Until Christmas Day, we’re writing about a Lisbon neighborhood where the Christmas season is experienced most intensely. Today we visited Chiado, which stands out for its illuminated streets and, of course, the huge tree and decorations at Armazéns do Chiado.
Christmas in Chiado
Whether it’s because the streets and shop windows are lit up with decorations reminiscent of this season, or because it’s traditionally an area where people stroll and shop, the Chiado district is one of our favorite places in the city for Christmas shopping, and now you even have free parking and transportation to this part of town.
Anyone who chooses Chiado to buy their Christmas presents is sure to find what they’ re looking for.
There are so many stores there that the hardest part will be choosing what to give each friend or family member on our Christmas gift list.
For example, if you’re looking for something as simple but beautiful as a flower arrangement, then you have to go to Pequeno Jardim. It ‘s a 100-year-old house in the stairwell of 61 Rua Garrett, in the heart of Chiado.
It’s one of the smallest flower shops in Lisbon, but there’s still plenty there, from roses, carnations, poppies, sardines, marigolds, camellias and many other species that perfume and add color to one of Lisbon’s most elegant streets.
If this one doesn’t have the flowers you’re looking for, you can always try 9 other florists around the city.
Another place where you’ll find the perfect Christmas present is Caza das Vellas Loreto, one of the oldest stores in Lisbon.
It was founded in 1789, at a time when there wasn ‘t even electricity or gas in the city, and has been owned by the same family (Sá Pereira) for six generations.
Even if your intention isn’t to buy one of their beautiful candles, take our suggestion and pop into the store, if only to admire the glass cabinets or smell the soft wax aromas.
Books! It’s one of the Portuguese’s favorite gifts, both for the giver and the receiver, right?
In Chiado, the best place to buy books is right on the corner of Rua Garrett and Rua Anchieta, next to the Basilica of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires: the Bertrand bookstore, which not only has almost every book you can think of, but is also a must-visit.
It is recognized by the Guinness Book as the oldest bookshop in the world still in business, having been founded in 1732 by two French brothers.
New times have brought a new space at the end of the long corridor: a café with snacks that invite you to “taste the books” and the culinary recipes they hold on the surrounding shelves.
Chiado has many stores and an incredible range! We couldn’t list them here one by one, but among the best-known clothing stores such as Guess, Boss, Zara, Benetton, among many others; the tea and coffee shops such as Casa Pereira or A Carioca; the large sporting goods and gadget stores such as Nike or GMS-Store; or even the Armazéns do Chiado themselves, there are stores that catch our eye, such as Ulisses.
Very small, but extremely elegant, this space is one of the most stores in the city of Lisbon. It was founded in 1925 in Rua do Carmo and offers models of wallets and gloves for all tastes and shapes.
Next to Ulisses is Joalharia do Carmo, which boasts one of the most beautiful façades in Chiado, one of the symbols of Art Nouveau in Lisbon.
If you’re looking for something more related to music, such as a record by Amália, then you’ll have to go to Companhia Nacional de Música, located in Rua das Pedralvas.
But here you’ll find not only the best albums by the greatest fado singer of all time, but also by other Portuguese singers, as well as music for children and even classical music.
Nearby, on Rua Nova do Almada, you’ll find two design stores with some of the most creative furniture we’ve ever seen, a great gift for that friend who’s moving house.
Roof Design Studio and Interdesign Interiores excel at high-quality products that look good anywhere in the house. So if you’re short of ideas, this could be your solution for a Christmas present that’s original to say the least.
Christmas in Chiado can’t end without a sweeter surprise. Food is also offered at Christmas, isn’t it? And a good example are the delicious king cakes made by Pastelaria Alcôa, in Rua Garrett.
This pastry shop was founded in 1957, in Alcobaça, and is the true paradise of convent sweets in Lisbon, but the truth is that it has already won the biggest title of all when it comes to Portugal’s Best King Cake, in 2015.
This is the obvious reason to make a splash with the person you’re giving one of these Christmas delights to.
