Bairro Alto & Chiado Lisbon's cultural and bohemian heart; nightlife and shopping mecca

Bairro Alto is a picturesque working class quarter dating from the 16th century

that has traditionally been the city's bohemian haunt of artists and writers.

Its grid of streets is quiet during the day, but is transformed at night into the

city's vibrant nightlife quarter. Behind colorful and graffiti-ridden façades is a

variety of excellent traditional and international restaurants, tourist-

packed Fado Houses, and a multitude of sleek bars and stylish alternative

fashion shops that stay open until late at night. Throughout the week, and

especially on weekends you'll find people of all ages, backgrounds, and

lifestyles bar-hopping through the cobbled lanes or standing outside with a

drink in hand enjoying the city's usual mild nights.

The main commercial streets are Rua do Norte, Rua da Atalaia, and Rua do

Diário de Noticias, from where it is easy to reach Miradouro de São Pedro de

Alcântara (a garden-terrace with a panoramic view over the city), and two of the

city's most interesting churches: São Roque with its magnificent baroque

interior and the romantic Gothic ruins of Carmo Church. .

Neighboring Chiado is an elegant, sophisticated district of theaters, bookshops,

old-style cafes, art nouveau jewelry shops and luxurious international names

such as Hermes and Cartier

All of this makes it one of the most prestigious areas in the world according to a

worldwide study conducted by an international company in 2005, ranking it

ninth right after well-known places like 5th Avenue in New York, Oxford Street in

London, and the Champs Elysees in Paris. Although it may lack much of the

glitz of those famous streets, it scored points for charm and the quality of

customer service in its businesse.

You may evaluate it yourself by going into the opulently gilded Tavares Rico

Restaurant opened in 1784, by taking a look at the fine porcelain of the Vista

Alegreshop, or checking out the boutique of Ana Salazar, one of Portugal's

international fashion designers that also has collections of interior design and

accessories.

Much of the area was destroyed in a fire in 1988, but has since been reborn. It

remains one of Lisbon's most beloved districts, with reminders of its past as the

center of the city's intellectual life, with statues of literary figures such as

Fernando Pessoa, Luis de Camões, and Eça de Queiroz. .

Up the hill is Principe Real, an area known for its antique and interior design

shops on Rua Dom Pedro V and Rua da Escola Politecnica, and also for being

the city's gay quarter with a number of gay bars and clubs. In the streets from

the Principe Real Garden down to the riverfront, especially in Rua de São

Marçal, are attractive 19th century townhouses and some of the most tranquil

spots in the city, such as the leafy Praça das Flores .

To the west is the district of Estrela, dominated by a huge domed basilica. It is

not too far from the country's parliament, the neoclassical São Bento Palace,

and connects to the west to opulent Lapa, the diplomatic quarter with grand

embassy buildings and old mansions. It is also the site of the Ancient Art

Museum, one of the city's top attractions.