The Chinese Pavilion (and Its Siblings)

One of the most distinctive bars we’ve seen in all our years of travel is Lisbon’s Pavilhão Chinês, or Chinese Pavilion. With its billiards tables and plush old sofas, along with the hundreds of antique toys encased in the walls, this instantly became one of our favorite places in the city. We visited it, as well as a couple other bars owned by the same proprietor.

Pavilhão Chinês

Chinese Pavilion

Luis Pinto Coelho purchased this property in 1986 with the intention of displaying his collection of curiosities. The idea for a bar didn’t come until later; he and his friends spent so much time drinking and hanging out in this cozy space, it was a natural progression. Today, the Pavilhão Chinês has become one of the coolest joints in Lisbon.

With €5 drafts, the prices aren’t cheapest in town, but it’s easy enough to justify by pretending there’s an extra surcharge for visiting the “museum”. Anyway, it’s probably a good thing that the bar isn’t extremely affordable; otherwise, I’d be such a regular, they might as well encase me in glass, too.

Location on our Map

Procópio Bar

Procópio Bar

Found near the Amoreiras cistern, the Procópio Bar has been around since 1972. But upon entering, you’ll think you’ve stepped directly into a 1920s speakeasy. This is a classic space in every sense, from the correctly-dressed waiter, to the cozy decor, to the fact that you can still smoke inside. The bar is tucked away in a cul-de-sac facing a fountain, and you have to know exactly where it is… there aren’t any signs, and you even have to ring a doorbell to be let in.

Location on our Map

Foxtrot

Foxtrot

Yet another richly decorated bar, with the same vibe (and owners) of the Chinese Pavilion and the Procópio is the Foxtrot, in Campo Ourique. This is a much larger bar than the Procópio, and aims to be a “typical English pub” in Lisbon. But there’s nothing typical about this place. We showed up on a night they were doing dance lessons. The sight of a dozen people practicing tango, with no music being played, fit the surreal, anachronistic atmosphere of Foxtrot perfectly.

Location on our Map

There’s one more bar owned by Luís Pinto Coelho, which we didn’t have a chance to visit, called Paródia, near the Basílica da Estrela.

Lisbon Tiles Souvenirs

Chinese Pavilion Photos:

Chinese Pavilion

03 Chinese Pavillion DSC00654

04 Chinese Pavillion DSC00663

05 Chinese Pavillion DSC00667

06 Chinese Pavillion DSC00671

07 Chinese Pavillion DSC00673

08 Chinese Pavillion DSC00679

09 Chinese Pavillion DSC00686

10 Chinese Pavillion DSC00687

11 Chinese Pavillion DSC00689

12 Chinese Pavillion DSC00691

13 Chinese Pavillion DSC00692

14 Chinese Pavillion DSC00694

15 Chinese Pavillion DSC00695

16 Chinese Pavillion DSC00699

17 Chinese Pavillion DSC00702

18 Chinese Pavillion DSC00704

19 Chinese Pavillion DSC00707

20 Chinese Pavillion DSC00712

21 Chinese Pavillion DSC00714

22 Chinese Pavillion DSC00716

23 Chinese Pavillion DSC00717

24 Chinese Pavillion DSC00724

25 Chinese Pavillion DSC00727

Procópio Bar Photos:

Procópio Bar

03 Procopio Bar DSC03184

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Michael Gallagher

    Do you know where I could buy some of the artwork as prints to frame ? I visited last week while in Lisbon and the Chinese Pavilion was magical
    Mike

Leave a Reply