Having been to Lisbon several times before, I thought I'd take last weekend's trip off from blogging...But the lodging, eateries and activities were just too good not to share.
Below you'll find a supplement to my previous Lisbon post, with some additional recommendations.
Stay:
LX Boutique Hotel should definitely be considered as an accommodation choice. It was conveniently located between the Chiado, Baixa and Cais do Sodré districts. The century-old, historical building was renovated to give it's guests a true Lisbon eXperience (hence LX). As mentioned on the website, the hotel was 'comfortable throughout and friendly within.' And, the price was right at only €130 for the weekend, which also included a welcome drink + sushi.
We were upgraded to a large room with spectacular views (room #301). From our balcony, we could see the rolling hills of Rua do Alecrim, the murals outside Pensão Amor (former brothel turned burlesque club), the famous Pink Street and, to the left (not pictured), the Tagus River.
Eats/Drinks:
If you were to Google best breakfast, brunch or açaí in Lisbon, you'd likely notice how often Nicholau Lisboa was a search result. After visiting, I understood why. In addition to being Instagrammable, the food was delicious. The açaí particularly so, as it was served frozen, like they do in Brazil, with granola and fresh fruit on top. I left there nourished, happy and ready for a day of getting lost amongst windy cobblestone streets, street art and traditionally tiled buildings.
In my previous blog, I urged people to go to Minibar for a mysterious dining experience. Since I loved that so much, I booked another of Portugal's celebrity chef José Avillez's restaurants this time around. Beco-Cabaret Gourmet did not disappoint! It was a hybrid of inventive cuisine exquisitely paired with the art of show business.
You must book and pay in advance (drinks are charged separately, the night of). There is only one seating a night, Wednesday-Sunday, from 8:30pm to 10:45pm. Show up punctually and dress in chic casual attire.
To get there, we walked through the Bairro do Avillez complex, all the way to the back. The Master of Ceremonies then escorted us through a secret passageway.
Once through the hidden door, we found ourselves in a secluded and sophisticated space, dimly-lit, with high ceilings, inspired by the 1920's and 1950's. With only 20 tables (48 seats), it felt quite exclusive.
The performances were glamorous, interactive and a lot of fun.
Theatrics weren't limited to the stage though. The tasting menu, which is not disclosed until the very end (*spoiler alert, I've posted it below*), included avant-garde and unexpected fare, meticulously prepared and presented to surprise and delight.
Do:
There are only five tram lines still running in Lisbon today, but the most famous is Tram 28. For €3 each, we enjoyed riding cute little tram 28 as it screeched and rattled up and down hills, through narrow neighborhoods.
This line transports passengers from Martim Moniz to Campo Ourique, passing through many popular tourist districts and sights along the way. Below is a handy interactive map of the tram's path, indicating points of interest.
Be bold and explore! You really can't go wrong in Lisbon!