The Top 10 Things To See And Do In Bairro Alto, Lisbon

The National Museum of Contemporary Art of Chiado focuses on presenting the masterpieces of mainly Portuguese artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. The permanent collection consists of works which change and develop from the period of Romanticism to Modernism. The museum was founded in 1911 and its initial collection could fit into three rooms of the current venue. This was until the director Sousa Lopes provided strong and dedicated leadership, during which time modernist artists begun to have input in the collections of the museum. Under the Diogo Macedo, in 1945, the museum opened its doors to the public. However, the shabby condition of the venue and a lack of profound research into the art movements called for a redesign, which was completed by the French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte for the Chiado Museum’s re-birth at the beginning of the 21st century.

The first shop of the traditional Portuguese souvenir that is canned fish, Loja das Conservas opened its doors in trendy Bairro Alto. The interior of the shop is decorated with a funky mural with the image of the canning industry, created by contemporary artist Jaime Rydel. The aim of the shop is to attract the attention of both local Portuguese visitors and international customers, who will put Portuguese produce in the increasingly popular segment of gourmet products. The canned specialties at Loja das Conservas are very affordable, so checking out this shop if you have free time is highly recommended.

Despite its small capacity this wine bar is always receiving positive reviews and houses around 200 different bottles of Portuguese wine in the cellar. The wine at BA Wine Bar do Bairro Alto bar is served by the glass, and the history of origins of the grapes and each specific brand are explained to customers by professionally trained sommeliers. Depending on the tastes and preferences of clients, members of staff will pick a perfect wine drink with rich flavors. The bar offers a wide selection of tasty tapas, including cheeses, hams and tuna.