Frommer's Review
This funky all-purpose rendezvous point occupies the steeply sloping premises of what was built in the 17th century as a women's prison and which functions today as a state-funded school for circus entertainers. Its location, perched on a ledge just below St. George's Castle in the Alfama, encompasses views over all of Lisbon, and its clients include clowns, jugglers, fire-eaters, and stilt-walkers, some or many of whom might be either in costume or practicing their stunts near the outdoor terrace and bar. Come here for drinks, tapas, or a meal, depending on whatever you're in the mood for, and keep moving up and down a labyrinth of indoor and outdoor areas until you find the spot where you feel most comfortable. During the daytime, the crowd is likely to include lots of students; after dark, the age tends to mature a bit, to between 30 and 45. Bruno, the Belgian-born owner, is nonchalant about what the place is exactly. It includes a cafe and bar, a separate tapas bar, at least two different dining areas, and a venue that's conducive to drinks that are consumed in anticipation of moving on to other nocturnal adventures. Menu items are simple, full of flavor, and straightforward, and include steak with a gratin of potatoes and mushroom sauce, breast of duck with orange sauce, smoked salmon, grilled octopus salad, and mango-flavored ice cream.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
