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Key takeaway: Lisbon’s galleries are hotter than your Sichuan Scramble right now. Here are 5 worth ditching your Figma file for – plus what to order at Neighbourhood before you go.
1. Galeria Zé dos Bois (ZDB)
If Berghain and a community art centre had a baby, ZDB would be it. Experimental art, rooftop gigs, and a sense you’re probably not cool enough to be there – but they let you in anyway.
Design inspo: Interactive installations, risograph poster designs, gigs with typography visuals that make you rethink your entire font library.
Pre-gallery fuel: Grab a Sichuan Scramble (scrambled eggs with our in-house “bum thunder” chilli oil) and a flat white before conquering Bairro Alto’s cobbles.
📍Getting There
From Neighbourhood Graça: Around 3.5 km (2.2 mi). Hop on tram 28E from Graça towards Baixa, then switch to tram 24E towards Príncipe Real. Total travel time: ~25 minutes.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Bairro Alto’s cobbled streets are slippery in summer sandals – trainers will save your ankles.
From Neighbourhood Santos: Just 1.5 km (0.9 mi), about a 20-minute uphill walk through São Bento and up to Bairro Alto.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Stop halfway at a miradouro for a panoramic breather (and to check your Fitbit steps).
2. MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture & Technology)
The brutalist curves, riverside views, and tech-meets-art summer exhibitions are a guaranteed portfolio refresh. Also: your next LinkedIn banner photo awaits.
Design inspo: Sustainability-infused architecture, data visualisation installations, ceramic texture studies.
Neighbourhood tip: Pick up an Espresso Tonic and Toasted Banana Bread from Santos before heading riverside. Keeps your brain wired and sweet tooth happy.
📍Getting There
From Neighbourhood Graça: Around 7.5 km (4.7 mi). Take tram 28E to Cais do Sodré, then switch to tram 15E towards Belém. Total travel time: ~35 minutes.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Sit on the right side of tram 15E for dreamy river views.
From Neighbourhood Santos: About 6.5 km (4 mi). Tram 15E from Santos takes ~20 minutes straight to Belém, then a 5-minute riverside walk to MAAT.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Grab an Espresso Tonic to go; it’ll still be ice-cold when you arrive.
3. Atelier-Museu Júlio Pomar
An intimate gallery celebrating Portuguese painter Júlio Pomar with rotating contemporary shows. Small but mighty – a palette cleanser for your eyes and design mind.
Design inspo: Vivid colour studies, gestural brushwork, and contemporary illustration styles.
Before you go: Order our Kimchi, Avocado and Fried Eggs on sourdough. Spicy, tangy, and creamy in one bite. Fuel for creative thinking.
📍Getting There
From Neighbourhood Graça: Roughly 4 km (2.5 mi). Take tram 28E down to Calçada do Combro, then it’s a 5-minute walk. Total travel time: ~20 minutes.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Morning visits are quietest before the lunch rush hits.
From Neighbourhood Santos: Just 1.2 km (0.75 mi). A gentle 15-minute walk through Santos’ design stores and antique shops.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Look up – this area is famous for secret street art murals above shop awnings.
4. Museu Coleção Berardo
Lisbon’s pop art and modernist playground. Warhol, Basquiat, Hockney. The works your design lecturer told you to see IRL.
Design inspo: Pop typography, colour blocking, composition studies for your next ad layout.
Neighbourhood pairing: Stop by for Granola & Greek Yogurt with seasonal fruit and honey, plus a Batch Brew for slow-release caffeine before your deep art dive.
📍Getting There
From Neighbourhood Graça: About 7.5 km (4.7 mi). Tram 28E to Cais do Sodré, then tram 15E to Belém. Total travel time: ~40 minutes.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Free entry on Saturdays – but arrive early before it turns into an influencer catwalk.
From Neighbourhood Santos: Around 6.5 km (4 mi). Tram 15E direct from Santos in ~20 minutes, then a 10-minute walk through Belém gardens.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Pair it with a sneaky pastel de nata stop at Pastéis de Belém (you’ve earned it).
5. Carpintarias de São Lázaro
Former carpentry warehouse turned arts centre with design exhibitions, indie films, rooftop events, and Lisbon’s coolest kids.
Design inspo: Adaptive reuse architecture, spatial design, indie branding pop-ups.
Best enjoyed with: A Breakfast Burrito (Meaty) packed with scrambled eggs, Spanish chorizo, refried beans, and guacamole, plus an Iced Black Coffee to keep you fuelled and ready for a day of gallery hopping.
📍Getting There
From Neighbourhood Graça: Just 0.6 km (0.37 mi) away – a breezy 7-minute downhill walk.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Stroll via Rua da Graça for traditional shops and azulejo-adorned houses.
From Neighbourhood Santos: Around 3.5 km (2.2 mi). Tram 25E to Praça da Figueira, then a quick ride on tram 28E towards Graça. Total travel time: ~25 minutes.
💡 Lisboeta tip: Ideal post-lunch spot when you need to walk off your Sichuan Scramble.
Whether you’re hunting font inspo, editorial ideas, or just a reason to disconnect from the internet, these galleries will feed your brain.
PS. Feed your body too. Start (or end) your design crawl at Neighbourhood Graça or Santos. Breakfast burritos, flat whites, iced lattes and bum thunder eggs await.
