Jardim Botânico da Ajuda (Ajuda's Botanical Garden)

This walkabout was born due to frustrating attempt of finding Buddhist places in Lisbon. The garden has a café but it is a little bit snobbish looking and expensive, the walk by itself is worth it, sitting in the shadow and wetting my feet on the fountain. Nice breaks from the city life.

Oh! Inspired by Goethe Café I picked up some verbena from the herbs section of the garden (it as written what it was, I am not that good on identifying). It dried in my pocket and I made tea when I arrived home, take the advice!

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Open from 9h to 18h from October to March. From 9h to 19h in April, and from 9h to 20h from May to September.

Goethe Café (closed?)

This place is in the Goethe Institute but it is more specifically located on an open air garden inside the building. The meal place is an adorably colorful kiosky thing. There are a lot of tables to sit in, including some near a projection screen.

In there is a fountain, a hammock (not suitable for big swings I guess), and some very interesting mosaic artwork on which this girl took part.

This is probably the only place in Portugal where they celebrate Oktoberfest by the way, and the only one with Paulaner beer.

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Today's vegetarian dish was leek-à-brás (like our traditional dish with codfish but a vegetarian version instead: leek, eggs and chips) that costed around 6€. And I also asked for a lemon-verbena, mint and orange cold tea (1.5€). Approved. My friend asked for a chicken salad (5.80€) and next to us some other dishes were served like stuffed potatoes and the traditional sausages.

One thing I enjoyed a lot was that the girl in the kiosk trusted me to go to the bank to take some money. You cannot pay by card and she just let me go although it was the first time she saw my face. Isn't it nice to know you can still trust people?

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From tuesday to friday from 9h to 21h and saturdays from 9h to 17h.

Linha d'Água

One of the nicest Spring places ever. The cafe stands on the margin of a big knee deep lake that reflects the landscape creating a colorful blot test. The interior of the place is not that worth it as the exterior takes all the protagonism. It has glass walls so from inside you can also look at the lake.

Although we are located in the middle of the city, malls and roads, it is not possible to feel that thanks to the hills that create a little bit of isolation and privacy. Everything here is peaceful, like a zen oasis in the middle of the turbulence. I felt like rolling in the grass, but there may be some shit around, that would ruin the moment.

Open from 10h to 20h everyday.