Lisboa Region

Lisboa Hostels: Low-Cost Luxury

Tuesday, 25 December 2012 00:00

Lisboa’s hostels are unconventionally decorated, comfortable, clean, centrally located and – most important – affordable. According to the Hostelworld booking website, the Portuguese capital has the best hostels in the world, offering extraordinary quality at lower prices than in other European capitals. Their relaxed atmosphere is normally more welcoming and sociable than in a hotel, and more and more tourists are opting for this type of accommodation. Located in Rua Augusta, Travellers House has topped Hostelworld’s ranking since 2008. It has been voted “First Worldwide Medium Hostel (51-100 beds)” and “Most Fun Hostel”, and received awards for “Best Location,” “Best Staff” and “Best Character.” The Lisbon Lounge Hostel, Living Lounge Hostel, Lisboa Central Hostel, Home Hostel and Yes! Lisbon Hostel, all situated in the Portuguese capital, also occupy top positions in this list. Most hostels are located in the Baixa (downtown) district and many of them are situated in old buildings that have been restored and converted. The low price for a room (breakfast included) and the availability of free Wi-Fi are among the factors which put Lisbon’s hostels at the top of the list for many travellers.

http://www.terreirodopaco.net/en/noticias/52-hostels-de-lisboa

New in Bairro Alto, Lisbon

Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:00

Fads come and go, and there are new areas of Lisbon that will come to life and create new points of attraction. There is the new Cais do Sodré, the renewed Intendente, the new Martim Moniz. But the old Bairro Alto is always in fashion.

Restaurante Adega Machado – This is a typical restaurant founded in 1937 by Armando Machado and his wife, singer Maria de Lourdes Machado. The Adega Machado, one of the most famous Fado houses in Bairro Alto, reopened in the summer of 2012 with new management, contemporary decor and new entertainment venues. The traditional Portuguese Fado continues to be the main theme of this house. The mythical Fado house on the Rua do Norte, reopened with three distinct spaces: a main room with 75 seats and a la carte service, a modern winery with a capacity for 30 people and wine and gourmet snack services under the roof terrace outdoors. Both the cellar and terrace can be reserved for groups and events, including short presentations of Fado.

The Old Pharmacy - Wine Inn - The Old Pharmacy - Wine Inn is located in Bairro Alto, opened in the summer of 2012. At the entrance, a display shows off the supply of wine. The tables remind guests of Portuguese wineries, rustic yet sophisticated. Snacks prepared by the hotel accompany a selection of wines from sommelier Sergio Antunes that can be experienced by the glass, with a wide range of options by varietal. Try a remedy that is holy!

Taberna Portuguesa – The twin sister of Taberna de Alcântara serves local snacks. Gizzards, , tibornas tomato, among many other delicacies, can be tasted and accompanied by fresh beer served in clay cups. The ambience and decor is typical of a tavern but with a new air.

Pharmacia Restaurant - Integrated into the building of the National Association of Pharmacies, Pharmacia opened the restaurant in May 2011. Given the location, it is intended to recreate the ambiance of an imaginary ancient pharmacy. The project is led by Susana Felicidade and Tânia Martins (responsible for Taberna Ideal Ideal) and focuses on Portuguese cuisine. It is the spirit of conviviality and informality, as if we were visiting friends, sharing platters and conversations. For dinner there is a menu consisting of four dishes and two surprise snacks. A la carte snack service throughout the day is available on the terrace. The menu is the responsibility of the chief Susana. The space also includes a cocktail bar, designed from Portuguese drinks like port wine, Moscatel, arbutus or Brandymel, which is Tania Martins’ specialty.

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Lux Hotels Opens in Lisbon

Sunday, 16 December 2012 00:00

The Lux Hotels, a chain with three units in Fatima, will open its first hotel in Lisbon in May 2013. The Lux Lisbon Park, a 4-star hotel, is under construction and is located at Rua Padre António Vieira, cross-Rua Castilho, next to Parque Eduardo VII. The hotel will have 97 rooms, spaces for meetings and events and spa, addressing different market segments.

Food Markets are Reborn

Friday, 14 December 2012 00:00

Next year, the markets of Campo de Ourique, Ribeira and the Forno do Tijolo in Lisbon will offer new uses of traditional commerce, in an effort to revitalize areas. Market Campo de Ourique will install a zone of Gourmet Food Court in April 2013. Ribeira Market magazine “Time Out” was responsible for the creation of a restaurant, a bar/nightclub and a bar that is still to be finalized.

Market Forno do Tijolo - Located in Anjos, will offer space designed to support an independent laboratory and a digital manufacturing (Fab Lab)

Market Arroios - is in the process of being renovated. The market is set for the end of January. The upstairs already has an independent restaurant.

plus in PORTO

Market Mercado do Bolhao will create a market for flavors and traditional foods.

Market of Bom Sucesso will reopen in January with gourmet shops, a supermarket, a 4-star hotel with a music theme and the Manuel Antonio Cycling Foundation.

New Virtual Tour of Fado

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 00:00

A year after the Fado was declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Lisbon launched in November, a tour dedicated to virtual musical genre, which includes information about fado houses, about the Fado Museum and workshops on building. Between 2013 and 2014, the archives of the House of Severe phonograph and a workshop building of Portuguese guitar, in the street Achada, will be launched in conjunction with the Museum of Fado. The Fado Museum attendance increased by 60 percent in the number of visitors. In 2010, the Museum of Fado had about 35 thousand visitors and, in 2011, 60 000, half of them foreigners.