Life in Portugal. Pink Street Lisbon, the one street in Lisbon that you can count on to have a crowd and plenty of drinks once the sun goes down.
The story behind the picturesque street. Sometimes, it is easier to convert neighborhoods with the most colorful histories into spectacular, trendy hangouts. Rua Nova do Carvalho had some very shady beginnings. It is a pedestrian street once known as a meeting point for sailors, local criminals and prostitutes. Sailors and criminals would come by for a good time to enjoy the company of women at the gambling dens, brothels and seedy bars. The street at the time, developed a bad reputation until it had a complete makeover.
They closed the doors of brothels and dodgy run-down bars to open cozy cafes and a new kind of nightlife. This has attracted locals and tourists all over the world. Like many neglected spots around Lisbon, Rua Nova do Carvalho used its history as a stepping stone to develop something better with new bars and venues that kept memories from the past.
Some bars still have fishing nets and bright colors as a way of remembering the seedy beginnings. It is also located on the river and is centralised with the train station, metro and bus stations that connect downtown Lisbon to other parts of the city and nearby districts. Most tourists find this listed on their itineraries.
Why is that? The clubs and bars get rowdy in the evenings and it is one of the most happening places in Lisbon. It goes from a quiet pink street in the day, to a place where all the cool people gather at night. It is also listed as one of the top 12 favourite streets in Europe, according to New York Times. Even a few old bars have stuck around but with positive new energy. Check out the best bars and clubs on and near Pink Street. Espumantaria do Cais is a wine and cocktail bar in Pink Street that has a variety of drinks, but mostly clear sparkling wine, and a full menu of petiscos Portuguese appetizers so you can snack while you drink.
