Portugal - early planning stage-stay in Lisbon 7 nights or split time
Apr 27th, 2013, 02:55 PM
#21
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We LOVED Lisbon last fall. It is a charming, friendly and lively city. I don't understand the cautionary comments on the food there. We had no problem whatsoever. We ate mostly grilled fish. Stayed 6 nights in Lisbon and day tripped to Cascais twice, Sintra once. Very easy to take trains to them.
Apr 27th, 2013, 03:01 PM
#22
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Here are some things our friend recommended:
1. Sintra was our first day-trip. We enjoyed its atmosphere and views, but it was pretty busy and touristy. We stopped for refreshments at a nice café, sitting outdoors on the main square. I didn’t get its name, but we only had drinks. It seemed to have a lot of business, and plates of lunch looked appealing, but we were not hungry yet.
2. We also took the train to Cascais, which we liked a lot. Very small town, lots of beach activity, and small shops. While there, we found a classy and expensive-looking beachside hotel with a café overlooking the water. We stopped for lunch there. It is pricey, with very disginguished-looking hotel clientele. Looked like a great place for a honeymoon:
The Albatroz Hotel in Cascai
Rua Frederico Arouca
100- 2750- 353 Cascais
www.thealbatrozcollection.com
3. Our third day-trip by train was to Estoril, which is just two stops before Cascais. We had enjoyed the Atlantic seaside, so we returned to that area. We ate at a very simple seaside fresh fish restaurant. I am not a die-hard fish fan like DH, so I wasn’t as wild about my swordfish choice, as it was different than I expected. But they had free wi-fi and DH liked his salmon and my dish, too. The diner next to me had the squid, which looked good.
“Baiuka Bar Restaurante”
Praia das Moitas
2765 Monte Estoril
www.baiukabar.com
Restaurants in Lisbon we recommend:
1. “Duval”-- DH had walked by this very nice-looking restaurant on a tiny street up the hill, across from an historic convent. We returned to it for dinner, and were very happy with it. It has a more contemporary feel, with excellent service and an inventive menu.
The chef was short-handed, because her husband/chef was in the hospital for surgery, but she still made time to come to our table and help us choose wines with our orders. Our waiter was actually from their other restaurant in the Algarve, who had been pressed into service, and he could not have been more friendly and helpful. We enjoyed picking his brain about his hometown Lisbon.
The chef sent a complimentary garlic sardine appetizer to us, to tide us over because our order was behind a huge party of 30.
“Duval”, Rue Nova da Trinidade No 11 H/K
1200- 301 Lisboa
www.fazgostoslx.com
2. "Sancho"-- This place was very near our hotel, and looked good, so we stopped in for dinner. Service was excellent and fish was fresh and good. I had prawns and DH had salmon.
“Restaurante Sancho”,
Travessa da Gloria n.o. 14
1250- 118 Lisboa
www.restaurantesancho.com.pt
3. We did NOT like “Restaurante Valentino”, although it is a lovely restaurant, outside seating, on a charming narrow cobblestoned street directly down from our hotel. It had been recommended by our concierge.
Our experience was not good—service took forever, and both our orders were delivered wrong. We had to wait a while for the new orders to be delivered. The manager apologized, but offered no comp drink while we waited. The food was mediocre, shrimp was scarce in our sauce, pasta was too al dente. We noticed other diners were also drumming their fingers on the tables, waiting for their food. Maybe it was an off-night, as our waiter seemed to be new, didn’t speak English, and required the assistance of the manager several times. The restaurant was full, outside and in.
http://grupovalentinorestaurantes.co...auradores.aspx
1. Sintra was our first day-trip. We enjoyed its atmosphere and views, but it was pretty busy and touristy. We stopped for refreshments at a nice café, sitting outdoors on the main square. I didn’t get its name, but we only had drinks. It seemed to have a lot of business, and plates of lunch looked appealing, but we were not hungry yet.
2. We also took the train to Cascais, which we liked a lot. Very small town, lots of beach activity, and small shops. While there, we found a classy and expensive-looking beachside hotel with a café overlooking the water. We stopped for lunch there. It is pricey, with very disginguished-looking hotel clientele. Looked like a great place for a honeymoon:
The Albatroz Hotel in Cascai
Rua Frederico Arouca
100- 2750- 353 Cascais
www.thealbatrozcollection.com
3. Our third day-trip by train was to Estoril, which is just two stops before Cascais. We had enjoyed the Atlantic seaside, so we returned to that area. We ate at a very simple seaside fresh fish restaurant. I am not a die-hard fish fan like DH, so I wasn’t as wild about my swordfish choice, as it was different than I expected. But they had free wi-fi and DH liked his salmon and my dish, too. The diner next to me had the squid, which looked good.
“Baiuka Bar Restaurante”
Praia das Moitas
2765 Monte Estoril
www.baiukabar.com
Restaurants in Lisbon we recommend:
1. “Duval”-- DH had walked by this very nice-looking restaurant on a tiny street up the hill, across from an historic convent. We returned to it for dinner, and were very happy with it. It has a more contemporary feel, with excellent service and an inventive menu.
The chef was short-handed, because her husband/chef was in the hospital for surgery, but she still made time to come to our table and help us choose wines with our orders. Our waiter was actually from their other restaurant in the Algarve, who had been pressed into service, and he could not have been more friendly and helpful. We enjoyed picking his brain about his hometown Lisbon.
The chef sent a complimentary garlic sardine appetizer to us, to tide us over because our order was behind a huge party of 30.
“Duval”, Rue Nova da Trinidade No 11 H/K
1200- 301 Lisboa
www.fazgostoslx.com
2. "Sancho"-- This place was very near our hotel, and looked good, so we stopped in for dinner. Service was excellent and fish was fresh and good. I had prawns and DH had salmon.
“Restaurante Sancho”,
Travessa da Gloria n.o. 14
1250- 118 Lisboa
www.restaurantesancho.com.pt
3. We did NOT like “Restaurante Valentino”, although it is a lovely restaurant, outside seating, on a charming narrow cobblestoned street directly down from our hotel. It had been recommended by our concierge.
Our experience was not good—service took forever, and both our orders were delivered wrong. We had to wait a while for the new orders to be delivered. The manager apologized, but offered no comp drink while we waited. The food was mediocre, shrimp was scarce in our sauce, pasta was too al dente. We noticed other diners were also drumming their fingers on the tables, waiting for their food. Maybe it was an off-night, as our waiter seemed to be new, didn’t speak English, and required the assistance of the manager several times. The restaurant was full, outside and in.
http://grupovalentinorestaurantes.co...auradores.aspx
Apr 27th, 2013, 03:43 PM
#23
Join Date: Jun 2012
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We recently had a wonderful time in Portugal, basing ourselves in a house just outside of Sintra. From there we made trips by car to Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Batalha & Alcobaca. Our favourite by far was Sintra that abounds in palaces, gardens and a Moorish castle.
I have been to Porto in the past and wasn't overly impressed. However, did enjoy Braganza in the north. Fatima was OK but wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
I have been to Porto in the past and wasn't overly impressed. However, did enjoy Braganza in the north. Fatima was OK but wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
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