Exploring the Alcântara neighbourhood ended up being one of our favourite days in Lisbon. It is an easy train ride from the center of town. We got off at the Alcântara Mar Station and were pleasantly surprised to find the tunnel covered in wild and colourful murals! It created some excitement about what we were going to experience next.
The LX factory is just a short 10-minute walk from the station. This artsy little village is made up of a conglomerate of old warehouses that have been transformed into funky restaurants, yoga and dance studios, cafés and shops with unique houseware goods, like giraffe lamps and ceramic bulldog toilet paper holders.
This hip creative community serves people in a wide variety of ways. Think of it as the art center of Lisbon. They’ve utilized the factory’s spaces in innovative ways. Opening their doors to the public to experience diverse exhibitions, workshops, and theatre productions throughout the year. This is the “go-to” community for fashion events and companies blazing the trail in multimedia, advertising and architecture. The numerous accolades of the LX factory draw visitors from all over!
Portugal is known for their pottery, tiles, and ceramics. We found two shops here that had a beautiful selection to satisfy both traditional and modern tastes. Portugal’s national symbol is the rooster, it represents their zest for life. I considered getting a little tattoo of one (and still might) but found this guy instead and now he’s hanging out in my kitchen and makes me smile.
We popped into a sunglass shop that had a unique selection. We couldn’t resist but try a bunch on. I walked out with these cool ones made in Spain. You’ll notice in our blogs that we both have a thing for sunglasses, and I love to collect them because they take up very little space in our luggage.
If you are someone who likes to read on holidays or just explore unique Book Stores. Head on into Ler Devagar Library and have a tour. You can grab a coffee on the lower floor, search through the impressive collection of books that reach up to the ceiling and head upstairs to peruse the vinyl section.
Sardines are also a popular souvenir of Portugal, so when we spotted Comur, a shop solely selling sardines, we had to pop in and have a look. This place was unlike anything I’d seen. So many different colours and flavours are displayed in an artistic fashion.
If you are a lover of urban art, you will be happy to know there are murals sprinkled all over!
As far as deciding where to eat, there are around 18 options to choose from. We had our eye on Taberna 1300. After having a look at the menu, we headed inside this eclectic industrial space and sat down. We ordered the smoked duck cannelloni and the fish with clams, cous cous and a garlicky lemon sauce. The food was fantastic and the servers were friendly and attentive.
A fun affordable place to check out for cocktails and a view of the bridge and river is the LX Factory Rooftop. This laid-back space is open every afternoon.
*On the first Thursday evening of each month, artists open their workspaces to the public… just follow the red balloons to find them.
*They have an open-air Art market every Sunday from 11 am-7 pm full of handmade local items.
While we were in the area, we headed just a few blocks away to The Underground Village. It is a small area of stacked shipping containers and old buses converted to workspaces, a bar and a café. The bus turned to a restaurant that serves up a tasty brunch and burgers and is a charming little place to hang out in. You could easily walk through the area and see everything in a few minutes, but if you have an interest in what can be done with sea cans in a creative way, it’s worth the time.
From there, you can get a closer look at the 25 de Abril Bridge. The bridge was designed and built by the same people that spearheaded the Golden Gate Bridge. The similarities are uncanny, even down to the colour, although the one in Portugal is larger.
As we were checking out the bridge, we spotted The Docas (Santo Amaro Docks). This was another one of Lisbon’s successful renovation projects. The grouping of warehouses overlooking the marina was upgraded into cosmopolitan bars and restaurants. There is a long promenade that you can walk along or stop and enjoy a meal while staring out at the bridge and the sailboats on the water. This is one of the best views you’ll get in Lisbon!
The Alcantara neighbourhood has a synergetic balance of old and new. Conserving the charm and authenticity of the area while making room for innovation. We are suckers for creative reconstruction projects. We love seeing old buildings and communities repurposing and recycling what once were. That is why we loved spending a day here and why we wanted to share it with you.
Thanks for Stopping By!
Check out these blogs for cool things to do in Portugal
