Príncipe Real
Is there a cooler neighbourhood than this one? Shops, restaurants, bars and museums – everything happens at a pace that’s hard to follow, in what is considered one of the trendiest areas in the city. Let us take you through it like royalty.
EAT
You will find the best of the world’s cuisines there – from ceviche at Cevicheria, sushi at Bonsai, curry at Chutnify, pizza at ZeroZero, Iranian specialties at Cafeh Tehran and dishes written in Brazilian Portuguese at Comida de Santo. Even intergalactic star chef Jamie Oliver picked this neighbourhood in Lisbon to set up a branch of Jamie’s Italian, which Time Out Lisbon’s food critic awarded four stars for their pastas and risottos. But follow our recommendation and go Portuguese. At Faz Frio (Rua Dom Pedro V, 96. +351 215 814 296), there are different cod dishes every day of the week; Tapisco (Rua Dom Pedro V, 80. +351 213 420 681) bets all its chips on petiscos, somewhat like tapas, and indeed some of the dishes they serve come from neighbouring Spain.
DRINK
Dave Palethorpe’s Cinco
Lounge (Rua Ruben A. Leitão, 17A), an Englishman who left London for Lisbon back in 2004, is a haven for signature cocktails in the city. Pavilhão Chinês (Rua Dom Pedro V, 89) is a bar-museum hybrid that has been going for more than 30 years, displaying thousands of collected objects, from little tin soldiers to Bordallo Pinheiro’s art pieces. And being the city’s rainbow neighbourhood, it also has some of the best gay bars in town, like Finalmente, Posh, Shelter, Bar 106 and the inescapable Trumps.
SHOP
In a neighbourhood where every other door is a shop, Palacete Ribeiro da Cunha, a neo-Arabic construction dating back to the 19th century stands out. Nowadays it is called Embaixada and it functions as a fine shopping gallery, where every store is worth a peak: from Latitid’s trendy swimwear collections to ISTO’s classic male counterparts, from Organii cosmetics to Chumeco’s shoes (Praça do Príncipe Real,
26). However, in the area with the highest number of concept stores per square metre, it’s also worth popping into the minimalistic and versatile Bernardo Atelier Lisboa, the extravagant Amélie au Théâtre, or the stylish New Black, 21pr Concept Store and Lidija Kolovrat – all located between Rua da Escola Politécnica and Rua D. Pedro V.
DO
Tram 24 came back onto Lisbon’s tracks in April 2018 and it is a great alternative to the always crowded 28. The city’s recent yellow star departs from Praça Luís de Camões, stops in Praça do Príncipe Real and, further ahead, on Rua da Escola Politécnica.
It is the perfect way of getting to some of the best restaurants and shops in town. If you packed the kids, take them to Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência (Rua da Escola Politécnica, 56/58. +351 213 921 808), the natural history and science museum that likes to outgrow its walls.
Children can go both on a fossil hunt and discover stories about the water distribution system that encompasses the botanical garden. And there are plenty of activities inside for their creativity to grow wings. Speaking of wings: there are thousands of them in the butterfly house.