Nova's guide to Lisbon

TES Cascais is here and you know what that means? The conference season is officially open. Woohoo! Time to get the Let’s talk dating T-shirt out of the closet and take the conference floor in Portugal. Speaking of which, your first association with this southern European country might be the sun, beaches and most likely – good food and great parties. Once again, Nova is making sure you don’t waste your time in some touristy places, drinking overpriced beers.

Luckily, we have some amazing partners in the industry that know the city of Lisbon like the palm of their hand. Even better, they love a good party, great food and watching sunsets with a strong drink in their hands. We had the pleasure to get a hold of their top go-to local places.

So in case you decide to spend some time before or after the conference in Cascais, here are some recommendations on how to spend your time in the amazing city of Lisbon, which is just a short train ride away from where the conference is held this year.

But before we get into it, we believe it’s fair to let you know about NOVA’S SPECIAL TES CASCAIS DEAL. All new affiliate sign-ups to our network during the conference will be rewarded with some $$$. Depending on how much revenue you earn with Nova, we are giving you another 10% on top of it. Take it as a little welcome gift from Nova to you.

BEST AREAS TO STAY IN LISBON:

First things first. You got to have a nice place to stay, right? These three areas were recommended by the locals as being the most desirable district in Lisbon.

PRINCIPE REAL Principe Real will win your heart over with its charming buildings and a sense of tranquility. It’s mostly the parks that make this area so calm but don’t worry, it can get lively during the night. You can check the Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint if you want to experience one of the best views over central Lisbon.

SALDANHA Moving closer to the city center, Saldanha is a district with residential, business and shopping components. A more modern part of the city with great public transport connections – definitely a good starting point if you want to move around and explore.

SANTOS One of the livelier areas. Located next to the port, it’s bordering another district you’ll want to visit – Bairro Alto, the nightlife hub of Lisbon.

BEST WAY OF TRANSPORT:

• Metro
• Tram
• Bike or a scooter

BEST BARS IN LISBON:

FOXTROT When it's Cocktail O’Clock, this is the place to be. One of the oldest bars in Lisbon and locals’ favorite bar in the city offers a huge variety of cocktails in an English pub kind of setting. If the alcohol hits too hard, make sure to order some backup from their food menu. You’ll feel better right away.

FÁBRICA DA MUSA Big terrace, good beer and great snacks. All you really need is good company and you got yourself a perfect afternoon.

CASA INDEPENDENTE Casa Independente is a multipurpose venue. There’s always something going on there: concerts, exhibitions, workshops...You name it! And if there’s nothing happening that specific time you’re visiting, it's still worth having a drink in the sunny courtyard.

MONKEY MASH This place use to be a popular nightclub in the center of Lisbon but transformed into a tropical bar. They specialize in fresh, fruity and exotic drinks, which the interior reflects. Looks like a cool place to have a drink.

PARK There always has to be at least one rooftop bar on our list. For everyone who appreciates a good view on a sunny terrace, this is the place. It’s located at the top of the parking garage, but once you reach the top, it definitely doesn’t look or feel like one. The decoration is giving comfy and urban vibes, topped with a panoramic view over the city.

BEST COFFEE PLACES IN LISBON

BRASILEIRA One of the oldest bars in Lisbon in the heart of Chiado. The place will take you back in time so if you are feeling nostalgic or simply want to experience how Lisbon used to feel like in the past, go visit.

TEATRO TABORDA - CAFÉ GARAGEM Simple and intimate café with a gorgeous view over the houses and churches of Lisbon. Not a bad idea to start your day sipping coffee with a view like that.

BEST BRUNCH IN TOWN

ZENITH Pancakes, bagels, bowls and brunch classics – you can find all of it there at any time of the day. Bonus points for this Instagram-able place: they also offer vegan options.

AMÉLIA Another stylish brunch place with a beautiful interior, including a nice green garden so you can have your first cup of coffee in the sun. They have a huge menu with some of the brunch classics, as well as burgers and salads.

FAUNA & FLORA This place is more on the healthier side, serving light meals with an emphasis on veggie options and organic products.

BEST DINNER PLACES IN TOWN

100 MANEIRAS This place is good. In fact, it’s so good that it managed to earn a Michelin Star in 2023. The website itself is a work of art, let alone the food they serve. If you’re a foodie, you should try the tasting menu from chef Ljubomir Stanisic. And don’t forget to make a reservation!

O TALHO Meat lovers’ Paradise! The restaurant is set in an intimate environment, where you can experience chef Kiko’s experimental ways of cooking and flavoring the meat.

AVENIDA SUSHI CAFÉ There has to be a sushi place on the list and this restaurant is known to prepare it best. They focus on quality ingredients and keep their menu very traditional. A cherry on top is a gorgeous terrace with a panoramic view over the river.

TABERNA DO LOPES Another steak house in Lisbon that specializes in aged meats, mixed with Portuguese cuisine, will remind you of a home-cooked meal. Pair that with a glass of Portuguese wine and you got yourself a perfect dine-out experience.

A PROVINCIANA In for a quick meal that’s not as fancy as the ones above? This one appears to be the local’s favorite go-to place. It’s cheap and the food is amazing. No special reservation is needed for this one.

RAMIRO Ramiro is well known for serving fresh and quality seafood, as well as traditional portuguese dishes. In fact, the place is so popular, you’ll definitely have to make a reservation before.

WHAT IS WORTH SEEING

Pro tip: get yourself a tour guide to visit the following attractions. There’s so much history behind it that you’ll definitely enjoy the stories and meaning behind these monuments.

• Praça do Comércio
• Castelo de São Jorge
• Miradouro Santa Catarina, Adamastor, Graça
• Panteão
• Jardim do Torel

After you’re done with the tour, you can explore the rest:

-Mosteiro dos Jerónimos -Baixa-Chiado -Terreiro do Paço -Belém Area -Parque das Naçoes

BEST PARTY PLACES-CLUBS

LUX This should be your go-to option. Every night. The place has 3 floors but mainly plays electronic and techno music.

PLATEAU if you’re feeling nostalgic or you just simply enjoy dancing to old hits, visit Plateau on the weekend. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for the 70s, 80s, and 90s music! Wait, it gets even better. Ladies' night on Wednesday with free entrance for the girls.

TITANIC SUR MER This place used to be a fish auction building and got flipped into a bar and a concert hall. Depending on the night, you can listen to all sorts of music; jazz, rock, samba and of course some southern beats and pop hits.

LUST IN RIO In the southern part of Lisbon, right next to the Tagus River, you’ll find Lust in Rio. They love to host theme parties with a different program every night. You might have to dress up for this place though. Time to get that white shirt out of the closet.

MOST IMPORTANT WORDS TO LEARN

• Obrigado - Thanks
• Por favor - Please
• Foda-se - Fuck
• cerveja - Beer
• café - Coffee espresso

There you have it! Your survival guide for Lisbon. Now all that is left to do is attend the conference, check these places out and most importantly, look for team Nova at TES Cascais. Igor, Anna and Jasin will be somewhere in the venue, wearing our typical “With love from Amsterdam “ T-shirts. In case you see one of them first, tap them on the shoulder and say hi, they’re very excited to meet you.