Whilst in Lisbon it was so good to discover the Chiado and Baixa quarters of the city where you’ll find the traditional café’s and shops side by side. After a stroll along to the Praca do Comercio it was on to the hip and trendy Sky Bar for a swift mocktail. This uber cool rooftop venue is slick in appearance, has great music, a fun crowd and superb views of the Lisbon skyline.
Dinner that evening was served at Gambrinus, a formal seafood diner and one of Lisbon’s oldest restaurants frequented by Portuguese socialites, VIP’s and dignitaries. Located in the downtown of Lisbon and decorated with exotic woods, the main room has a capacity for eighty people and offers traditional Portuguese dishes, with a variety of fish and seafood on the menu amongst a quaint and serene atmosphere.
I thoroughly recommend the sizzling and mouth watering spicy prawns platter as a starter, you’ll certainly love this dish if you’re an avid seafood fan.
The following day I took a trip to Sintra which is simply adorable and a historic Portuguese town that is set amidst a wave of cooling hills, mountains and forest area.
The journey took approximately 25 minutes and was well worth the trip. I explored the romantic Pena Palace located at the top of the Sintra mountains above the town of Sintra and it didn’t disappoint. The palace is a wash with vibrant pastel blue, yellow and pink colour schemes throughout and a variety of gargoyles adorn the building at almost every turn.
The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of Portugal too. I witnessed breathtaking views at the top of the palace and on a clear day, this stand-out piece of architecture can easily be seen from Lisbon and surrounding areas. It’s no wonder Sintra is regarded as one of the best day trips from Estoril of which I totally agree.
After much walking and no doubt working up an appetite within the lofty heights of the Pena Palace, a relaxing lunch at Café Paris was welcomed. Situated in the centre of Sintra, directly opposite the Royal Palace this appealing looking restaurant serves both traditional Portuguese and international cuisine.
The dish that caught my eye on the menu was the traditional cod with cornbread (Bacalhau com Broa), a real favourite with the locals. Lunch was so nice at Cafe Paris of which I enjoyed sitting out on the terrace watching the hustle and bustle of this cute town go by, however, it was now time to say farewell to Sintra and travel back to Estoril.
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