Chiado
The historical area of Chiado reaches the banks of the Tagus River. This lower part of the city, close to the so-called “Mar de Palha” (straw sea), is an area of the city which has been entirely rebuilt at the end of the 18th century and almost unchanged since then. Much of the area was destroyed in a fire in 1988, but has since been reborn. It remains one of Lisbon's most beloved districts, with reminders of its past as the center of the city's intellectual life, with statues of literary figures such as Fernando Pessoa, Luis de Camões, and Eça de Queiroz. Chiado is an elegant, sophisticated district of theaters, bookshops, old-style cafes, art nouveau jewelry shops and luxurious international names such as Hermes and Cartier. You may evaluate it yourself by going into the opulently gilded Tavares Rico Restaurant opened in 1784, by taking a look at the fine porcelain of the Vista Alegre shop, or checking out the boutique of Ana Salazar, one of Portugal's international fashion designers that also has collections of interior design and accessories. You will have the chance to sit next to Fernando Pessoa, the poet of poets, at the Brasileira, old coffee house founded in 1905 and catch a play at the São Carlos theatre inaugurated in 1793. The metro station of Chiado will drop you at the Gulbenkian Museum in 10 minutes. The train station of Rossio, which goes all the way to beautiful Sintra is at walking distance, as is the ferryboat station from where you can board a “cacilherio” which will take you to the south side of the river, thus allowing you to reach the beaches along the coast. The beaches of Cascais and Estoril, also shoping havens, are at your fingertips; just catch the train at Cais do Sodré and you´ll be there in 45 minutes.
The Bairro Alto, which you can reach in 10 minutes, is a picturesque working class quarter dating from the 16th century that has traditionally been the city's bohemian haunt of artists and writers. Its grid of streets is quiet during the day, but is transformed at night into the city's vibrant nightlife quarter. Behind colorful and graffiti-ridden façades is a variety of excellent traditional and international restaurants, tourist-packed Fado Houses, and a multitude of sleek bars and stylish alternative fashion shops that stay open until late at night. Throughout the week, and especially on weekends you'll find people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles bar-hopping through the cobbled lanes or standing outside with a drink in hand enjoying the city's usual mild nights. The main commercial streets are Rua do Norte, Rua da Atalaia, and Rua do Diário de Noticias, from where it is easy to reach Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (a garden-terrace with a panoramic view over the city), and two of the city's most interesting churches: São Roque with its magnificent baroque interior and the romantic Gothic ruins of Carmo Church.
Up the hill is Principe Real, an area known for its antique and interior design shops on Rua Dom Pedro V and Rua da Escola Politecnica, and also for being the city's gay quarter with a number of gay bars and clubs. In the streets from the Principe Real Garden down to the riverfront, especially in Rua de São Marçal, are attractive and colorful 19th century townhouses.
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