Príncipe Real Shops

We love Branca Lagarto and Natacha Tavares Pinto's narrow, light-filled shop for unique, accessible Portuguese design pieces. The walls are hung with sweetly designed graphic prints, and the shelves are stocked with little sculptures and homewares, like star-shaped cutting boards, artful ceramics, and jewelry from local designers. Souvenir-wise, they've got a selection of quirky giftables like ornate craft scissors in the shape of a peacock, oversized erasers, and an old-school boomerang. Don't miss the kids' section.

This adorable shop in Príncipe Real is a go-to for European (and often handmade) kids' brands, featuring everything from beautifully painted wooden blocks, to sleekly designed teething toys, to the teeniest little espadrilles. The buyers also have a few beachy homewares around for mom—baskets, oversized totes, and Turkish towels are scattered throughout the space.

What we love about 39a is that it's much more shop-able than your average concept store. Owner Raquel Prates covers the walls with art installations (there's always a cool temporary exhibition on display), and the racks are always filled with hard-to-find designers, but everything is relatable enough for regular wear. Win-win.

This shop is decorated from floor to ceiling in stunning, intricate, and mostly blue-and-white antique tiles from every era of Portuguese history. Collectors who know what they're looking for will have a field day here, but it's just as pleasurable an outing for naive tourists (some small tiles come in at a price range that's reasonable enough for a souvenir).

One of Lisbon's most impressive developments, Embaixada is a series of shops that form a gallery inside a neo-Moorish palace. All of the vendors are local, so the entire shopping experience feels like a celebration of Portuguese design and craftsmanship. The range of shops is huge—come here for everything from swimsuits to antique clothing to gifts and accessories.