisine served informally in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Inspired by the markets of Saigon, Boa Bao promises to take you on a journey through Asia. The original dishes respect the local traditions and are created by experienced chefs using unconventional ingredients.

Open since 1986, this is a classic Lisbon restaurant where, amongst other things, you can see Luís Pinto Coelho’s relics. The thousands of pieces on show, ranging from planes to lead soldiers and unique pieces by Bordallo Pinheiro, happily coexist with cocktails and meals served late into the night.

Horse, sardine, bee, dolphin and stork are not just animals from biology books but also the names of irreverent cocktails created from local and seasonal products by Constança Raposo Cordeiro in her den, right in the centre of Lisbon. You can accompany them with vegetarian tapas by Chef António Galapito from the restaurant Prado.

This is the most charismatic car park in the city — and not just because of the ease of parking. Right at the top, on the sixth floor, you’ll find tapas, cocktails and lively evenings with music by DJs whatever the weather.

The greatest Portuguese contemporary artists can be found in this museum which shares its walls with The Ivens. Columbano, José Malhoa, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Helena Almeida and Júlio Pomar are just a few of the artists who make up the collection.

Two of the greatest monuments in the city face each other: the Castelo de São Jorge and the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo – the ruins of a monastery and church that were mostly destroyed by the earthquake in 1755.

This gallery opened in the 1960s to show the best Portuguese contemporary art. Since then, it has exhibited the work of some of the greatest names from the national art scene, such as Cesariny, Cruzeiro Seixas and Nadir Afonso. It opened a second exhibition space in 2018.

This is one of Lisbon’s most iconic and curious shops and it opened on the same day – 14 July 1789 – as the French Revolution. It makes a variety of artisanal candles that are aromatic, decorative and commemorative.

This Ali Baba’s cave for audiophiles is just a few steps away from The Ivens in Chiado. This is where you’ll find every kind of music genre on CDs, vinyl and new and old DVDs.

This shop sells Portugal’s past and future. You’ll find items by some of the country’s most iconic brands, many of which date back decades, such as Bordallo Pinheiro, Ach Brito and Couto toothpaste.

Musa set up in Lisbon’s brewing district and only left to open a second branch in Bica. This craft brewery, whose beers are named after rock icons, is also known for its tapas and lively afternoon crowd.

With so many hills to climb, visitors need somewhere to rest their weary legs and eyes. There are various miradouros, or viewing spots, spread around the city whose views will make you sigh and fill your phone with photos. São Pedro de Alcântara, for example, is just a 5-minute walk from The Ivens.

There’s no better way to discover Portuguese wine than to taste it in the hands of a producer. Carcavelos, Sintra and the western region are nearby destinations, but if you have time, it’s worth a trip to the Alentejo or Douro.