With more and more travelers growing savvy to the charms of Portugal over the last decade—not to mention the many expats chasing the dream of a “golden visa”—Lisbon has never been more popular. And yet the capital remains steadfastly itself, convivial, and easygoing but also unabashedly stylish. This is thanks to artistic vanguards both old and new. Long-standing national shops and markets have endured for centuries without losing their creative shine; in turn, they’re inspiring a new generation of forward-thinking artisans and designers who are fusing modern aesthetic principles with Portuguese heritage and reinvigorating historic spaces in the city while they’re at it. It’s never been easier to bring a piece of Lisbon home.
Heritage at home
The lifestyle brand A Vida Portuguesa and the cultural association Portugal Manual opened Depozito in an old foundry on Rua Nova do Desterro to spotlight pottery, carpentry, basketry, and other local crafts. At the workshop and store Oficina Marques, in a former printing house in Bairro Alto, José Aparício Gonçalves and Gezo Marques create wares like upcycled wood sculptures, hand-painted plates, and Iberian water vases.
Local style
Inside the 19th-century Ribeiro da Cunha Palace in the charming Príncipe Real neighborhood, the shopping gallery EmbaiXada celebrates Portuguese-made fashion, including swimwear by Latitid, cotton shirts by Isto, and clothing by Benedita Formosinho, whose garments emphasize locally sourced materials. In a converted warehouse on the formerly industrial east side of Lisbon, the multipurpose space 8 Marvila features vintage shops including Black Mamba and Anomaly.
Made for walking
Wearing stilettos on the cobblestone streets of Lisbon can be tricky. In 2018, spotting a need for elegant flats, entrepreneur Fátima Carvalho founded Lachoix to provide smart practical shoes. Just three years later she opened a brick-and-mortar shop on Pátio do Tijolo, showcasing fashionable lines of sandals, Mary Janes, ballerina flats, and loafers. Made in Portugal with Italian leather, they have specially designed soles that prevent you from slipping even in the rain.
Soap opera
Portugal has produced quality soaps and colognes since the 19th century, and the iconic Claus Porto, founded in 1887, is renowned for its colorful oval soaps and Art Nouveau–inspired packaging. Get souvenir sets and hand creams, candles, and diffusers at the Lisbon outpost, installed in an old pharmacy and renovated by local design star Joana Astolfi. Freshen up at the barbershop downstairs, which uses the brand’s Musgo Real line, a scent synonymous with Lisbon’s most stylish folks.
Antique finds
The merchants along Rua de São Bento have furnished the homes of discerning Lisbon locals for generations. Standouts include Galeria Bessa Pereira (at number 426), with its splendid selection of art and vintage furniture; São Roque Antiguidades e Galeria de Arte (at number 199), which also organizes exhibitions; and Depósito da Marinha Grande (at numbers 234 and 418), a haven for fans of colorful Portuguese glassware.
What it says on the tin
In this capital city by the sea, people take their fish seriously. Faithful crowds have flocked to Conserveira de Lisboa in the historic Baixa district since its opening in 1930. Here, all manner of seafood comes in tins, old-fashioned and quite pretty, wrapped in paper. Classic buys include canned sardines, tuna, and mackerel from heritage labels Tricana, Prata do Mar, and Minor. Stuff them in your suitcase—after wrapping them in plastic bags!
This article appeared in the April 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.