Not quite — it\u2019s in Campolide, about 10-15 minutes from downtown by metro via the nearby Sete Rios station.
Discover Authentic Lisbon: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Lisbon, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as LX Factory, the Senhora do Monte viewpoint and Cacilhas across the Tagus.
Top 5 Things to Do in Lisbon
Mercado de Campo de Ourique
Serving the neighbourhood since 1934, with a food hall added in 2013. The crowd here is overwhelmingly local — it feels like a living room, not a tourist stop.
Campo de Ourique\u2019s grid streets
Built on a grid that survived the 1755 earthquake, this neighbourhood feels distinct from Alfama\u2019s medieval alleys or Bairro Alto\u2019s steep party streets.
Tram 28 to Prazeres
The easiest way to reach Campo de Ourique market without the uphill walk from Rato — hop off at Prazeres.
Jardim Zoológico area
Right by the hotel — a useful landmark and green space if you need a break from the city centre.
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation gardens
Also next to the hotel, with peaceful gardens worth a wander even if you skip the museum.
Explore Lisbon's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Lisbon
We've mapped local spots in Lisbon, from a convent brewery to a famous chocolate cake.
Culture & views
LX Factory
In a former factory by the 25 de Abril bridge: bookshops, vintage stores, galleries, canteens and bars, with a flea market on Sundays.
Alcântara · Creative hub · Perfect for an alternative day out
Chapitô
In Alfama, a social project, arts school and home of the acclaimed Companhia do Chapitô physical theatre – with a quirky restaurant overlooking the Tagus.
Alfama · Theatre and restaurant · Made for views and culture
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
From the top of Graça, Lisbon's rooftops tumble down to São Jorge Castle, Mouraria and the river. The chapel, founded in 1174, holds a stone seat said to bless mothers-to-be.
Graça · Viewpoint · Perfect for sunsets
Fábrica Braço de Prata
A former munitions factory turned cultural hub: performance halls, exhibition spaces, bookshops and bars.
Marvila · Cultural venue · Great for live music
Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida
A house museum of Qing porcelain, Versailles fountains and Napoleon's crockery. Eclectic doesn't begin to cover it.
Avenidas Novas · Museum · Made for collectors
Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira
An 18th-century palace still lived in by the marquises, with formal gardens and the azulejo-lined Hall of Battles.
Benfica · Palace · Perfect for azulejos
Jardim do Príncipe Real
A small garden loved by locals since 1853: a huge Buçaco cedar spreading a natural canopy, an octagonal lake and tables where older residents play cards. Sit a while.
Príncipe Real · Garden · Ideal for a slow afternoon
Food & drink
Convento da Trindade brewery
Eight centuries old, survivor of an earthquake and two fires, the Trindade convent has housed a brewery since 1836. Reopened in 2022 as brewery, restaurant, bar and museum, with a menu by chef Alexandre Silva.
Chiado · Brewery-restaurant · Made for beer and history
Landeau chocolate cake
One dessert, three textures, and plenty of fans calling it Lisbon's finest chocolate cake. A slice costs around €4, at four shops across the city.
Lisbon · Pastry shop · Perfect for chocolate lovers
Cacilhas
A 15-minute ferry across the Tagus: riverside walks, views of the 25 de Abril bridge and Cristo Rei, and seafood restaurants such as O Farol.
Cacilhas, across the Tagus · Port town · Great for seafood
Casa do Alentejo
Alentejo cooking in a former palace with Moorish arches, right in downtown Lisbon.
Baixa · Restaurant · Ideal for regional food
FAQ
Take Tram 28 to the Prazeres stop, which avoids the uphill walk from Rato.
Lisbon Zoo and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and its gardens are both right next door.
A creative hub in a former factory in Alcântara, with shops, galleries, restaurants and a Sunday flea market.
The Miradouro da Senhora do Monte in Graça, one of the highest viewpoints in the city.
Take the ferry across the Tagus; the crossing takes about 15 minutes.
Where to Sleep in Lisbon
See Mercure hotels in Lisbon, all within reach of these picks.