16 Secret Spots in Lisbon the Locals Wish You Didn't Know About

This restaurant is located inside an amazing palace that dates back to the 17th century. The jaw-dropping dining rooms, lit by chandeliers and decorated in ornately gilded work, add to an already grand ambience, and azulejo tiles give it a touch of unique Portuguese tradition. In addition to the dining room, there is a relaxed tavern meant for casual parties, a courtyard and an elaborate waiting room. The menu reflects traditional recipes, many stemming from rural Alentejo, and the prices are very fair, especially considering the surroundings. Tucked away on a side street east of lower Avenida da Liberdade, it is an easy location to miss, but one well worth finding.

Rooftop bars are as much a symbol of Lisbon’s social scene as its cafes, and one just off the beaten tourist track is Limão Chill-Out Terrace at the top of the lovely H10 Duque de Loulé hotel. It’s a short walk north from the Marquês de Pombal statue, and anyone can go for a drink here (it’s an excellent spot to enjoy a cool cocktail while reading a book in the summer). The outdoor terrace on the 10th floor offers amazing views of the city. Bright and beautiful, it is characterised by a white bar and cool blue and white patio furniture.

Lisbon is full of lovely gardens and viewpoints perfect for spring and summer days, but one that is much quieter than all the others is the Torel Garden. The entrance conveniently opens near the top of the Lavra lift, meaning you can take a unique and scenic ride up. This 19th-century garden offers benches and lounge chairs, so visitors can sit and relax while enjoying the view over Avenida da Liberdade, and, if you get hungry or thirsty, there is a cafe on the lower level of the garden. One extra unique feature is the swimming pool that opens on hot days.

Young and trendy Largo do Intendente is a bright square surrounded by beautifully renovated homes with azulejo-covered façades and hip local bars and restaurants, like the Casa Independente. Once one of the seedier parts of town, it is now a cool hangout spot for the city’s artistic, freelance and entrepreneurial circles.

Open since 1943, the Pastelaria Aloma is a favourite pastry shop, where locals swear by the pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), even suggesting that they may be the best in Lisbon. If you’re up for a walk, you can find Pastelaria Aloma just past the Jardim da Estrela, near Campo de Ourique.

Most tourists beeline to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol or the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, where they will surely find iconic views, but, instead, go to Graça, and take photos from the highest peak in the city. Although it doesn’t particularly qualify as a secret, it still lacks the crowds that are attracted to most other viewpoints.

A true secret in Lisbon is this seafood restaurant, found at the end of the pier in Alcântara. It’s spacious and bright, and it’s easy to get a table because many people simply don’t know about it – including some locals. This isn’t a place for artistic presentation: the food is simple, honest, fresh and budget-friendly.

The many parks and green spaces are in excellent locations where you’ll find locals lounging under the sun, sipping coffee or having a drink at a kiosk and socialising with friends. At Parque Eduardo VII during the summer, it’s common to see activity groups meeting in these free public spots and many fairs/festivals are also held there. This 26-hectare park makes the perfect escape from the bustle of the city. Running through the city centre, it’s a location that’s easy to nip into for a picnic or a rest. The Lisbon Book Fair takes place there annually every May, and there is a play area for children. The central statue, coupled with the geometric hedgerows, make this park feel like something from another era.

Mercado de Campo de Ourique is Lisbon’s cosier and local version of Time Out Market at the Mercado da Ribeira, and, although it is usually packed, like its riverside cousin, it is still a place that tourists usually miss unless someone specifically recommends it. Fish, meats and fruits and vegetables can be purchased from the stands around the market, and stalls also sell ready-prepped meals like pizza, sushi and traditional Portuguese petiscos.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere peaceful to drink coffee, have lunch or just sit and read, Linha d’Água is a great cafe to know. Located behind El Corte Inglés, it sits in the middle of a park and beside a small artificial pool with a fountain. Sit on the lovely terrace with friends to soak in Lisbon’s sun, or head inside, where there are many more tables beside the long counter.

Scattered across the former warehouses of the 19th-century thread and fabric companies, LX Factory occupies a 23,000-square-metre site that was transformed into a home to various start-up businesses, ranging from funky restaurants to work spaces for designers and artists. LX Factory holds a Sunday flea market along the main street every week, where vendors present quirky vintage and local designer clothes, handmade jewellery, and vinyl and old-school CDs. LX Factory is an island of creativity, and there is a diverse range of events related to fashion, art exhibitions, music concerts and architectural meet-ups.

Ajuda is a beautifully authentic neighbourhood near Lisbon, located northeast of Belém. Even some locals can’t resist playing tourist and walking past the grandiose and beautifully preserved 18th-century National Palace or strolling through the lovely botanical garden. Although it’s only a short 15- to 20-minute walk from the Jerónimos Monastery, tourists sometimes miss it while exploring Belém.

One more miradouro (viewpoint) cafe that’s often missed is Cafe Esplanada do Miradouro do Monte Agudo. Laid-back and peaceful, the terrace offers more amazing views of the city, and the cafe serves budget-friendly drinks, cocktails and snacks. This is one of those locations, where you can watch a stunning sunset unhampered by an excess of tour groups. You’ll find the viewpoint and cafe in the Penha de França neighbourhood, at the top of one of the seven hills in the city.

Martim Moniz’s Fusion Market, Lisbon’s most culturally diverse scene, is rimmed with food stalls varying from Latin American to European and African cuisines, and, on the topic of live music, during the weekends, different international music (and dancing) add an extra vibrant energy. Sit among the locals during the day to taste a different kind of fast food that includes burgers made with Madeira Island’s special bolo do caco bread and soak in the sun or visit at night for drinks and dancing. It’s also a great spot to peruse souvenir stands and look for a unique gift or keepsake.

Directly across the Tejo River from Lisbon is Costa da Caparica, a seaside town that sits beside Almada. The beaches here are among the more convenient from the capital and often compete with the beaches on the way towards Cascais for locals’ attention. Jump on a ferry from Cais do Sodré for the more scenic route, hop on a bus or drive if you have a car; Costa da Caparica isn’t difficult to visit and while quiet in the off-season, it can get crowded in the summer. At the beaches in Costa da Caparica, sunbathers are among the most common visitors, as are young people and families. It’s a good place to relax with a book, sit at a beach bar and people-watch, spend the day with friends and listen to tunes from DJs that play by the beach bars.

Then there is Cascais, Lisbon’s semi-close resort neighbour that’s reachable by hopping on a train from Cais do Sodré and cruising for less than an hour along the Tagus River and the Atlantic Coast. Home to spectacular sights and equally amazing seafood restaurants, in addition to charming boutique shops, it’s popular among Lisboetas seeking a day or weekend away without travelling too long, and activities include cycling (there are plenty of bike rental shops in town), rollerblading and visiting the cliffs at Boca do Inferno (a top spot for taking photos). The surrounding beaches are also stunning and from Cascais, it’s possible to walk to Estoril, which is home to a beach with an incredible castle-like fortress.