CNN (re-)discovers one of Lisbon's discreet gems

An ode to Lisbon’s quirky street kiosks

[caption id="attachment_4096" align="alignleft" width="150"] Click to go to CNN[/caption] Kiosks rapidly spread throughout the city and wider Portugal, before falling into disrepair.

Now, thanks to Portas and other enterprising Lisbonites, they are back in full swing.

Head to The Spaces to find out more about how Lisbon’s kiosks are making a comeback.

  [caption id="attachment_4122" align="aligncenter" width="1100"] Quiosque do Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Photography: Richard John Seymour for The Spaces[/caption]  

I simply don’t know how we stayed up to date with our interests before twitter.

This morning I woke up to this headline from CNN on my #Lisbon list on Tweetdeck. I was planning a story about the same topic: The Lisbon Kiosks. The whole world knows about the Trams & the Tiles. And thanks to VHILS and his Underdog walls around town more and more travelers starts recognizing Lisbon for its street art. And more and more people have discovered the Calçadas under their feet. But travelers – and locals – rarely mention the 5th truly Portuguese icon that spice up my daily life. The Kiosks. And that is very strange because ALL tourists and ALL locals use these small local institutions – if not every day – then at least once a week. For a coffee. For an Imperial or to buy a magazine or a news paper.

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A few weeks ago LisbonLUX posted a list of the 30 best Kiosk Restaurants in town

This list is not quite OK in my opinion. It’s more about squares, parks and view points and includes the pavilions on Martime Moniz and the horrible over designed Zink Bars that do so much damages to its surroundings – like the one we have on at Graça Miradouro. But it includes most of the beautiful ones and our local favourites like Quiosque Clara Clara (#27 on their list) and the newly build Quiosque Popular in Jardim da Cerca da Graça, where you get one of the most fascinating views of the castle (#10 on their list)  

[caption id="attachment_4089" align="alignleft" width="150"] Click to go to LisbonLUX[/caption] Lisbon’s first kiosk opened in Rossio Square in 1869, and soon after there were others, in Art Nouveau style, in Passeio Público (now Avenida da Liberdade) and on the waterfront. They served wine by the glass, beer and traditional refreshments, and eventually also offered snacks such as fried fish and cod fillets, which fed the dock workers. Later they also began to attract the middle class and the elite, who got together in the main squares and gardens. Many closed over the last few decades, and were left abandoned until the recent trend of reviving the tradition. Older kiosks were restored, and new ones were built to be placed in the city’s squares and gardens. There are currently dozens of kiosks for all tastes and occasions, and here we present the top 30 here.

 

Remember!

Lists are good for inspiration only. The destinations, locations, restaurants bars etc that you find yourself are always the best. And the only way to find them is to get out there and walk the streets. Have a nice weekend /T]]>