Lisbon's Botanical Garden

In the very heart of Lisbon, indifferent to the bustle of the city, lies the Botanical Garden of Lisbon. An oasis of peace, nature and green. Established in the 19th century, it presents species from the 5 continents that have found a welcoming home in the Portuguese capital. 

The Garden is particularly rich in tropical species from New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, and South America, which attests to the mildness of Lisbon's climate and the peculiarities of the microclimates created in this Garden.

Since 2010 that the Botanical Garden is considered a national monument and it reopened last year after a thorough renovation process.  The garden, situated near to Principe Real, is easily accessible both by metro, tram or bus and within walking distance from other Lisbon attractions, like Parque Eduardo VII.

The meandering paths, the lakes, the Bambu tunnels, the exotic species, and the rare plants, along with the peaceful atmosphere, stimulate both curiosity and contemplation. It is a perfect place to visit with kids and you can combine it with a visit to the Museum of Natural History. Its freshness, even in the hot summer days makes it, also, a wonderful spot to rest for a while during your visit to the city even if you're not a botanist. 

BOTANICAL GARDEN OF LISBON
Rua da Escola Politécnica 56/58,
1250-102 Lisboa
Portugal

OPENING HOURS AND FEES
Open every day, except Christmas Day and January 1st. Last admission: half an hour before the Garden closes
October to March: 9 am - 5 pm
April to September: 9 am - 8 pm

Adults - 3€
Under 18, over 65 and students - 1,5€

Wine Chronicles | Soul Garden (Lisbon)

The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon is one my favorite hotels in Lisbon, and to make something good even better, it has made a renovation of the outdoor space and opened the SOUL GARDEN - a bar in an outdoor green space with a direct access to the exterior, independent of the hotel.

The renovated space consists of a bar, different lounge-style seating areas surrounded by green structures creating different environments, and three islands located in the garden ponds, each dedicated to bartending experiences with Old Fashioned, Sour and Negroni cocktails.

O Corinthia Hotel Lisbon é um dos meus hotéis favoritos na cidade de Lisboa, e agora é capaz de se tornar um dos meus lugares de eleição nos fins de tarde e noites quentes de Verão. O Corinthia renovou o espaço exterior e abriu o SOUL GARDEN - um bar num espaço verde ao ar livre (giríssimo!), com acesso directo ao exterior. 

O renovado espaço é composto por um bar, diferentes áreas de estar, em estilo lounge, rodeadas por estruturas verdejantes que criam diferentes ambientes, e três ilhas localizadas nos lagos do jardim, cada uma dedicada a experiências de bartending, com os cocktails Old Fashioned, Sour e Negroni.

The bar is run by Nélson Antunes, who manages the hotel's bars and offers a menu rich in Cocktails, Mocktails, Gins, Rum, Vodkas, Wines, Champagne and Natural Juices. Of note are the white Negroni cocktails served in a mug and the Arabica Old Fashioned, with the aroma of arabica coffee served on a slate with incense. These cocktails are amazing, but my favorite is the Basil and Ginger Sour. Fresh and aromatic, its all you need for a hot Summer night!

O bar, sob o comando de Nélson Antunes, responsável pelos bares do hotel, oferece uma carta rica em Cocktails, Mocktails, Gins, Rum, Vodkas, Vinhos, Champanhes e Sumos naturais. A destacar os cocktails White Negroni servido em caneca e o Arabica Old Fashioned, com aroma de café arábica servido numa ardósia com incenso. São fantásticos e, como os olhos também comem, lindos, mas o meu favorito é sem dúvida o Basil and Ginger Sour. Fresco e aromático, é tudo o que se precisa para uma quente noite de Verão!

The gastronomic side is also very important and is in charge of Chef Carlos Gonçalves who prepared a menu of light, fresh and balanced dishes, with flavors inspired in the Orient and in perfect harmony with the cocktail proposals, ideal to share in a late afternoon of Summer.

The menu includes dishes such as Sea Bream Ceviche with Aji Amarillo, Salmon braised with Japanese mustard sauce, fish  "Escabeche" with rice vinegar and purple onion, Vegetable and Shrimp Tempura, Scallops Tartar with Yuzu vinaigrette, avocado, cucumber, salt and sesame, and Tataki steak matured with Waldorf salad. I've had the opportunity to sample all the options and must called in love with this menu. It's hard to name a favorite, but maybe the tempura will be my first choice.

No Soul Garden a vertente gastronómica não é menos importante e está a cargo do Chef Carlos Gonçalves que preparou um menu de pratos leves, frescos e equilibrados. Com sabores inspirados no oriente e em perfeita harmonia com as propostas de cocktails, as opções apresentadas são ideais para partilhar num final de tarde de Verão. 

Do menu fazem parte pratos como o Ceviche de dourada com Aji Amarillo, Salmão braseado com molho de mostarda Japonesa, Escabeche de peixe em vinagre de arroz e cebola roxa, Peixinhos da horta e do mar, Tártaro de vieiras com vinagrete de Yuzu, abacate, pepino, flôr de sal e sésamo e Tataki de novilho maturado com salada Waldorf. No evento de inauguração tive oportunidade de experimentar todos e tenho que dizer que tanto as opções de carne como de peixe e marisco são uma delícia. É difícil apontar um favorito, mas para mim o Tempura de vegetais e camarão ficaram em primeiro lugar.

Soul Garden is also home to artists such as DJ Moon and DJ Tiggy, who present their dynamic sets every Wednesday and weekends from 5:30 p.m. With eclectic and personalized playlists and Tuesdays and Thursdays the percussion sounds bring a masterful touch to a unique and modern tasting experience.

O Soul Garden é também a casa de artistas como DJ Moon e DJ Tiggy, que apresentam os seus sets dinâmicos todas as quartas-feiras e fins-de-semana a partir das 17h30. Com playlists ecléticas e personalizadas e às terças e quintas os sons da percussão trazem um toque magistral para uma experiência de degustação exclusiva e moderna.

SOUL GARDEN

Corinthia Hotel Lisbon

Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, nº 105

Lisbon 1099-031

Portugal

Phone: +351 217 236 305

Email: lisbon@corinthia.com

The Wanderer's Gallery | Spring

The Wanderer's Gallery | Ginkgo Trees in Lisbon

Until next year May!

I have the feeling that this monthly post its happening faster and faster every month. Summer is almost here and we are about to have half of the year gone by. But let us focus on May. Have been to many interesting places, that I have (or will) shared with you. The blog is going fine with an increased number of readers, and for that I must thank you all. Although our follow on social media has not increased as much as I would love to (me and my ambitious goals!), the fidelity and engagement of our followers is always more positive than fast growing numbers.

Looking back on May its easy to find out my foodie side. With several brunch suggestions, an afternoon tea (on Tea for Two series) and a new restaurant  review on our Food Chronicles series, all in one month it's difficult to disguise. You can also argue that I'm partial on a good wine. Well, I am! Visits to some great wineries and a few more posts on the wine tourism series make that irrefutable.

But I also love the simple beauty of nature and the splendor of Spring. When you live in the city, the best place to find it is on the nearest garden, so this May I didn't forget to give you my suggestions on my favorite gardens in Lisbon.

Wellness is also an area that is dear to me and this month I've experienced and presented you an outstanding Spa in the city (Lisbon). Stay tuned on this series, for I'll be bringing more in the months to come.

I'm grateful for what May has brought and looking forward for what June can bring. Until the next monthly wrap-up, leave you with the nine photos that are the Top 9 for May on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.

Lisbon Chronicles | 5 Gardens You Can't Miss

Lisbon has many gardens scattered trough the city. Renaissance gardens embellishing palaces, botanical gardens, parks and landscaped modernist projects, you will find awesome places of every sort where you can relax in the shade, have a drink or a light meal, read a book or even take a nap. These are just a few and some of my favorite.



ESTRELA'S GARDEN

Situated in Estrela district this naturalistic garden follows the romantic design of the English parks. With over 11 acres, the garden was inaugurated in 1852 and was a popular site for the inhabitants of Lisbon in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Today is a lovely place to take the children on weekends, to rest, enjoying its tranquility,  to read or to jog. It presents a great diversity of vegetable species and still keeps most of the statuary from the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. It has a play ground, lakes (with ducks), a bandstand (that was originally on Passeio Público - today's Avenida da Liberdade) and also a kiosk and a restaurant with a terrace over the lake. Read more...

PALÁCIO FRONTEIRA'S GARDEN

The majestic garden of Palácio Fronteira, with about 13 acres,  is breathtaking for its amazing details and design. In a day full of the beautiful Lisbon light, this sumptuous Italian gardens will make you want to stay forever, so you better schedule your visit with enough time to enjoy so much beauty. Wondering through the garden you'll get lovely views of the statues, buildings and plants, finding a photo opportunity at every turn. Read more...

AJUDA'S BOTANICAL GARDEN

Although Lisbon has been place of many gardens that harbored collections of plants from Africa, Asia and America, the Ajuda's Botanical Garden was the first Portuguese Botanical Garden designed with  scientific  purposes  and in order to  collect as many species of the plants possible (it came to have 5000 species).

The garden has an area of ​​almost 4ha and an architecture that follows the Renaissance models, with carved terraces on the hillside. The light reflected from the river renders even more beautiful its decorative elements in carved stone, scattered among the plants, particularly on the stairs, and on the water fountains and ponds. Read more...

GULBENKIAN'S GARDEN

No other garden in the city is so dear to me like the garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.  Built in the 60s, according to the design of landscape architects António Viana Barreto and Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles, this garden is one of the most emblematic gardens of the modern movement in Portugal and a reference to the Portuguese landscape architecture.

Large spaces, different ambiences, light and shade, beautiful views of the lake and a perfect harmony make of this garden a place to rest, to read and study, to love and dream. Read more...

PRÍNCIPE REAL GARDEN

The neighborhood of Principe Real (it means Royal Prince and the name was given in honor of the prince D. Pedro, son of D. Maria II and who was to become Dom Pedro V) is one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city of Lisbon. The gardens and quiet squares lined with colorful palaces, the antique shops, restaurants and bars, tourists who walk and senior citizens playing deck in the shade of trees all contribute to its undeniable charm. Read more...