Lisbon's Cafe Scene
- October 23, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Praskipark from Warsaw, Poland
In my view, a good starting point to tour the city of Lisbon is the Rossio. This is a large square surrounded by cafe tables and is the heart of Lisbon. Heretics were burnt at the stake here and it was also a venue for bullfights. In the middle of the traffic free island stands two fountains and a statue of Dom Pedro 1V, hence its official name Praca de Dom Pedro 1V. Around the edge of the square are a number of celebrated cafes which are quite grandiose in design. The Cafe Nicola is a beautiful Art Deco cafe with a genuine 1930's exterior and the decor inside is filled with gems like Art Deco lamps, chairs, crockery, teapots and the like. This is an ideal place to sit and observe the multi-ethnic nature of modern Lisbon. Indian, African and Asiatic features in the faces of the passers by reflect Portugal's maritime history and status as a colonial power. The Pastelaria Suica is another magical cafe in the square and one I recommend. Not only do they serve a great coffee, it is an ambient place where you can sit, read and breathe in the cosmopolitan atmosphere in luxury. Next to the Cafe Nicola is the tiny Tabacaria Monaco and this is really worth a peek. This tobacconist and newspaper stand retains the original 1894 furnishings. There are a lot of these old Tabacarias' dotted around the city - part of the city's charm. This one is the most beautiful. Portugal's national theatre, the Classical Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II, stands on the north side of the Rossio and occupies the site of the former Palace of Inquisition. The decorative mosaics are very interesting to look at. They are pieced together from white limestone and black basalt that can be seen on the pavements and squares in the city centre and are work of former convicts.
From journal Loquacious Lisbon