Guidebook for Lisboa @ Bairro Alto II
Food Scene
The Old Pharmacy
83 R. do Diário de NotíciasO Trevo
48 Praça Luís de CamõesInformal and quick home made food.
Sinal Vermelho
89 R. das GáveasBairros
Bairro Alto, a neighborhood laid out in 1513, is a place that truly changes from night to day. In daylight this bohemian district is a sleepy place, hungover from the previous night, with not much going on except for the shops down Rua do Norte. When the sun sets a new life begins, with restaurants opening their doors, and crowds showing up to spend their bar-hopping night.
The bars are small, forcing everyone to spill out onto the streets and creating a street party atmosphere. Rua da Atalaia, Rua do Diário de Noticias and Rua da Barroca become filled with caipirinha-sipping crowds, most under 40, but mixing different urban tribes, straight and gay.
It's a place inhabited by old ladies and young artsy hipsters, giving it a vibe that is simultaneously old-fashioned and avant-garde, a shabby-chic neighborhood that really needs no name. It's simply the "bairro," the neighborhood where everything happens -- at night.
Crossing the street (Calçada do Combro) you step into the small Bica neighborhood, known for its famous funicular. This is another picturesque neighborhood that goes down the hill, together with neighboring Santa Catarina which is known for its lookout terrace.
1835 locals recommend
Bairro Alto
21 Tv. InglesinhosBairro Alto, a neighborhood laid out in 1513, is a place that truly changes from night to day. In daylight this bohemian district is a sleepy place, hungover from the previous night, with not much going on except for the shops down Rua do Norte. When the sun sets a new life begins, with restaurants opening their doors, and crowds showing up to spend their bar-hopping night.
The bars are small, forcing everyone to spill out onto the streets and creating a street party atmosphere. Rua da Atalaia, Rua do Diário de Noticias and Rua da Barroca become filled with caipirinha-sipping crowds, most under 40, but mixing different urban tribes, straight and gay.
It's a place inhabited by old ladies and young artsy hipsters, giving it a vibe that is simultaneously old-fashioned and avant-garde, a shabby-chic neighborhood that really needs no name. It's simply the "bairro," the neighborhood where everything happens -- at night.
Crossing the street (Calçada do Combro) you step into the small Bica neighborhood, known for its famous funicular. This is another picturesque neighborhood that goes down the hill, together with neighboring Santa Catarina which is known for its lookout terrace.
Lisbon's most photographed street is probably Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo. It's in the historic and picturesque neighborhood of Bica, one of the city's most traditional neighborhoods, known for its small bars and especially for the iconic funicular that runs through it. Constantly photographed by tourists, the funicular has been going up and down the hill since 1892.
The tiny neighborhood, found between the Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré districts, is made up of cobbled lanes and stairways, dating back to 1597, after a landslide. The land belonged to an influential Jew with ties to King João II, and was first inhabited by fishermen and fishwives. The name comes from a 17th-century water fountain ("bica"), although there are several in the area, that belonged to Duarte Belo, a local merchant. The fountains were popular meeting places, filling the neighborhood with life.
Little affected by the 1755 earthquake, Bica offers a beautiful view of the river, and maintains the colorful 17th- and 18th-century buildings, many of them always with open doors, flower-filled balconies and laundry out to dry.
Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo
Rua da Bica de Duarte BeloLisbon's most photographed street is probably Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo. It's in the historic and picturesque neighborhood of Bica, one of the city's most traditional neighborhoods, known for its small bars and especially for the iconic funicular that runs through it. Constantly photographed by tourists, the funicular has been going up and down the hill since 1892.
The tiny neighborhood, found between the Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré districts, is made up of cobbled lanes and stairways, dating back to 1597, after a landslide. The land belonged to an influential Jew with ties to King João II, and was first inhabited by fishermen and fishwives. The name comes from a 17th-century water fountain ("bica"), although there are several in the area, that belonged to Duarte Belo, a local merchant. The fountains were popular meeting places, filling the neighborhood with life.
Little affected by the 1755 earthquake, Bica offers a beautiful view of the river, and maintains the colorful 17th- and 18th-century buildings, many of them always with open doors, flower-filled balconies and laundry out to dry.