Out and About STYLE Mag Issue 3 Vol. 2

ALFAMA
Alfama, a fifteen-minute walk along the waterfront, is
a spellbinding labyrinth of winding streets and ancient
colonial houses. This neighbourhood has a charm of
its own. This fashionable artisan district features some
of Lisbon’s most historical landmarks including Se
Cathedral, the Castelo de São Jorge and the Igreja de
Santo António. All of which should be on your list!
Steeped in tradition, no visit to Alfama would be
complete without a trip to one of its world-famous
Fado houses. You don’t need to know Portuguese to
understand the music of Fado. At night, the stirring
chords of Fado can be heard sifting out from most
restaurants in the area. However, for an introduction to
Portugal’s signature sound, I would recommend a visit
to Tasca do Chico. This intimate venue, with its laidback
ambience and satisfying appetisers, is popular
amongst tourists and locals alike.
CUISINE
Portuguese cuisine is influenced by its history. During
the Age of Exploration, the Portuguese colonised
several far-reaching continents, including South
America, Africa and Asia. The inspiration of these
voyages can be tasted in their food.
For newcomers, Bacalhau, or salted dry cod, is
considered a Portuguese staple. Although there are
over 1000 Portuguese recipes involving Bacalhau, a
lovingly prepared Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa is a good
place to start!
Great restaurants with traditional Portuguese food
include Faca e Garfo (the menu is small but surprisingly
strong) with an excellent Chorizo soup and stonecooked
kebabs. Meanwhile, Casa Da India is a strong
contender for best Peri-peri chicken in town.
The steeper the climb, the better the view.
While the steep incline of Lisbon’s hilly terrain may prove
challenging for less abled sightseers, the panoramic
views offered by its focal points are unparalleled.
The city is scattered with Matadors’ (Portuguese for
“lookout”), and at night these tucked-away spaces
come alive. If you only have the time (or energy) for
one, then Miradouro de Graca is the perfect place to
watch the sunset. Ideally, looking down on the São
Vincente de Fora Monastery with a bottle of Vinho
Verde (another must!)
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NIGHTLIFE
If you’re not already drunk from the stunning
views, then Bairro Alto (literally meaning ‘high
neighbourhood”) is the place to go.
This bohemian hangout dating back to the
1500s is a vista of open-air bars and tucked-away
bistros. And after closing time? Well, most diehard
clubbers saunter back down to Pink street
(an actual pink street) conveniently situated
by Cais do Sodre Metro station. Here, the barhopping
continues with popular bars like Pensão
Amor and Sol e Pesca open until the early hours.
BEACHES
Portugal is blessed with an impressive coastline.
For fellow sun-seekers like myself, you could do
a lot worse than take a short train ride to Cascais
and recharge at Tamariz Beach.
However, if you have the time, a ferry ride across
the river will take you to Almada. Here you can