Lisbon, Portugal

By Ashley Rudolph

At this point, you likely know at least one person who's been to Portugal. It's no secret that Portugal has been having a moment for the past few years and there's many reasons why. Lisbon was the first city I visited in Portugal (over 10 years ago!) and after that first trip, I knew I'd be back. Since then, I've been two more times and would gladly go back again (and again). The food itself is a major draw, but so are the city itself (it's gorgeous), the people, and the wine. Enjoy my Lisbon reccs!

Where to eat in Lisbon

I can confidently say that after three trips to Lisbon, I have yet to have a bad meal in the city. If you have taste buds, you'll find something that you love - trust me. Here are my reccs for places to eat:

Lunch

Lost In: Located in the Principe Real neighborhood. It's a must see for cute shops and boutiques. If you go to Lost In, ask to sit on the terrace that overlooks the city.
Time Out Market: Time Out Market exists in a few cities now, but if you're not familiar with the concept - it's chic food hall where you can sample food from some of the city's best vendors.
Chapito: This restaurant is worth a visit if you venture up to the Sao Jorge Castle. The path there is super hilly, so you may want to make a food & bev pitstop.

Dinner

Eleven: If you're fan of a Michelin star, tasting menu type of experience - Eleven is great! The food was incredible and really pretty to look at :)
Sala de Corte: Two words: meat sweats. Go here if you're in the mood for steak, you won't regret it.
Cantinho do Avillez: This place was perfection from the ambiance, food, wine, and service. It's at the top of my list of restaurants you can't skip in Lisbon.

Drinks

JNcQUOI: If you asked me to select 1 word that described JNcQUOI, it would be "instagrammable". They have a full menu, but I only took a pitstop there for a few glasses of wine.
Red Frog Speakeasy: Speakeasies are kind of the same everywhere, but if you visit the right ones - they're cool for a reason. The cocktail game at Red Frog is on point.
Pensao Amor: If you're in the mood to dance and/or drink - the Pink Street has tons of options. Pensao Amor is tucked away upstairs on the Pink Street. There's multiple rooms and all around good vibes.
Procopio: Walking into Procopio felt like discovering a secret club reserved for people "in the know". I enjoyed it, but if you hate the smell of smoke (or are allergic) you should probably skip it.
Entretanto at Hotel do Chiado: Lisbon has views for days. There's nothing better than enjoying cocktails on a rooftop deck overlooking the city. Hotel do Chiado has one of the best views of the city (in my opinion) - you can't go wrong here.

Where to shop

One of my favorite days in Lisbon was spent boutique hopping around Avenue Liberdade and Principe Real. These are my favorite shops:

A Vida Portuguesa - we stopped here in Porto, loved the Lisbon location as well.
Embaixada - a multi-level shopping plaza. You'll find anything here from housewares to skin care and clothing. It's worth a visit even if you don't plan on buying anything, the space is amazing.
Mini by luna - one of the cutest contemporary womenswear shops! They carry kids clothing and accessories as well.
Oficina Irmaos Marques - if you like art, you'll love this artists collective tucked away on a side street. I found a "self portrait" (the dog drawing pictured below) here and I can't wait to hang it.
Otro - This is THE place to go if you're looking for unique, luxury scents - the kind of perfumes that equally as hard to find as they are magnetic.

Where to stay

I stayed in the Bairro Alto neighborhood at the cutest hotel: Lumiares. There's a full service spa, a rooftop bar, a restaurant, and it's centrally located. Most importantly, the staff was super helpful and accommodating. You'll be within walking distance of most of the major sights or, at the very least, a quick car ride away.