Last month my friend and namesake Lola Okusami and I had a short layover in Lisbon. TAP, Portugal’s national air carrier, has a program that offers a free stopover of up to 3-days on transatlantic flights. We visited Lisbon, albeit briefly. This is a photo diary of our eight-hour stay.
15:40 We arrived at Humberto Delgado airport and called an Uber for a ride back to our Airbnb, Baixo Castelo Fanquiros, a self-owned hotel located in downtown Lisbon and a stone’s throw from major tourist sites. Click on the video at the end of the post for a quick tour of the space.
16:01 Our driver claimed the road leading up to the hotel was too narrow for him to drop us at our doorsteps. We got out of the Uber at Rossio square and walked up the hill to our hotel. The short walk gave me an opportunity to look around this beautiful city and take it all in. My shoes were not the most practical for wandering this hilly city, with its sharp twist and steep hills!
EAT
Solar du Duque
17:43 After changing and freshening up it was time to head out to dinner and explore the city. On our way, we were propositioned by Menu-waving waiters inviting us to dine at their restaurant. We settled for Solar do Duque, a restaurant boasting traditional Portuguese cuisine. We started with an appetizer, Salada de Polvo (Octopus salad). For our main course, I chose the Arroz de Marisco (a delicious seafood rice) and Lola had the Bacalhau à lagareiro (Cod/Bacalhau in olive oil with potatoes, vegetables, and salad) which were recommended by our host at the hotel. The food was great and it definitely hit the spot.
Solar do Duque Rua do Duque 67 | Chiado, Lisbon 1200-158, Portugal
+351 21 342 6901
Coffee and Dessert
Confeitaira Nacional
20:40 Perched on the corner of “Praça da Figueira” square, is Confeitaria Nacional, a Portuguese institution known for its famous pastries. After dinner, we decided to appease our sweet tooth here. This pastry shop is a must-visit if you are in Lisbon. I tried the famous pastéis de nata (custard tart), with some Portuguese bica (coffee). Perfection!
Confeitaria Nacional | Praça da Figueira, 18 B Baixa 1100-241 Lisboa| +351 213 424 470 | info@confeitarianacional.com
21:00 After enjoying a satisfying appetizer we made our back to our hotel. Along the way, we stopped at a few shops for some souvenirs.
Morning
06:00 I woke up early, packed my bags, Lola and I hopped in a cab to catch our plane home. After checking in it was time for breakfast. We chose Cockpit, a restaurant located in Terminal One in Humberto Delgado airport, and known for its selection of gins. I opted for the continental breakfast. The food was delicious.
After breakfast, we dashed to the pharmacies for some last minute beauty finds before boarding the plane back to NYC.
So long, Lisboa! I will be back.
