Work with Marguerite

Travel

Beato: Exciting art, good food, and lots of creativity

Sit at the counter for a quick pint or settling at a table in the bright restaurant.

By Marguerite BeatyUpdated 4 min read

photo of people at the illustration exhibit Beato

HomeTravelBeato: Exciting art, good food, and lots of creativity

Beato, where food and art meet

Old industrial buildings in Beato are being transformed into art galleries, creative spaces, and restaurants, making this Lisbon neighborhood one of the most interesting areas to explore right now. Near Marvila, and less touristy, Beato is perfect for an afternoon of food, art, and wandering.
In this article

 

Reitorio restaurant in Beato. Painting on the wall. Industrial building. Earthy colors. Plants on the sides. White wall.
Refeitorio restaurant in Beato

Spend a day getting to know Beato.

Head to Praça do Beato. It’s a large industrial space with one of my favorite restaurants, Refeitorio. There are coffee shops and a Brower’s, for beer enthusiasts. Sit indoors or outdoors.

Refeitorio for lunch in Beato

Sit outside or indoors; I chose indoors because I love Refeitorio’s architecture and design.
Refeitorio Praca Beato

What to eat

Start with the famous Portuguese peixinhos da horta. They are tempura-style green beans with a history. Did you know the Portuguese introduced tempura to Japan during their time in Nagasaki in the 1500s? So, you must try this dish.

Main dish

peixinhos da horta and pica pau

Pica-pau, it’s a tender beef cooked with wine, garlic, and onions, served with slices of sourdough bread. The bread soaked up the sauce perfectly. By the end of the meal, I was using every last piece of bread to finish it.

Beer Lovers

Go to Browers Beato The icy-cold beers are refreshing, and the food pairs perfectly. 

Browers Brewery and restaurant in Beato
Browers

Sit at the counter for a quick pint or settling at a table in the bright restaurant.

Coffee and sweets

Craving coffee and something sweet? Visit the coffee shop; it serves up homemade pastries and great coffee and tea.

Beato’s pop ups and galleries

Check for art exhibits at galleries and pop ups. I was so happy to wander into the illustration exhibit near Praça Beato by chance.

Exhibit Beato
Illustration exhibit, Beato

An Illustrator’s Wonderland

The exhibition space itself was part of the experience. Huge illustrated pages were spread across a vast industrial room, making it feel as though you had walked inside a giant open book. I immediately thought of Alice in Wonderland.
 
Children’s book artists, comic artists, political cartoonists, and contemporary illustrators from around the world.

illustration exhibit, illustration on huge book pages on floor,

The space itself was remarkable: a vast, open room with pages of oversized “books” displayed around the room. It felt like stepping into a story where every page came alive through vibrant drawings and thoughtful narratives. I felt like I was walking into Alice in Wonderland’s library.

The art of illustration

illustration art Beato

Walking through this exhibit, I couldn’t help but wonder: Do illustrators get enough credit for the beauty and thought they pour into their work? If these pages were framed and hung on a gallery wall, would we call them “fine art”? 

garden in Beato

Sara Bichão at the Galeria Filomena Soares

Sara Bichão’s sculptures are organic and fluid. They have a sense of movement. 

Bichão’s work feels dreamlike yet grounded in nature, and her use of texture and color is perfect is exciting.

Sara Bichao

In contrast, her drawings on brown paper felt delicate and quiet.

small painting of a snail on brown paper, Sara Bichao painting Beato

Why Visit Beato

Lisbon keeps changing, and Beato is one of the places where you can feel it. The neighborhood mixes food, art, industrial buildings, and creative spaces.
 
If you want to explore a different side of Lisbon beyond the usual tourist areas, Beato is worth an afternoon. Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and leave enough time to wander.

Praca Beato is located in the Creative Hub in Lisbon.

Tv. Grilo 1, 1950-145 Lisboa, PortugalLisbon, Portugal

https://apraca.pt/

Filomena Soares Gallery: Rua da Manutenção 80, 1900-321 Lisboa, Portugal

https://www.gfilomenasoares.com/

Get to know more about the Lisbon art world. Visit galleries while you are sightseeing and learn more about the culture in Lisbon. It will change how you travel.

Art in Lisbon March,April 2026

Updated May 2026

FAQ Beato neighbourhood, Lisbon

Where is Beato?

Beato is near Marvel, the bohemian, artistic, and residential neighbourhood. 

Here is a map of Beato in Lisbon

 

The easiest way to get to Beato is to take an UBER or a taxi.

There are many buses to that area but no metros.

Beato was an industrial neighborhood .

There are many new galleries in this neighbourhood.

Beato means blessed.

Beato is near the River Tagus.

The Tile Museum is there, don’t miss it.

There are new residential apartments popping up.

A Casa do Bacalhau

Soul Kitchen and Bar

Liv Beato

Palacio do Grilo (for dinner)

Marguerite Beaty

Written by

Marguerite Beaty

Marguerite is a photographer, artist and writer behind 50 and Rising. She writes about travel, creativity, food and the pleasures and possibilities of life after 50.

More about Marguerite →

Enjoyed this story?

Share it with someone who might enjoy it too.

Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp

Keep exploring

More from Travel

by the Seine in Paris heatwave

Travel

Paris heatwave: What I packed and what worked best

photo of woman wearing glasses, in front of paintings, solo travel after 65

Travel

Solo Travel after 65, more fun, culture and good food

sketch of women getting on yellow Lisbon tram, woman standing behind her waiting and

Travel

Your Lisbon trip: A simple season by season packing guide

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don't miss the next post!

By providing your email here, you will receive a notification every time Marguerite posts a new article :)

Don't miss the next post!

By providing your email here, you will receive a notification every time Marguerite posts a new article :)