I have been living in Lisbon for 3 years by now. I and my Parisian partners decided to set up our start-up venture facing the Tagus river. Like us, many Europeans came to settle lately in Lisbon, fans of the culture, the food, the people. Lisbon is good living personified 

Restaurants

Punto final: magical view at sunset. Ask the locals you meet what restaurant you should absolutely go in Lisbon and they will tell you unanimously « Punto Final! » Located on the other side of the river, in Almeda, take the ferry, and walk for 15 mn along the banks: yes, this restaurant must be earned!

My advice: book via their WhatsApp phone number rather than calling. They rarely answer.

O Velho Eurico: Tapas  restaurant. In Alfama, they are so many restaurants that is difficult to find your way around and to don’t get confused. But go to Velho Eurico, you won’t be disappointed. The menu includes the famous bacalhau à Bràs, Portuguese cod, lamb croquettes and mini beef sandwiches to die.

Taberna Sal Grosso: Dinner with friends. I challenge you to find a negative opinion about Taberna. Located next to the National Pantheon, in a small street. Taberna Sal Grosso is one of my favorite restaurant in Lisbon. You can find in one place everything that can make you fall in love with this city.

Agulha no Palheiro: Perfect for a one-on-one. This is not the restaurant for festivities, to celebrate a contract with a bunch of colleagues, it is very small, but so friendly. Here again faultless, reviews are dithyrambic on Agulha The menu changes often and contains only 4-5 dishes. The chocolate cake is exceptional.

Bars

Pharmacia: with friends, and even alone. Located behind the Pharmacy Museum, this bar offers a very pleasant view of the Tagus, especially at sunset. If you are with friends, it is often the starting point of a night out in Chiado, the historical district.

Crew Hassan:  Your chidren (20 and more) will love it. Crew Hassan is a great place. The service is very cool and the eclectic decoration give to this place all its charm. Different ambiances : enjoy the street art gallery,  shop around the second hand clothing section,  dance on the tiny dance floor. The music program is excellent with several choices: upstairs, a live acoustic artist, downstairs, electro/house music. 

Zé dos bois at Barrio Alto: In the neighborhood of Barrio Alto, the streets lead a double life: nearly deserted by day and teeming with a thirsty crowd in the evenings. You can find not only bars, but also discos, concept stores, hairdressers. Every night, it is packed: finding your way through the crowd can be sometimes a struggle, but go to Zé dos bois, one of the most famous bar, some people here think that if you want to understand Lisbon, this is the place to spend the evening. 

Sud Lisboa: chicissime. Lunch around the pool with a stunning 360° view of the Tagus, but it’s in the evening that it’s worth it, the pool area becomes an ultra chic bar. 

Shopping

LX Factory: The LX Factory  is fact becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, if not the country itself. It is like an huge outdoor mall, with restaurants, bars, galleries, bookstores and various concept shops managed by artists.The place is absolutely  astonishing ! Take the time to visit every corner, you might find some treasures as an art work made by a local artist.

Sport

Kite surfing and surfing: if there is a place to pratice, or to start, these sports, it is Lisbon. And even if you are not tempted, Caparica beach (15-20mn from Lisbon) is worth a visit. Take an afternoon, go to Posto 9, meet people over a good sangria and enjoy the moment. From February to November, the weather allows you to spend a day at the beach in a T-shirt. What more could you ask for?

Best running trail:  From St Apolonia train station to Belém tower. In the early morning, to see the city when wake up, go along the Tagus River for a short run.  This tower is probably the most emblematic monument of the city, it was built in the 16th century to protect the entrance to Lisbon. Afterwards, have a coffee with a pastel de nata, the famous Portuguese flan (the best spot to buy them fresh is right here: Fabrica dos pastéis in Belém)

Mediation and yoga 

Nada Temple.  Nāda in Sanskrit means the sound frequency, in other words the hidden energy that connects us all. Nada Temple offers all kinds of activities: meditation, yoga, art shows mixing interactive art, techno and culture. Check their website for the program

Visites

The views: Lisbon, very hilly, is a city of panoramas. It is a bit of a reward every time you climb, on foot or by taking the famous yellow tram. Among the must-see viewspoints, the Miradouro de Graca for the sunset;  the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, which offers a sublime view on the Tagus and the 25th of April bridge. The Cristo Rei, another panorama, often hosts guitarists who make the place even more charming.

My favorite spot, (and I’m not the only one), Comporta: 

An hour from Lisbon, it’s a little piece of bobo chic eco paradise. A mixture of Ile de Ré and St Tropez. Not so well known but it has become the most fashionable place in the world: Philippe Stark has a house there, together with all the people who have made Lisbon their home, like Monica Belluci or Louboutin, make regular trips there. Go for a walk on the incredible beaches, have lunch at the “Sublime Comporta” hotel, treat yourself to a massage at the Spa.