The neglected child of central Lisbon, Anjos has been relishing a lively rebirth in recent years. Part of the old Lisbon in Avenida Almirante Reis - one of the most sought-after Lisbon neighbourhood for investment -, Anjos is known for its rough edges, economic activities and its multicultural ambience.
The neighbourhood includes one of the city's most prominent late 19th-century Portuguese-style architecture. Gentrification is well underway, but it is balanced with a thriving activist and cooperative landscape.
Look for the longest queue on Avenida Almirante Reis – it’s the easiest way to find the Ramiro restaurant. Our recommendation is to visit this famed, down-to-earth Portuguese restaurant at 5 p.m., after the lunch rush has passed and before dinner has begun. Spend an hour with your friends or family eating the freshest clams, prawns, crabmeat, a plate of ham, then a prego (steak sandwich) – and, to top everything off, a typical Portuguese beer!
Check out the colourful basketball court redecorated by the urban artist Akacorleone at the area's largest garden, Jardim Braancamp Freire in Campo dos Mártires da Pátria. There's also Jardim Henriques Lopes de Mendonça, which is known for its jacaranda trees and is located near Praça José Fontana. A kiosk with a terrace and a children's playground is conveniently located within walking distance.
The Library of St Lazarus opened in 1883, and it is the oldest in Lisbon. The main room contains vintage furniture as well as books from the 17th and 21st centuries.
If you choose a more casual environment, visit Bookshop Bivar, an English book store with a comfy sofa and one of Lisbon’s best bookshops; Tigre de Papel, a clean-lined location full of interesting titles, small publishers waiting to be found, and a cultural calendar that includes discussions, seminars, and book launches; and Leituria, where you can discover books you won't find anywhere else, as well as exhibits, seminars, and recitals, and posh stationery and architecture.
Make a beeline for Casa Independente, which is responsible for reintroducing the Arroios area - part of Anjos - to Lisbon's nightlife scene. It's a pub, restaurant, and concert hall in a former palace from 1863, with perhaps the best balcony in Lisbon overlooking its iconic courtyard. It has hosted several nights of dancing, but it also holds open-air movie screenings and serves decent food in its Tasca Tropical.
For something much more underground, go to the Vlada Lounge, which seems to be a contender for the title of "smallest bar in Lisbon" – you'll find the narrow hallway that leads to the back room which hosts nightly burlesque shows.
Airport Located 7 kilometres away from the capital, Lisbon Portela Airport is the main international airport in Portugal and is one of the largest in southern Europe. Because of its close location to Lisbon city centre, getting from the airport to Lisbon is straightforward using a metro taxi or bus service. Lisbon Portela Airport is the nearest airport to Anjos. It takes 13 minutes via car (follow E1 or Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho and Avenida Almirante Reis) and around 40 minutes via tube, if you take the nearest metro station in Anjos or Intendente.
Transportation Being close to the most central neighbourhoods in Lisbon, Anjos offers good transport links. The metro station of Anjos and Intendente can get you anywhere in central Lisbon. There are also frequent trams and buses passing by through the day that can take you from northwest to southeast central Lisbon.
Shopping Anjos is a unique and multicultural neighbourhood of Lisbon, one of the most traditional areas of the city. You’ll find a lot of original stuff to buy around, starting with Anjos na Rua Market, which brings together a diverse range of food choices, fresh produce, artisans, and second-hand items in a unique and vibrant environment.
The Anjos70 Market is a quirky monthly flea market and it attracts fashionistas for affordable clothing prices. Anjos70, a former glass factory and cultural centre, has had it for a decade (recent events have included DJ sets and breakfast discos). More than 100 vendors from all over Portugal sell home furnishings and collectables, vintage clothes and handmade jewellery.
Weather Like other southern European countries, Portugal typically tends to see warm temperatures and nice weather throughout the year. Santos has a mild climate. You can expect to find 25°C during the summer months and, as the colder months start to creep in, the temperatures will drop to around 11°C. November is the month that sees the most rainfall, which can be around 128mm on average.
Restaurants & Bars There is food for all tastes and shapes inIntendente, Anjos and Arroios. Stews, grills, barbecues, hamburgers, kebabs, pizzas, empanadas, fish, seafood, molluscs, curries, noodles, baba ganoush... a multitude of options for omnivores plus an imaginary polygon is drawn on the map with the three mandatory vegan stops that exist there. Here are some of the best restaurants around the area:
Brick Cafe Lisboa
Ramiro
Gutsy Estefânia
Infame
Las Cholas
Mezze
Beaches Lisbon is located by the Tagus river, hence has different beach coastlines nearby. To the west of Lisbon lies the Oeiras-Estoril-Cascais coastline, where there are beautiful sandy beaches, blessed with a calm sea in the summer months. You can find the Sintra coastline in the northwest of Lisbon, which is made up of cliffs and embodies wild scenery, where you can truly immerse yourself in nature. The Costa da Caparica coastline is in the south of Lisbon and is sought-after for its wide-open beaches. This coastline comprises a large stretch of beaches, spread along to the western coast, highly popular among surfers all year long.
