SEEN Lisboa:

SEEN is located on the top floor of Tivoli Hotel and is definitely one of the best rooftop bars in Lisbon. It has an amazing decor inside and a restaurant with Jamie Oliver’s signature, while the terrace bar has a terrific view over Lisbon.

Food is exquisite and beautifully served, followed by the best selection of Portuguese wines. There’s also a contemporary mix of traditional cocktails to enjoy outside while admiring the big city lights.

Address: Avenida da Liberdade 185, 9th floor (Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon)
Price: €€€€
Opening times: Monday to Thursday from 6:30pm to 1am | Friday and Saturday from 6:30pm to 2am

Park Bar:

As the name might probably imply, Park Bar is actually located at the top of parking lot building. This otherwise lifeless place was turned into a very well decorated bar surrounded by beautiful potted plants. With a magnifient 180º view over Lisbon and the Tagus river, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink during sunset time.

Address: Calçada do Combro 58 (Bairro Alto, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 2am | Sunday from 1pm to 8pm

Topo Bar:

Topo Bar is based on the 12th floor of a commercial building at the Martim Moniz Square, one of the most multicultural areas of Lisbon. It has an indoor and outdoor space with a view over the São Jorge Castle and Martim Moniz Square. From Tuesday on, you can visit this bar for a nicely made cocktail and to listen a live DJ playing dance music.

Address: Centro Comercial Martim Moniz, 6th Floor (Martim Moniz, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 5pm to 12am | Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am

Entretanto Rooftop Bar at Bairro Alto Hotel:

Located at the top of one of Lisbon’s best hotels, this rooftop has probably the best view over the river Tagus. Trivago called it the 4th most spectacular rooftop hotel view in the world and that says a lot!
The interior is very chic and modern designed. From 12 o’clock until sunset you can enjoy the sun on the terrace with view over Lisbon’s river and bridge.

Address: Praça Luís de Camões 2 (Bairro Alto, Lisbon)
Price: €€€€
Opening times: Everyday 7am to 12am

Lost In:

Lost In is located in Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon trendiest neighbourhoods. The entrance is a bit hidden so make sure you check it good!
This bar/restaurant is the perfect spot to have lunch, enjoy afternoon drinks or just relax and enjoy the view over downtown Lisbon and the São Jorge Castle. The decoration is deeply influenced by the Indian culture, with a colourful and relaxed atmosphere that I just love to enjoy.

Address: Rua D.Pedro V 58 (Príncipe Real, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Monday from 4pm to 12am | Tuesday to Saturday from 12:30pm to 12am

Rio Maravilha:

Rio Maravilha is a rooftop bar located in the very cool LX Factory. It’s a gastropub with a great variety of author cocktails, beer and wines, inspired by both Portuguese and Brazilian recipes and ingredients.
The place has an inside bar with a unique decoration and strong design, mixing vintage and industrial. But it’s outside, with a privileged view over the 25 de Abril bridge, that Rio Maravilha really stands out!

Address: Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103 | LX Factory Entrance 3, 4th Floor (Alcântara, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday from 12:30pm to 2am | Friday to Saturday from 12:30pm to 3am | Sunday from 12:30pm to 12am

Limão at H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel:

At the top of the luxurious H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel, Limão rooftop has a modern Portuguese style decoration and an absolutely breathtaking view over the city. It’s located in Marquês de Pombal, one of busiest and more exquisite parts of Lisbon. There are a wide range of classic cocktails, Gins & Tonics, wines and even delicious Portuguese tapas!

Address: Avenida Duque de Loulé, 81-83 (Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon)
Price: €€€
Opening times: Open Everyday until 12am

Silk Club

This is definitely one of the major hot spots in Lisbon! It has a restaurant, a club and a rooftop bar with 270º view over the city. At the restaurant, they serve good Japanese food, while at the bar, the author cocktails might surprise you.
Service was very good and fast – it can take a bit longer on busy days but the friendly staff sure compensates for it.
Decoration is not great, but the view is fantastic and the real WOW factor about this place. And trust me, when I say WOW factor, I really meant it – it’s probably the best view of Lisbon you can get!

Address: Rua Da Misericórdia 14 (Chiado, Lisbon)
Price: €€€
Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday from 7pm to 1am | Friday and Saturday from 7pm to 4am

Check out these tours for extraordinary and well organised food and drink tasting tours in Lisbon:

The post 8 Best Rooftop Bars in Lisbon with an amazing view! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

São Rafael Atlântico is part of the NAU Hotels & Resorts group which has several hotels and resorts in Portugal, and specially in the Algarve. The hotel has direct access to the beach and is about 10 minutes driving from Albufeira city center.

Hotel and Resort Main Facilities:

• 3 Outdoor Swimming Pools
• 2 Indoor Swimming Pools
• Spa and Wellness Facilities
• Fitness Center
• Conference Rooms
• 2 Restaurants / 3 Bars
• 24 Hours Room Service
• Free Parking

The Room

The room was very spacious and clean. The decoration was a bit plain but had a lot of high quality details, which we really love. The shower was definitely the highlight – it was spacious, had two shower heads and the perfect amount of pressure.

We had a lot of space to storage our clothes and all the other belongings we brought in. This was great to keep the room clean and tidy (we know how easy is to get messy when on holidays…).

The bed was huge and very comfortable, we had 2 great nights of sleep. The duvet could be little a bit thicker since it was cold at night, but there was a bedspread available which was good enough. The bed and bath linen had very good quality and the pillows were excellent.

The central air-conditioning was a great add up and warmed up the room quite quickly. It was very easy to setup the desired temperature and it went automatically off when we opened the balcony door.

Normally we like to go out for dinner, but since we arrived a little bit too late for that, we decided to order room service. It was definitely a great decision! I had grilled chicken with potato and mushrooms and Miguel got a very tasty Carbonara.

Breakfast

Breakfast was good and had all the basic products you should expect from a 5-Star Hotel and even some more. They had a good selection of bread, cereals, sweets, ham, cheese and specially of fruits. There was also boiled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, beans, sausage, etc. The tea and coffee options were good, but the juices were a bit of a disappointment. They had orange, apple, pineapple, multi-fruits, but they were definitely not fresh.
On a positive note, they had sparkling wine available which is a great way to start the day feeling fancy 🙂

The breakfast area itself was big, clean and very well serviced by the staff.

Facilities

As every good beach resort, the highlights are definitely outdoors. There are 3 swimming pools surrounded by palm trees, lavish gardens and direct access to the beach. This was the perfect place to enjoy the natural environment, while relaxing on the sunbeds and catching some sun.
The Spa in the hotel is very well-designed and very nice looking. There were 2 swimming pools, but unfortunately the temperature was not as high as I would like (only 28 and 30 degrees each). The Jacuzzi was small but felt really good. The Turkish Bath and Sauna were good, with the right amount of warmth and steam.

These tour guides will make sure that your holidays in the Algarve will be better than ever!

Overall Experience

Arriving to this hotel felt nice already – the building is surrounded by big palm trees which gives a real vacation feeling. When you enter the hotel, you step into a huge reception space with very minimal decoration, but very warm and welcoming which I totally love.

The front office staff welcomed us in a very friendly and polite manner, giving us all the information about the hotel room and facilities. Unfortunately, we haven’t got a room with sea view, but we were pretty happy with the room we got.

Location - 9/10
Cleaning - 8/10
Comfort - 9/10
Facilities - 7/10
Staff - 9/10
Price - €€€ 

We rate this amazing 5 star Hotel and Resort in Algarve with an Excellent 9 out of 10!

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The best time to travel to Lisbon is from March to October – you can expect great weather and the sun shining every day. From November to February it can get a bit cold and rainy, but still very enjoyable and at potential much lower prices in terms of flights and accommodation.

The best and fastest way to explore the big city’s inside Europe is by train. Check HERE for deals and discounts on your tickets.

There are many ways to get around Lisbon (bus, subway, tram and even tuk-tuk!), but the best way to explore the city is definitely by foot. That’s why I decided to make a walking tour that crosses all the major historical neighbourhoods and landmarks.

This tour is about 6 km by foot (up and down hill) and takes, without stops, around one and a half hour. You will find so much amazing spots on the way, like viewpoints and local restaurants, that this tour will probably take you the entire day! And don’t forget to bring your walking shoes!

Here you see the walking tour on the map:

So Let’s Start:

Old Quarter

We will start at Point A in the lower part of the historical neighbourhood of Alfama. Here we will find the Fado Museum, a tribute to Portugal’s most typical music. From this point, we will walk our way up through a maze of tiny streets, friendly locals and groups of tourists. It’s quite a way up, but definitely worth it, since it’s the oldest and most picturesque part of Lisbon.

On the upper part of Alfama, right at the top of the hill, we will reach Point B, the São Jorge Castle. Initially built more than 2.000 years ago, the castle suffered several reconstructions and offers today one of the most breathtaking views over the city.

After we visited the neighbourhood of Alfama and the São Jorge Castle we will go to Point C, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. This will take us about 20 minutes, up and down the road, but the view is definitely worth the travel. The view from up there is AMAZING! You have a clear sight over a big part of the city (including the Castle) and the river.

Grab a drink, enjoy the view and when you are ready to go, we will continue to the Point D, the Martim Moniz Square. Here we’ll find the most multi-cultural area of the city, with Chinese and Indian restaurants, markets and stores, mixed with the traditional Portuguese flair from the nearby neighbourhood of Mouraria.
While at Martim Moniz, and if you are in for a drink, let’s visit Topo Bar, one of the coolest rooftops in town!

Check out Spotahome if you are planning to stay longer than 30 days in Lisbon, they have some great houses for you to rent.

Downtown Lisbon

From here, we will walk about 6 minutes to the Rossio Square, our Point E. Officially named D. Pedro IV , this square is better known as Rossio due to the monumental building of the same name that is also one of Lisbon’s main train stations. Besides the Rossio train station, we will also find the D. Maria National Theater and other beautiful XIX century buildings that are already part of Lisbon’s landscape.

Point F, Baixa-Chiado will be our next stop! After about a few meters walk, we’ll arrive to the heart and soul of Downtown Lisbon. From Rua Augusta, to the Santa Justa Lift, from Convento do Carmo to Rua Garrett – there’s just so much to see and do here! We will find shops, restaurants, bars, squares and beautifully ornamented buildings all-around. This is definitely the area that definitely better defines Lisbon and its culturally busting atmosphere.

A short walk away from Baixa-Chiado, we will find Praça Luis de Camões also known just as Largo de Camões, the Point G. This square separates the monumental and shopping-orientated area of Chiado and the nightlife district of Bairro Alto. Here’s where locals and tourists meet up and enjoy live musicians, street art performs and freshly-made cocktails. There are great restaurants and bars all around the square and it’s the perfect introduction to Lisbon’s bohemian lifestyle.

After about 6 minutes walking from Largo de Camões, we will find our Point H, the Santa Catarina Viewpoint. You will easily recognise it by the stone stairs and Kiosk at your left. It’s the perfect place to take a picture of Lisbon during the sunset, with the River Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge on the background.

Riverside

After so much walking, nothing is better than stop and grab a bite. Just about 10 minutes away, our next stop will be the Mercado da Ribeira, Time Out Market – Point I. In one side of the building we will find a traditional fruits, vegetable and fish market, while on the other side there’s a gourmet food court with a lot of options for Portuguese Tapas – definitively a great place for food lovers like me!

From here, we will walk next to the river to our final destination Praça do Comércio (or Terreiro do Paço), Point J. Since the Portuguese Discoveries, that Praça do Comércio has been the city’s gateway. This was the place where the Portuguese caravelas set sail to the New World and opened the city to new cultures and flavours.
The square was completely rebuilt after the Great Earthquake of 1755, including the Arco da Rua Augusta, a classical arch that borders the square and offers an interesting 360º over Downtown Lisbon.

Now that we came to the end of our tour, you can relax and enjoy your evening next to the river. I hope that you found that walk your way though Lisbon is probably the best way to get to know the city, its history and charm.

If you prefer to explore Lisbon with a guide then these are some great options:

The post Walk Your Way Through Lisbon appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Biergarten

Biergarten stands for the quote ‘ Best things in life are simple’ , which perfectly reflects their great atmosphere. It’s an outside bar where you can expect to enjoy a beer with some nice BBQ and music.
This place is very famous between the locals and especially among the students in Rotterdam. Surrounded by the crowd, I’m sure you won’t even feel the cold.

Opening times:
Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 1am

HUGH

You will find HUGH next to the Hilton Hotel Rotterdam. It has an amazing industrial look and a cool vibe.
At HUGH, cocktails are quickly made and served in front of you – they also serve High Tea and Brunches on daytime. Before you go just take a quick look at their agenda because they organise late night dinner party’s. If you do a late night dinner party you directly have the entrance ticket for the bar at night.

Be aware that after 23:00 you can only enter if you are 25+ (male) or 23+ (female).

Opening times:
Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm until early hours 

NHOW

NHOW Bar is connected to the NHOW Hotel and probably has one of the most beautiful views over Rotterdam and the river De Maas.

The architecture of the place is modern, with straight lines and well-thought details. It’s a great spot to have a drink at the end of the day, but you can also have lunch or dinner. Just make sure to book a table in advance because it’s usually full.
NHOW Bar has also an outside space where the view completely takes over, but watch out for the cold on Winter days.

Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 6pm to 1am
Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 2am

Mad Mick’s Breakaway Café

Mad Mick’s Breakaway is the truly, authentic café of Rotterdam. It opened in 1993 and is still one of the best bars in town! It has a decoration inspired in the 50’s / 60’s style and was renovated in 2004 keeping the same flair. At Mad Mick’s Breakaway you can enjoy your drink while playing pool and listen to great music on the background. They have an enormous choice of cocktails (more than 100!) and shots on the menu.
It’s definitely one of Rotterdam‘s classics – just a great place to have fun.

Opening times:
Monday to Wednesday from 4pm to 1am
Thursday & Sunday from 12pm to 1am
Friday & Saturday from 12pm to 2am

Café Restaurant Floor

Café Restaurant Floor is located on the Schouwburgplein which is a big square right across the corner of the Rotterdam Central Station. This is a great spot to visit if you like to have a special kind of drink. They have 15 different wine options, 40 different brands of beer from the bottle and 7 options of beer from the tap.

There’s a terrace with view over the Schouwburgplein square, an indoor restaurant and a nice outdoor space, which is opened if the weather allows to. It’s the perfect escape from the city’s life, however it can be quite busy during lunch and dinner time.

Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 1am
Friday & Saturday from 10am to 2am

Definitely check out these activities in Rotterdam to make your experience even better:

The post 5 Best Bars in Rotterdam You Can’t Miss Out! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Lisbon is a city full of colours, historical buildings, lively narrow streets, friendly locals and amazing restaurants. Here, I discovered breathtaking viewing points, beautiful parks and charming squares where you can find live music on Summer days.

Take a look at the Lisbon Ultimate Bucket List Challenge that I made for you. Just print it out and explore the city!

Lisbon made it super easy to explore the city by bike with their new bike routes. Want some help with planning your trip? Check out these guides for incredible experiences:

The post Lisbon Ultimate Bucket List Challenge appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Take a look at this 5 top list of the best areas to stay in Lisbon. These places are all in walking distance from all the hotspots in the city.

The best and fastest way to explore the big city’s inside Europe is definitely by train. Check HERE for deals and discounts on your tickets.

Baixa-Chiado

This is where it all happens, one of Lisbon’s best areas to stay while in town ‘Baixa-Chiado‘. This is the busiest neighbourhood in Lisbon, where you can find pretty much everything! There are a lot of restaurants, bars and hotels around, as well as vintage and handmade shops. Being in such an hotspot is definitely a privilege but that comes with a price – its’ one of the most expensive parts of town.

This area is mostly known for its monumental buildings and large squares, such as Terreiro do Paço, Rossio and Restauradores. The neighbourhood was fully rebuilt after the Earthquake that almost completely destroyed the city in 1755. The neo-classic architecture extends all the way from the most exquisite avenue (Avenida da Liberdade) until Lisbon’s largest square, Terreiro do Paço.

Baixa-Chiado is the perfect place to walk, shop and enjoy typical Portuguese food. On the way, don’t forget to pass by the Elevador de Santa Justa – an emblematic iron structure built to connect the downtown area to the Carmo Convent in the upper part of town.

Planning to stay longer than 30 nights in Lisbon? Check out Spotahome, they have some great places for you to rent.

Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a more lively atmosphere. The neighbourhood is built on a hill and has lots of typical buildings beautifully tiled up.

During the day it can look quite peaceful, but at the night it’s totally transformed into the cities’ most exciting area. You will find a lot of cozy restaurants and bars for all kinds of music tastes.

And if the nightlife is not really your thing, you can take this opportunity to explore the beautiful view points around the neighbourhood like Miradouro de Santa Catarina or Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

Alfama

Alfama is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon, the only one in the downtown area that was not destroyed by the 1755 Earthquake. Once you are there, you will be amazed with its historical beauty and authentic Portuguese flair. In a maze of really narrow streets, friendly neighbours and ups and downs, it has the most beautiful viewing points you can find.

In Alfama there’s an interesting mix of locals and tourist exploring around. Here, you’ll find many small restaurants with traditional Portuguese food, followed by live Fado music.

Before you book your stay in Alfama, know that it’s not possible to drive in most of the streets. You’ll probably have to walk a bit to get to your accommodation. But since this is an older part of town, it’s normally easy to find budget Airbnbs, specially in the Low Season.

Take a look HERE if you are looking for a place to stay in one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods Alfama.

Príncipe Real

Príncipe Real is full of excitement, character and fun!
It’s a residential area surrounded with beautiful gardens, like Jardim do Príncipe Real, and cute little squares, like Praça das Flores. There are great restaurants and bars everywhere, as well as antique shops and art galleries. Here you will find the majestic Botanical Garden, the Natural History Museum and the breathtaking Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

The neighbourhood is also famous for being LGBT friendly. You will find several gay bars, clubs and also accommodations directed only to the LGBT community.

Graça

Graça is one of the Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods and it’s famous for being the starting point of the famous 28 Yellow Tram. It’s the place where you just can’t avoid going uphill because it’s the city’s highest point. From Baixa-Chiado it’s about 30 minutes walking, but it’s definitely worth it.

Graça has two of the most amazing viewing points in town, Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Here you’ll also find the Jardim da Cerca, a very cool and popular park among the locals with a kiosk that sell cheap drinks.

From my top 5 list of the best areas to stay, this is where you can probably find the best deal. There are not a lot of hotels around, but you can find really great Airbnbs for a bargain. The public transportation is not so easy as in other parts of town, but it’s definitely a great place to stay.

Check out Spotahome if you are planning to stay longer than 30 days, they have some great houses for you to rent.

The post 5 Best Areas to Stay in Lisbon appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Senhora do Monte

This is one of the highest viewing points, with a 360º panoramic view over the entire city of Lisbon.

It’s named after the Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Mount) chapel that stands out at the top of Lisbon’s highest hill. On the way up, you’ll find typical Portuguese buildings filled with street art gratifies, a perfect blend of the old and the new.
It’s a tough (well worthily) climb, but if walking is a problem you can always take a Uber or a tuk-tuk.

Up there, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view over the São Jorge Castle, Baixa, the Tagus river and the 25 de Abril Bridge. On Summer days it’s usual to find food trucks and some live music on spot. This is definitely one of the best places to enjoy a beautiful sunset!

Don’t forget to bring your camera, good shoes and maybe a drink just incase the food trucks aren’t there.

Here you find the location of Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte.

Santa Luzia

São Pedro de Alcântara

Standing between the charming neighbourhood of Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto, you’ll find the very romantic Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. The view is so breathtaking as it is unexpected, specially after climbing through Lisbon’s narrow streets.

It’s probably the best place to watch the sunrise as the daylight comes over the Castle illuminating the entire city. Here you’ll find a kiosk where you can have a drink and watch the busy city life passing by, while you relax overlooking the downtown area and the Tagus river.

Don’t forget to take a look at the lower part of the viewing point. There’s a park with art subjects of the Greek Mythology such as Minerva and Ulysses.

Here you find the location of Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara.

Miradouro de Santa Catarina

One of the locals’ favourite, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina has a fantastic view over the river Tagus, the 25 de Abril Bridge and Cristo Rei. It’s located in Bica, a small neighbourhood famous for the yellow tram that continuously strolls up and down the street. Close to Bairro Alto, has a very relaxed atmosphere where locals and tourist blend and share experiences.

Miradouro de Santa Catarina is generally called by locals just as “O Adamastor”, thanks to the large stone statue at top that honours the mythological characters made famous by Portuguese poet, Luis de Camões.

Since Lisbon has many viewing points (and I may get confused sometimes…) I call this one the viewing point with the stone stairs – you will find out why when you see it! There’s a kiosk and live music which makes it super nice to just grab a drink and hang out. The view is amazing across the day and night, but during sunset you will have a beautiful sunlight over Lisbon.

Here you find the location of Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Panorâmico de Monsanto

Abandoned since 2001, this building was once a luxury restaurant, a nightclub, an office space and a warehouse. Now, it’s the highest viewing point in Lisbon with a breathtaking 360º view over the city.

It’s located right in the heart of Monsanto Forest Park, a green oasis just a few minutes away from the city center. The Panorâmico de Monsanto unfortunately is only reachable by car, but the view and experience is definitely worth the effort.

The building itself looks old, but the interesting architecture, and specially the amazing street graffiti art on the walls, makes it the perfect scenario for really special pictures!

You can find the location of Panorâmico de Monsanto here!

The post 6 Best Viewing Points in Lisbon You Can’t Miss Out! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Cervejaria Ramiro

If you like seafood, this is definitely the restaurant you should try in Lisbon. The restaurant is quite big, with two floors, but is literally always full!
As a starter I recommend you to get Portuguese-style clams (“Ameijoas à Bolhão Pato”) with warm buttered bread – which is so delicious it really just melts in your mouth. We also tried shrimps, crabs, lucifers fingers, giant tiger prawns and oysters which were all perfectly made. The price is a bit higher than the average in Lisbon but totally worth every penny.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to make a reservation upfront, so you’ll probably have to wait quite some time. The best thing to do is just to go there, take a ticket and walk around for a bit while you wait for your table. They have a beer tap/vending machine outside with some tables and benches in case you prefer to wait there. Just make sure you are not that hungry because you will sense the amazing seafood from across the street!

Papo Cheio

This traditional Portuguese restaurant is located in Bairro Alto, very close to Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara. From all the local restaurants I tried in Lisbon, this is one of my favourites. This is the place where they definitely serve the best Bitoque in town, they call it Bitoque à Casa.

Bitoque is a very famous dish among the locals – a fried beef steak, with french fries and fried egg on top. At Papo Cheio, the garlic sauce is key for the distinguished flavour that made the place famous. It costs only 8€ and was already awarded the prize for best Bitoque in Lisbon, so it’s definitely a must. If you prefer they also have other dishes on the menu around the same price.

It’s a very small restaurant, with around ten tables so making a reservation is almost mandatory.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

O Trigueirinho

This restaurant is located in Mouraria, a very traditional neighbourhood, birthplace of Fado music. The restaurant is run by a small family and they serve typical Portuguese food, from the heart.

The place is very small and can pass almost unnoticed for most of the people. Those who know the place, specially locals, are certainly keeping it busy. The food is very nicely and homely made – meat and fish are both great. If you are a fish lover (like me) then the grilled salmon is definitely a winner!

You can this restaurant’s location here.

Lucimar

I LOVE the food at this restaurant! I first tried it when I just moved to Lisbon and was looking for local restaurants. It’s a traditional Portuguese restaurant located in a residential area close to Entrecampos station.

Every dish I tried there was perfectly made. From starters to deserts, everything was delicious – the Portuguese flavours really popped up, in every bite.

The most famous dish is the Francesinha – a kind of french toast filled with meat, sausage and a special sauce. It’s actually a Porto special, but Lucimar brought it to Lisbon and mastered its flavour perfectly.

Don’t expect a fancy place, but a really traditional local restaurant with friendly, genuine staff. It’s always busy, so I do recommend you to make a reservation.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

David da Buraca

This restaurant is very spacey and therefore perfect for dinners with a group. It’s located in Buraca which is already outside the city, but fairly close – about 20/25 minutes away. There is no public transportation close by, so you will have to go by car.

I went there several times, ordered several dishes and I never got disappointed. Especially when I ordered fish! Their tuna and salmon steaks are very nicely grilled. The waiters are quick, friendly and very welcoming. If you don’t like fish, I recommend to order one of the specials, Bife na Pedra (steak slowly cooked on a hot stone).

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

Insider Secret Tip

Sometimes the best meals in Lisbon are found on the smallest places.

As Bifanas do Afonso

This is the best bifana place in the city! Since bifana is Portugal’s most famous sandwich, this is quite a statement.

A bifana is basically just a bread with slowly cooked pork meat. These bifanas are made right in front of you and cost €2,50 each. The place is always very busy, specially during lunch time, and manly with locals.

The place is super tiny so be prepared for take away. There is a little square right in front, so you can get a seat and enjoy your freshly made bifana.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

The post 6 Local Restaurants in Lisbon You Should Try! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Markthal

The Markthal is one of the most popular attractions in Rotterdam. Opened in 2014 by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the Markthal is very special because of its perfect arch and adorned roof. The 3D-techniques used to decorated the roof were performed by Arno Coenen and cover 11.000 m², creating an absolutely amazing experience.

It has more than 50 food vendors that sell Dutch classics, fish and chips, Spanish tapas and many more food and drinks. There are also more than 200 residential apartments inside the arch of this amazing building. It’s definitely one of the most emblematic buildings in Rotterdam and a nice spot to eat and enjoy the environment or just grab a bite to go.

Address: Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam
Website: https://www.markthal.nl/
Opening times: Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm | Friday from 10 am to 9 pm | Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm

Rotterdam Central Station

It might sound a bit off but yes, the Rotterdam Central Station. This odd-shaped building was inaugurated in 2014 and it’s known for its futuristic architecture. Besides its obvious functionality, it has many features like the 3,000 solar panels that supply the whole station and the impressive 5,000 bike parking spots. 

Rotterdam Central Station has connections to a lot of international destinations like Paris and Brussels, which can be very useful for your trip. You can check all available destinations here: Rotterdam Centraal

The Cube Houses

You have to visit Rotterdam’s weirdest, but most eye-catching attraction for over 30 years! You can find the Cube Houses next to the metro station Rotterdam Blaak and the Oude Haven.

These perfectly-shaped houses, built in 45 degrees, make you wonder how it’s possible to live in there. Architect Piet Blom designed it in the 70’s as a demonstration of the liveable-space optimisation in the modern cities. There are 38 small cubes and two so called ‘super-cubes’, all attached to each other.

You can visit it from the outside, or buy tickets (€3) for the Show Cube Museum (Kijk-Kubus) to take a look inside. To enjoy the full experience you can also book one of the available Airbnbs here.

Historic Delfshaven

In 1940 the city of Rotterdam was severely bombed by the germans, causing the destruction of several areas and infrastructures. Delfshaven was one of the areas that survived WWII and is now the most historical part of the city.

Back in the days, locals used to make a living fishing in the canals around Delfshaven. Nowadays, the area is full of bars, beer breweries and art studios where locals love to spend their time.

Witte de Withstraat

Witte de Withstraat is the most cultural and lively street of Rotterdam. It’s located in the heart of the city and a great place to stay if you are visiting town.

It’s the place where you’ll find mixed up cultures, tastes and flavours. There are great restaurants, amazing bars and little cultural shops all around Witte de Withstraat.

One my favourite restaurants in this street is Bazar, a restaurant that serves amazing Middle East cuisine. Besides good food, their very colourful decor matches the theme perfectly!

Don’t forget to try their Kofte – a dish of grilled veal meatballs that will definitely blow you away.

The Luchtsingel

The Luchtsingel is a 400-meter long pedestrian bridge that connects Rotterdam Central District with Rotterdam Noord (North).

It was a crowdfunded project that was supported by over 8,000 people. For €25, their names were immortalised into the wooden boards used for lining the edge of the bridge.

Museumpark 

Museumpark is located in the center of Rotterdam and functions as the city’s cultural hub. It’s an urban park that has many museums like Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Natural History Museum and De Kunsthal around it. Therefore, it owes its name.

The Museumpark is divided into four zones: a walking zone, a romantic zone, an asphalted city zone for events, and a well-tended garden. At Museumpark you will find a great cultural atmosphere on a very warmth and spacious area.

In August it’s possible to attend movie nights under the starry sky. A ticket costs only 6 euros – you can rent a seat (foldable chair) or bring your own chair or rug.

Nieuwe Binnenweg   

Nieuwe Binnenweg is a great street and is full of life. It’s the street where you will be able to get the exact image of Rotterdam’s personality.

It’s an almost 2 km long street full of shops, bars, restaurants and amazing bakeries like Koekela. This is also the street where you can find dutch famous coffee shops and breakfast bars. There’s so much variety of choice, that won’t be hard to find something of your taste.

Kralingse Plas

Kralingse Plas is the perfect escape from the busy city life. This is the place to have a picnic and relax surrounded by nature. Here, you will not only find a park, but also a small beach, a kid’s playground and a place where you can rent/store boats.

On good weather days you can even take a swim! Before you go in, just make sure to check if the water is safe here.

The Koopgoot

The Koopgoot, which was officially named Beurstraverse, has been the heart of Rotterdams shopping center for over 20 years now. I love the fact that is car-free, that shops are all in walking distance and that is open-aired but still rain covered almost everywhere.

Website: https://www.koopgoot.nl
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm (open until 9 pm on Fridays) | Monday and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm

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