Lifestyle
Príncipe Real: what to do in the coolest neighborhood in Lisbon
If you are looking for a house to buy or invest in Lisbon, you have certainly come across the Bairro Príncipe Real, which many consider Lisbon's coolest neighbourhood. This area boasts timeless and passionate architecture, varied and curious museums, irresistible restaurants, vibrant bars, and truly unique concept stores.
All of this is united by Lisbon's essence - the fascinating contrast between the traditional and the contemporary.
In today's article, we will look at Príncipe Real: everything you have to see and do in this neighbourhood and why you should consider it to live and invest.
Príncipe Real neighbourhood - the coolest in the capital
D. Pedro V had the nickname "The Much Beloved", but was also known as "The Saint", "The Hopeful" or "The Royal Prince". This is exactly where the name of this emblematic Lisbon neighbourhood, located north of Bairro Alto, comes from. Although he died very young (only 24 years of age) and only ruled for a short time, he was much loved by the population and gave his name to this neighbourhood and its garden.
The Príncipe Real that we know today was born in the same way as other cool points of the capital, such as LX Factory, for example. One of the most attractive neighbourhoods to live, invest, or simply have dinner with friends was born from a neglected area with immense potential.
Discreet and elegant, Bairro Príncipe Real is today an area coveted by investors, sought after by families, and much frequented by young adults looking for a quieter and equally captivating alternative to the more intense areas of Lisbon, such as Bairro Alto.
All the dynamism, movement, and energy of Príncipe Real earned it the title of 5th coolest neighbourhood in the world, in 2018, in an international vote carried out by Time Out.
Apart from the obvious attractions, Príncipe Real enjoys a truly privileged location, with great access and links to public transport.
- Amoreiras Shopping Center
1,5 km, 6 minutes - Campo de Ourique
2,3 km, 9 minutes - Chiado
1,4 km, 7 minutes - Belém
9 km, 16 minutes - Cascais
29,6 km, 31 minutes
Despite being essentially residential and not very touristy, there is no shortage of attractions and things to see, do and visit. The streets of Príncipe Real are full of restaurants, bars, shops, museums, and nature to discover and explore. Check them out!
Príncipe Real Garden
The Príncipe Real Garden is the heart of the neighbourhood. Very picturesque, romantic, and typically Lisbon, the original 18th-century garden now includes cafés, kiosks, picnic tables, a children's playground, and lawns and benches for relaxing. However, the ex-libris is the famous cypress tree, which is over 140 years old and has a canopy 20 meters long.
Surrounding the green garden is an octagonal pond with a fountain. There, you will find an old water reservoir - the Patriarchal Reservoir. The structure is part of the Water Museum and sometimes hosts music shows.
On Saturdays, the garden is filled with fresh and organic produce from small producers, and every last Saturday of each month it hosts a craft fair.
The architecture of Príncipe Real
The Príncipe Real neighbourhood is full of historic buildings and neoclassical architectural elements. In recent years, the neighbourhood has benefited from renovations and the reuse of old buildings, which has brought a new life and look to the streets without changing their nature and essence. Get to know some of the various buildings with architectural elements worth getting to know.
Palacete dos Anjos
Built in the second half of the 18th century, this is a neoclassical palace with two floors and two fronts. It has been a private residence, a United States Legation, the headquarters of the Colonial High School, and a branch of the Bank of Portugal.
It uses a primarily classical architectural language, with decorative sobriety and austere but harmonious lines. Today it is home to several companies, shops, and commercial establishments, maintaining the original architectural features.
Franjinhas Building
The Franjinhas, as it is also known, is a controversial building. In 1971, it won the Valmor Prize, which intensified the controversy. Some say you either love it or hate it, but whatever the case, it is undeniable that this is one of the most striking buildings in the Príncipe Real neighbourhood.
At the time of its construction, it was presented as a truly innovative work: by the articulation in a two-level gallery and the "full/empty" relationship of the facade with the concrete.
Imprensa Nacional Building
Bairro Príncipe Real, Escola Politécnica Street, 135
In a period still very much marked by the destruction of the 1755 earthquake, this palace met the conditions of size, structure, and location required for the operation of the type foundry, composition, engraving, and printing workshops.
Throughout the 19th century, the same building was adapted to the technological modernisation of the printing sector. However, between 1895 and 1913, the palace was demolished, and the current building was built in its place.
The National Press building consists of four bodies connected by galleries, staircases, and covered corridors. The main façade is marked by large windows and a portal, representing the architecture of the time.
Museums and Culture in Príncipe Real
National Museum of Science & Natural History
The National Museum of Science & Natural History, belonging to the University of Lisbon, offers amazing sections on history and material culture of science, zoology, anthropology, mineralogy, and palaeontology. It also includes a collection of various perfectly preserved animals, but the main attraction is the section dedicated to dinosaurs.
The museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions, hosts debates and conferences, promotes training courses, and organises events with the objective of scientific, cultural, and artistic dissemination.
Escola Politécnica Street, 56/58
Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
Prices: adults: 5,00 euros; subsidised: 3,00 euros; families: 12,50 euros.
Right next door is the Lisbon Botanical Garden. With over 4 hectares and plants of various geographical origins, it is the perfect place for a walk and contact with nature, right in the capital center.
Schedule: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Prices: Adults: €3.00; subsidised: €1.50; families: €7.50.
Single ticket (museum and garden): adults: €6.00; senior citizens: €3.50; families: €15.00.
Amália Rodrigues Home Museum
The Amália Rodrigues House Museum was a desire of the fado singer herself. Amália wanted to open her house to the public and share her most intimate and personal side with them. This museum is that and more: it is a private collection that reflects the closest side of the singer and an authentic journey into her life.
In the Amália Rodrigues House Museum, you can see dresses and jewelry that the fado singer wore on stage, the balandrae, awards, honors, and other personal objects.
São Bento Street, 193
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Prices: adult: 7 euros, over 65 years old: 6 euros; students under 25 years old: 4,50 euros; Lisboa Card: 5,6 euros.
The best bars and restaurants in Príncipe Real
Lisbon in essence, international on the palate. In the Príncipe Real neighbourhood you can find restaurants that transport us to other latitudes. Discover some of the best tables in Príncipe Real, divided into "Flavours of the World", "Portuguese Dish" and "Bars".
Flavours of the World
A Cevicheria
A Cevicheria is an intimate restaurant dedicated to ceviche and Pisco Sour, two Peruvian gastronomic traditions. In between, you will also find Asian, tropical, and Portuguese flavours, such as codfish, in a perfect fusion with various world flavours. The space, designed by Chef Kiko, has a large octopus suspended from the ceiling, its trademark image, and is a must for anyone passing through Príncipe Real.
Dom Pedro V Street, 129, 1250-093
218 038 815
Average price: 35€ (per person)
Jamie’s Italian
This is the first Jamie's Italian in Portugal. Located right in the heart of Príncipe Real, it offers fantastic Italian dishes marked by the freshness and authenticity of Jamie Oliver's cuisine. "Simple, rustic, and prepared with the finest ingredients" - this is the restaurant's promise. Delight in pasta, meat, risotto, ravioli, lasagne, etc.
Príncipe Real Square 28A, 1250-184
925 301 411
Average Price: 40€ (two people)
Miss Jappa
Miss Jappa is an irreverent place that will transport you into the pulsating atmosphere of Tokyo and challenge you to taste different Japanese dishes. Inspired by the film "Lost in Translation", the restaurant is the embodiment of today's Japanese culture, where traditions merge with the cosmopolitan. More than just sushi, you will find a faithful reinterpretation of Japanese flavours, accompanied by the best cocktails.
Príncipe Real Square, 5, 1250-096
211 379 763
Average Price: 40€ (two people)
Portuguese Dish
Faz frio
The Faz Frio serves, in its own words, "recipes lost in time". With over 150 years of history and stories, it hosted sailors and was the stage for conspiracies, debates, and intellectual and literary meetings. In 2018, it gained new life as a contemporary tavern and brought to the dishes the combination between the glory of the past and the taste of the present, always with "bread and wine at the table", like a true Portuguese house.
Dom Pedro V Street, 96, 1250-092
215 814 296
Average Price: 40€ (two people)
Tapisco
"If the union makes for strength, sharing makes for a table." This is the concept of Tapisco - Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa's tapas and snacks restaurant. Fine dining is at the door here, but Spanish tapas, Portuguese snacks, traditional flavors, and vermouths are resident ingredients. The menu is divided into tapiscos, eggs, brasas, tacos, and desserts, and each dish promises a truly Iberian experience.
Dom Pedro V Street, 81, 1250-096
213 420 681
Average Price: 50€ (two people)
Bars
Lisbon's coolest neighbourhood also boasts, of course, fun, iconic and sophisticated bars. These are our suggestions for those looking for a place to have a drink at the end of the day or an evening with friends.
Pavilhão Chinês
In addition to being an emblematic bar, Pavilhão Chinêsis also a kind of museum. Around 4 thousand pieces from the 18th and 20th centuries fill the walls of the bar's five rooms as if they were a museum. The collection includes miniature airplanes, teapots, statuettes, maps, flags, and toy soldiers, among other objects carefully assembled by the founder of Pavilhão Chinês, Luís Pinto Coelho.
Dom Pedro V Street, 89, 1250-093
213 424 729
Price: 20€ (two people)
Cinco Lounge
Cinco Lounge is a must for cocktail lovers. From the classic and timeless to the modern and more creative, here the drinks are served to the customer's taste. The "Cinco" is a place to relax and unwind with friends, accompanied by a cocktail or two. The bar is committed to bringing back the "Lost art of polite drinking" through a sophisticated and relaxed cocktail culture.
Ruben A. Leitão Street, 17 A, 1200-392
213 424 033
Price: 20€ (two people)
Markets and Shops in Principe Real
A Embaixada
The Embassy is an old 19th-century palace transformed into a shopping gallery where you can find fashion, design, and handicraft shops. Built in 1877, the old Ribeiro da Cunha Palace offers a fantastic view of the Botanical Gardens and mixes the 19th-century romantic style with the neo-Arabic. Even if shopping isn't on your agenda, it's well worth visiting.
Príncipe Real Square, 26
965 309 154
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 12h to 20h; Sunday: 11h to 19h.
Amazingstore
The Amazingstore is a nice mix between a shop and a café, with design products and recyclable material. It sees itself as a Portuguese Conceptual Store and has various Portuguese brands, always with a natural and creative component. At Amazingstore you will find glasses, watches, gadgets, audio and sound articles.
Dom Pedro V Street, 77
934 194 829
Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Solar
The Solar is an antique shop specialising in tiles and has one of the largest collections in Portugal and the world. Currently in its third generation, the antique shop aims to restore heritage and promote the Portuguese tile and decorative arts. According to the New York Times, the Solar is one of the 12 treasures of Europe (the only one in Portugal).
D. Pedro V Street, 70
213 465 522
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Why invest here
The Príncipe Real neighbourhood has great accesses and is located in the heart of Lisbon. It is the ideal area for a young adult, thanks to the vibrant streets and modern spaces, but also for those who want to start a family because it is a safe neighborhood, close to schools and supermarkets, and benefits from gardens playgrounds.
Don't hesitate to talk to us if you want to know more about the Príncipe Real neighbourhood and why it is a great place to buy a house or invest. MEXTO has the best professionals: experienced and ready to help you.
