Late June, I spent a weekend in Lisbon. In this blog, I am sharing with you 10 cool things to do in Lisbon (updated for 2020). From the best restaurant in Lisbon to the best markets and rooftop bars.
Below some cool addresses and tips for Lisbon. This was my second time in this beautiful city of Portugal. While during my first visit I mainly visited the main sightseeing sites, this time I concentrated on the cool things to do in Lisbon.
Restaurants – Where to eat in Lisbon
Alma restaurant
On the first night we ate at Alma which is a fine restaurant in the center of Lisbon. The food was not Portuguese but the experience was great nevertheless. The restaurant is cozy but dark and therefore perfect if you spent a date weekend in Lisbon đ
Cantinho Do Avillez, Lisbon
Another restaurant we ate at is Cantinho Do Avillez. This was my highlight restaurant even though the service was quite slow. But quality takes time right?! It is a very cozy restaurant, with simple but very tasty food.
Have lunch at Can the Can
Can the Can is a super cool restaurant on Praça do ComĂ©rcio. The concept is : âCanned Food goes Gourmetâ, don’t be afraid by the concept though as the food was great and they use only Portuguese products. Also the restaurant’s design is a must see in Lisbon. Following the restaurant’s concept, the restaurant is decorated with cans. Such an original and never seen before idea. Defintely a cool lunch spot in Lisbon!
Dinner at Mini Bar
Mini Bar, is such a beautiful location, the restaurant is inside the SĂŁo Luiz Municipal Theater and the food is great, you can choose a surprise menu (you donât know what you get so itâs very playful) that comes with 6 courses.
New cool restaurants to try during a weekend in Lisbon in 2020
- Epur : menu changes daily and has amazing views over the old town of Lisbon. The chef, Vincent Farges who was awarded a Michelin Star for another one of his restaurant spent months to find the best suppliers in Portugal!
- Seen, for the absolutely beautiful dining room and views over the city. It serves local ingredients used for authentic Portuguese and Brazilian dishes.
- 1000 Maneiras, because it does not have a Michelin star yet but is on the way to! It is a culinary journey from Yougoslavie to Portugal as it tells the chef’s story!
Weekend in Lisbon – Cool markets in Lisbon
Feira da Ladra aka Thieves market in Lisbon
The thieves market is one of the coolest things to do in Lisbon on a weekend. It takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays. We started our weekend in Lisbon with a stroll over the Thieves market aka Feira da Ladra in Portuguese. It is a flea market in the Alfama district of Lisbon. I really liked walking through the many hand-made artisan goods, CD’s, books, clothes,antiques, furniture, etc. It is also a great place if you are looking for tiles.
LX Factory Sunday market
While posting that I was in Lisbon on Instagram, I got many tips to go to the LX Factory in Lisbon. It is a very cool place to hang out. We went there on Sunday, took a cooking class at Kiss the cook and then visited the area. The LX Factory is set up inside and outside industrial buildings and there is plenty of things to do. From watching the graffiti on the walls, going vintage and interior shopping, sit at a cafĂ© or eat in one of the many restaurants. Talking about shopping, I think the interior shops at the LX Factory are one of the best I have seen in a long time and items are for sell at very good price. If like me you are living abroad, most shops ship items so no panic it won’t fit in your luggage. Definitely one of the coolest things to do in Lisbon on a weekend!
Things to do in Lisbon, other markets
- Anjos70 – fleamarket that happens the first weekend of every month (not in January and August though)
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Mercado de Campo de Ourique for lunch and the live music
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Feira de Alfarrabistas, the book market!
Going out in Lisbon
Watch the sunset on a cool rooftop bar in Lisbon
Entreatanto rooftop bar
Lisbon is the most beautiful from above I have heard so we also went to 2 different rooftop bars in Lisbon. One pretty classic, situated in the city center on top of the hotel Chiando. The Entretanto rooftop bar that has got a beautiful view over the city, you can even see the top of the Santa Justa lift.
Park rooftop bar
If you are more into party and trendy places, one of the coolest bar in for a weekend in Lisbon in 2020 is Park.
It is situated on top of a parking lot and is home to a young and hipster crowd. Drinks are very good, and made out of high quality alcool brands.
New cool rooftops bars for your weekend in Lisbon in 2020
- Topo – While many of the rooftop bars belong to an hotel, Topo is independant. It has very great cocktail. No reservation needed if you want only to have a drink. If you want to have dinner, reservations as recommended. It is situated on top of the Martim Moniz commercial center.
- Rossio Gastrobar – It was open in 2019 and next to great views and great cocktails, the snacks were created by a Michelin chef!
- Sky bar – for the live music and the live acts & DJs gigs!
Cool things to do in Lisbon – Spend the night at the famous Pink Street
I was obsessed with the pink street before I headed up to Lisbon. The reason is very simple, I saw this street once on Pinterest and wanted to see it for real. It is a street in which the floor is painted is pink and home to clubs and bars that get very popular in the night time. I went there by day to see the floor and went back at night to have a drink, We didn’t stay long, we only took a beer to take away and walked to the hotel with it but I am pretty sure it is really fun.
Listen to Fado
Typical for Lisbon is Fado, a VERY emotional music genre. Even though it is quite touristic I really enjoyed my experience!
Here you will find some fado tours :
Go on a bike tour through Lisbon, ride until Belem
On Sunday morning we took an e-bike from Praça do ComĂ©rcio and ride for around 1 hour on the riverside to go to Belem. I though a bike tour was a great idea to discover the Tagus River bank, it’s many restaurants, clubs and bars and see the Big Bridge up close.
The bike ride is very easy and has bike line so it is easy if you want to go with your children.
Book it HERE.
Eat a pastel de Nata at the famous Pasteis de Belem
I have eaten a lot of Pasteis de Nata while in Lisbon but Pasteis de Belem definitely sell the best one. It is so creamy it is a dream. And if you ride you bike until Belem, it is just a nice reward đ
Cool things to do in Lisbon – Drink Ginja at Ginjinha
Ginja is a Portuguese liquor made out of ginja berries, and more exactly sour cherries). The best place to drink it is at Ginjinha a very small bar on Praça Dom Pedro IV square. You can drink Ginja with cherries in it (much stronger) or not.
Where to sleep during your weekend in Lisbon?
The first time I came to Lisbon I slept at the Memmo Alfama, it is a central boutique hotel with a pool. It also has great views over the old city I can truly recommend it!
For more articles about Portugal, check out :
- the best things to do in Madeira
- my stay at the Belmond Reid’s palace in Madeira
- my weekend in Porto
- day trips from Porto
Pictures : Me and Joao Nogueira
