Lisbon Streetwise

Lisbon Streetwise - A walk around some of the finest streets in Lisbon

Lisbon Streetwise. Lisbon is a cool city. A great place to hang out and relax in. It is easy to blend in and become part of the scene if you want to. The crime rate is low but things happen and a little care will help to make your trip even smoother.

If you keep to areas with people, avoid obviously sleazy bars, keep things close to you in cafes and public transport, you should be OK.

Because Lisbon is a city where people live and work Lisboetas don't usually wear holiday clothes in town. It is more formal than London or New York. Certain styles mark you out as a tourist, whether you care about that is up to you, but it can make you a little more vulnerable.

Lisbon is full of great streets, cafes, bars, gardens. It is often impossible to walk ten meters without wanting to stop and look in a shop, gallery, or take a photo of some curiosity.And there are great places to eat all over town !

Let's get down to street level and explore some of the coolest parts of town.

StoryTailors. A Designer Dress Store with a romantic fairy tale aspect near Rua Alecrim on Rua Serpa Pinto. For more on cool shops Lisbon Shopping

Rua Alecrim

Lisbon Streetwise - there's no better place to start than Rua Alecrim. The street joins the waterfront Cais Sodre area to the Chiado and Barrio Alto. It is being transformed into one of the hippest streets in town, with restaurants, galleries, music shops, bars, but still plenty of old Lisbon atmosphere. Notice the statue to the great Portuguese novelist Eca de Queiroz - showing the author embracing truth.

As you climb up Alecrim there are great views towards the Sao Paulo area. This used to be one of the sleaziest parts of town but now is being transformed and the smart condominiums all around are proof enough.On the left going up the hill is restaurant Oliver, an "in" restaurant for food lovers. Another fine restaurant Charcuterie is close by. These are good places to eat at night but if you want to be Lisbon Streetwise don't arrive before nine.

There is a good guitar shop close by and Trem Azul for jazz lovers. Higher up we come to Azulejos Santa Ana a real Lisbon institution. Here they sell carefully crafted hand painted tiles of exquisite patterns.

There are several galleries on the street with good repuations for interesting exhibits. Try Gallery Alecrim on the right hand side.As we climb higher towards the Chiado there are several second hand book stores with many curiosities. Some of them in English. Lovers of "Night Train to Lisbon" will not be disappointed.

On the left hand side are trendy design shops and antiques. Restaurants Lisbon Shopping

Rua Serpa Pinto - Largo Sao Carlos

Lisbon Streetwise - Running parallel to Alecrim is Rua Serpa Pinto. To reach it turn right when you hit the Chiado at the top of Alecrim with cafes and the statue of Pessoa opposite. This leads to the lovely Teatro Sao Carlos, proudly established in its own square. Lisbon's Opera House fashioned in the Italian style modeled on the Naples Theatre of the same name built in 1792. It has features similar to La Scala full of rococo extravagance.Pessoa was born here and now there is a new and strangely anonymous statue of him in front of the Theatre. There are great cafes and places to eat all around. On Rua Serpa Pinto there is a more experimental Theatre and the Chiado museum with large-scale exhibitions of modern art and a collection of Portuguese 2oth Century artists.

Sitting with a snack and a good wine, at one of the cafe's close by, the Theatre looks beautiful. At night, with the trams passing, it is enchanting. Romantic Lisbon at it's best. Magical Lisbon Lisbon Culture Lisbon Cafes

Bica and Santa Catarina

Lisbon Streetwise - Coming back to the Chiado and heading west down Calcada do Combro there are great views back down to the sea on the left.Here you can get down to Santos on the Elevador do Bica. Bica is now one of the trendiest areas in town. An alternative to Barrio Alto with great bars and restaurants on the other side of Calcada do Combro. There is a great night time atmosphere around here. Check out the bars, occasionally you can even find a place to sit !

Close by is the Mirador do Santa Catarina Enjoying Lisbon Lisbon Districts

Rua do Seculo

Lisbon-Streetwise. Cultural Rua do Seculo has got to be one of the most interesting streets in town. A journalists and artists street with a dance school, Art Center and restaurant Snob, where journalists meet and smoking is more or less compulsory. There is a great atmosphere around here as if something is always just about to happen and sometimes does.

Praca das Flores

One of the loveliest parts of town, a good place to relax and watch the world, great for a coffee and a cake whilst kids play safely. At night trendy and sophisticated. Praca das Flores in the heart of the Merces area is as characterful as any Lisbon Square. The Parliament buildings are close by and you may be rubbing shoulders with some of Lisbon's high flying politicians.This is also becoming a very popular residential area. There are good restaurants close by. Lisbon Restaurants Lisbon Cafes

Rua Sao Bento and Amalia

Lisbon Streetwise - Full of antique shops and upmarket restaurants Sao Bento is as distinguished a street as any in Lisbon. Amalia the great Fado singer lived here and you can visit her house which is now more or less a shrine. The antique shops are full of interesting odds and ends small enough to be souvenirs. The past hangs in the air in these darkened spaces. The street climbs steeply to Rato where on the left hand corner there is a great Pastelaria cafe for coffee and lunchtime meals. After walking the incline you may need it. Lisbon Fado

Rato and Amoreiras Aquaduct

Lisbon Streetwise - Rato is a busy traffic hub with lunch restaurants to suit everyone. You can get a bus here in all directions. Amoreiras Gardens are close by to the North across the square,with the Viera de Silva Art Gallery, a must for Art lovers. The Lisbon aqueduct also starts here. A wonderful piece of urban engineering. There is a museum which explains the details close by. Going North is the oldest and most stylish shopping center, but that is for another day. Lisbon Shopping Culture Lisbon Photos lisbon garden

Escola Politecnica Gardens and Galleries

Lisbon Streetwise - Politenica is a great Lisbon street. The older parts of the university are here so there are always young people around. The street is full of Galleries showing really interesting exhibitions. There are the best Botanic gardens in Lisbon here with great views to the center. There is a wondeful old Style Pastelaria Sao Roque.The weird Pavilhao Chinese bar. There is the most artistic garden in Lisbon Principe Real At the bottom one of the best miradors at Sao Pedro de Alcantara. If you head diagonally after Pincipe real down Rua de Rosa you also end up in the trendy Bairro Alto.Just hang around Politecnica go slowly check out whats on offer. My favourite shop around here is just off the main drag selling movie posters. You will find your own favourite places if you take it slow.Eventually you will end up on Rua Misericordia near Sao Roque church one of Lisbon's most beautiful and back in the Chiado where a coffee calls you by your name. lisbon art gallery

Lisbon Streetwise - The work of Margarida Cepeda a well known Portuguese artist showing at Gaveotas Gallery in Rua Misericordia just down from Escola Politecnica in the Chiado Lisbon Streetwise top
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