Posts

5.1.15 Frango Da Gare

Image
Gare do Oriente G218 Location HERE . Open every day from 1030 to 2100 hours. For those who can’t find a good value meal outlet at Oriente, this one is for you. The barbecued chicken is on the go from opening time, it’s not expensive, and it’s just excellent. The outlet claims to have served more than 100,000 meals, and that number is totally believable. Many punters get food to take away, otherwise you have to find a place at the outside tables, which usually means having to share. October 2025 prices: half chicken (with spicy sauce), rice and chips came to a mere €7,40. Add a can of drink to that, and you’re still talking about less than €9. Drawbacks? The area under the station at Oriente is a bit untidy and chaotic. The restaurant has been known to run out of chicken just before 2100 hours. So get there well before that, and be prepared to get stuck in. You may have to resort to using hands to get all the meat off the bone. Yay! Rail services and buses in and around Gare Oriente. [ ...
Post a Comment
Read more

4.4.18 Parque Silva Porto

Image
Rua Dr José Alberto de Faria Location HERE . Open daily from 0700 to 1900 hours. The grand entrance Another counter to those who talk down the Benfica area as being a bit rough and grotty; it isn’t. If you get there by suburban train, the walk along Rua Garridas and Alameda Padre Álvaro Proença, past all those generously proportioned and seriously upmarket houses, will put you straight. The tree cover ... Well within Zone L, and one of the neighbourhood’s best kept secrets, is this small and secluded park with its extensive tree cover and roaming birdlife, claimed to include peacocks, though I didn’t see any when I visited. The park is laid out across a hillside, so a little climbing from the entrance. A measured circuit of 550 metres is marked in red, there is plenty of shade in the summer months, and plenty of places to sit and chill. There is also a children’s park. ... and the wildlife Those seeking refreshment after their visit will find a café inside the park; anyone needing to f...
Post a Comment
Read more

7.2.13 October 2025

Image
Fallout from the Glória funicular accident continues, with the Desfile dos Classicos (Carris’ annual tram parade) cancelled for this year, and all other funiculars, plus the Santa Justa lift, suspended, probably until after the report into the Glória accident is published. Alternative means of getting up those hills have now been provided: Minibus service 51E starts and terminates at Restauradores, close to the lower station of the Glória funicular. It stops in Rossio and on Rua Áurea, then climbs up to Largo do Carmo (restoring public transport provision to this square), and also stops at Largo Trindade Coelho, just across the road from the Bairro Alto. Ends service earlier than the funicular did. Bairrobus 19B has had its route changed to provide an alternative to the Lavra funicular. Bairrobus 22B gives an alternative to the Bica funicular. CAUTION The minibuses have a limited seating capacity - you may have to stand at busy times. REMINDER Torre de Belém is closed until next yea...
Post a Comment
Read more

6.2.35 Gulden Draak - River Deck

Image
Centro Vasco da Gama, Avenida Dom João II 40 Location HERE . Open Every Day It’s in the VdG commercial centre! In Parque das Nações’ main shopping centre, opposite Gare do Oriente, and on Level 3 (the entrance opposite Oriente is Level 1), and at the north-east corner of the floor in an area marketed as the River Deck, because there is outside seating overlooking the river. Opposite this place As you walk in from that Level 1 entrance, either use the escalators at the east side of the building, or lifts which are just behind the main mall - turn right at the Weeel Fro-Yo stand, then left. Just 12 taps, which include the usual Brouwerij van Steenberge high octane stuff, plus the less strong Baptist IPA and Wit, and, if all else fails, Stella Artois. If they don’t have it on tap, there are always bottles, and plenty of them. Food is mainly burgers, supplied from a little kitchen behind the bar. Some punters just get a beer and go out on to the terrace; there is a small eating area exclus...
Post a Comment
Read more

6.2.34 Artesanalis Bottle Shop

Image
Rua Acácio de Paiva 9A Location HERE . Closed Mondays. It’s in Alvalade! And a seriously artisan part of town, too: there is a very popular Italian-style ice cream outlet at the bottom of the street (on Avenida da Igreja), an Oakberry Açaí shop nearby, as well as a Weeel frozen yogurt outlet. A place that does desserts literally next door, and an artisan bakery. Plus a Belgian chocolate shop across the street. That level of artisan. Fortunately, the bottle shop is unpretentious and rather chill. There is one beer on tap - when I visited, it was Põhjala Nova Lux West Coast IPA, from Tallinn - but serious variety in bottled beer. So I also had a bottle of Senescal Fado Tropical, which was enjoyable. This microbrewery is at Castro Marim, on the eastern Algarve. Nuts and crisps on the bar. Bit out of the centre, but worth looking in if you’re in the area. It’s also on the 767 bus route, as are Cerveteca, LX Brewery, the Pravda Craft Mission at Estefánia, and AMO Brewery. Metro Alvalade (Li...
Post a Comment
Read more

7.2.12 Elevador da Glória

Image
At 1800 hours on the afternoon of Wednesday September 3rd, all was as usual in downtown Lisbon. The northbound side of the Avenida da Liberdade was choked with traffic heading home; no change there. An hour later, Avenida da Liberdade was almost deserted, and down at Restauradores, the Police and other emergency services were out in force. A sea of blue lights was all that those looking down the hill could make out. Ambulances kept on heading towards Restauradores. A serious accident had just happened. Around 1805 hours, Car 1 of the Glória funicular had, apparently, come away from the cable which connects it to Car 2, and with no apparent brake force applied, gathered speed until it left the track and struck a building not far from the foot of Calçada da Glória. Car 1 ended up all but destroyed. The suspicion that Car 1 had become detached from the cable was only reinforced by Car 2 ending up well below the usual point on the hill where it would have just picked up passengers. But it ...
Post a Comment
Read more

7.2.11 September 2025

Image
Desfile dos Classicos - Tram Parade: this is happening on Saturday 20th September. There may still be tickets available for classic trams and buses - see HERE . This year, the parade will revert to running from the Carris depot at Santo Amaro, via Alcântara and Cais do Sodré to Praça do Comércio and Praça da Figueira. If you manage to get one of the remaining tickets, make sure you turn up in good time. Tram stops at Corpo Santo have been moved from Largo Corpo Santo to the same location as the (formerly) nearby bus stops at the west end of the Rua do Arsenal. Some restaurants may still be on their high summer closure right now. Check before setting out, if possible. If that’s not possible, have an alternate ready. Weather - the really hot days have gone, but warm temperatures are forecast well into September. Keep on keeping hydrated. [ HOME ]
Post a Comment
Read more