We don’t know what’s the worst thing to buy in one of these souvenir stores in Lisbon: the magnet for the fridge, the can opener with the flag or the I LOVE LX t-shirt that nobody will ever wear , but has something special about it. And we love doing it, both at home and when we travel abroad.
Fortunately, the travel gift scene has changed in recent years and those responsible deserve a round of applause. Here are our favorite souvenir stores.
1 – Vida Portuguesa
Vida Portuguesa is the queen of good taste made in Portugal. In the history of souvenirs, there is a before and after to Catarina Portas’ first store.
This store is a celebration of the best that our country has to offer. It’s a return to the past in the form of textiles, gastronomy, toys, cosmetics, books, clothes, tiles and so on until you can’t fit it in your suitcase.
Address: Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 23 (Intendente); Rua Anchieta 11 (Chiado); and Avenida 24 de Julho (Mercado da Ribeira)
2 – Portugal dos Meus Amores
This is one of the most typical souvenir stores in the city. It’s on Calçada do Sacramento, in Chiado.
It’s always nice to be able to buy a pink Santo António or a yellow Galo de Barcelos.
There’s wine, ginjinha, teas, chocolates, swallows and sardines. Souvenirs of Portugal in a cardboard suitcase, ready to fly.
Address: Calçada do Sacramento 21 (Chiado)
3 – A Drogaria Portuguesa
The Uma Drogaria store is already a Portuguese souvenir, having been founded in 1956, and still maintaining the same objective: to bring high quality products to everyone.
The next generation will no longer know what these little stores used to smell like, the perfectionist organization of the items on the shelves, the necessary help from the shopkeeper.
To come to this drugstore is to take a leap back in time, and since you can’t ask for nostalgia to be wrapped up, you can always buy a shaving kit to give to your grandfather.
Address: Rua de Entrecampos 36B (Entrecampos)
4 – Loja das Conservas
Loja das Conservas, in Cais do Sodré, is the official souvenir store of the National Association of Canned Fish Manufacturers.
Here you’ll find some of the best souvenirs, and the best thing is that they come in little boxes ready for your trip.
In this store you’ll find more than 300 canned fish, from brands that have made history.
Of course, if you can’t decide whether you want tuna, sardines, mussels or eel, don’t worry, just get the best tins, that’s the idea.
Address: Rua do Arsenal 130 (Cais do Sodré)
5 – The Ceramics Shop
This is one of the souvenir stores in downtown Lisbon that has dogs made of crockery! This alone would be worth a mention, but A Loja da Cerâmica has crabs, bulls, various types of fish and all kinds of crockery you’d like to have at home.
In addition to the new collections, there are always irresistible objects. The only drawback is taking all this stuff on the plane, but it’s worth the risk, as you can’t find it anywhere.
Address: Rua de São Cristóvão 7 (Baixa)
6 – Cortiço e Netos
Nobody can resist a beautiful tile in this souvenir store near the Mouraria neighborhood.
But you know that buying them at the Feira da Ladra is cheating, they are stolen from the façades of old buildings and farms.
To avoid leaving Lisbon full of “carecadas”, we suggest a visit to the coolest tile store in town.
Cortiço e Netos is a real tile showroom where you can buy without conscience. If you can’t decide on one, get one of each, it looks beautiful, don’t be a square.
Address: Calçada de Santo André 66 (Mouraria)
