The Legendary Tigerman on his Tips for Lisbon

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The Legendary Tigerman is a popular musician in Portugal and has also gained a big following around the world. With a number of studio albums under his belt and an energetic stage presence, he is one of the big names playing at MEO Kalorama this year alongside the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Arctic Monkeys and Chet Faker.

‘Lisbon in 2022 is one of the most exciting cities in Europe’ the singer tells Culture Trip when asked about the city he calls home. ‘It’s full of amazing places to go, either if you’re looking for nightlife or a walk in a park or a visit to a museum.’

‘During the day, you can relax and chill (and have a bite in one of the many cafeterias) at the beautiful Gulbenkian Gardens. If you love art you can also visit the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (the modern art museum is closed for renovation) with one of the most important private art collections in the world. Another beautiful place to relax is the Tropical Botanical Garden, in Belém, where you can also taste the world famous pastry Pastel de Belém.’

Given his rock roots, you can rely on the following recommendations when looking for somewhere with a trendy edge away from the crowds. ‘A cool area to walk around is the area of the Anjos, or Los Anjos, as the locals call it. A lot cool places to eat, cool indie stores, such as Casa Tigre , the place to go if you like Rock’n’roll, cool clothes, tattoos or motorcycles. There you can drink a beer, walk-in for a tattoo or buy a custom leather jacket painted by Gus Van Sant (yes, the World famous director!). Other cool stores in the area are Couve (vegan clothing), and Retro City (second hand clothing).’

If you’re into eating out, Lisbon has a wide range of restaurants, from traditional Portuguese cuisine to international fine dining. Ljubomir’s Stanisic 100 Maneiras, winner of a Michelin star, is one of the most outrageous gastronomic experiences in Lisbon. From the same chef you can also try Carnal (his new mexican restaurant) or Bistro, both in Chiado. One of the best kept secrets in Lisbon is the small restaurant called A Primavera do Jerónimo, in the heart of Bairro Alto, one of the most amazing places to taste true homemade style Portuguese cuisine. If you like Japanese cuisine, you can’t miss GoJuu, for Lebanese food you should go to Fenicios, and if you like to share traditional cuisine you should go to Povo, in Cais do Sodré.

The modern reputation of the city makes it a popular destination that many travellers have enjoyed in recent years. This wasn’t always the case, but even areas that were previously only frequented by less savoury types have now become must-visit on any trip.

‘Cais do Sodré, once an infamous neighbourhood, inhabited by sailors and all kinds of misfits is the centre of Lisbon’s night life these days. Musicbox is one the clubs where you can watch a band or dance to a DJ every night of the week, but there’s a lot of different places to choose from where you can have a drink or dance, or both. The most iconic club in Lisbon is LUX, a beautiful place by the river, next to Sta Apolónia.’

You can obviously pack out your itinerary with a number of spots but there’s something to be said for just going with the flow. The Legendary Tigerman also thinks that a more leisurely trip is probably the best when in town.

‘You can just walk around and get lost in Lisbon, either in a traditional fado neighbourhood like Alfama, full of restaurants and fado houses, or discover cool bars, restaurants or small stores in the streets of Graça, Bairro Alto or Martim Moniz.’

Lisbon is a super exciting city full of secret places just waiting for you.