One day in Lisbon isn’t nearly enough, but it’s plenty to fall in love with it: music played aloud at every vantage point, the clatter of trams, the stillness between cobbled streets.
Start with a coffee at Buna, tucked away on a quiet corner in the Estrela neighbourhood. We sat outside with our iced lattes for optimum people watching and to make the most of the glorious Portuguese sunshine.
From there, climb slowly towards Bairro Alto. In the late morning, before the bars open and the nightlife returns, the neighbourhood has a different rhythm. Vintage shops spill out their treasures—old denim, linen shirts, and Portuguese ceramics we wished we could carry home. Just around the corner, tiny galleries and ateliers open their doors with little fanfare, revealing Lisbon’s quieter creative pulse. I could have spent all day and copious amounts of money here.
By early afternoon, head to Magnolia Bistro & Wine Bar. Nestled on a quiet backstreet overlooking a green, the bistro balances rustic elegance with laidback Lisbon soul. l. The menu is mostly seasonal—best shared, and (in my opinion) ideally paired with a large glass of wine. The pace here is slow, but tables get full fast. I think we arrived just after midday and it was already buzzing with the lunch crowd.
As if we hadn’t indulged enough, we satiated our sweet tooth across the road at Giola Gelato before following the river toward MAAT—Lisbon’s Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. Even before stepping inside, the building itself asks for your attention. Architect Amanda Levete has created a sweeping white ‘wave’ intended to propose a new relationship with the adjacent river. Inside, exhibitions shift between conceptual installations and striking contemporary pieces. Their gift shop is pretty cool too.
Afterwards, we returned to our room for a quick refresh before heading to A Cevicheria. Multiple friends from London had recommended this to us and we weren’t disappointed; the ceviche was sharp and bright, and the Pisco sours were incredibly moreish. We sat outside, but the space internally is narrow, full, and atmospheric. If you’ve had enough of the sunshine, we’d recommend sitting at the counter so you can watch the chefs plate each dish with practiced flair.
We had an early morning flight the next day and, already sufficiently fuelled with pisco, we decided to call it a night. We walked—slowly—towards Jardim António Nobre and our accommodation in the Lisbon Story Guesthouse. The sun was setting, and buskers were playing while locals and tourists sat scattered across benches—some talking, some just watching. Lisbon still carried a hum, even as the light faded.
un-hurried 