The chicest shoes
Wearing stilettos in cobbled Lisbon can be particularly tricky. In 2018, spotting a need for elegant flats, entrepreneur Fátima Carvalho founded Lachoix around the idea of smart, practical loafers. Just three years later, she opened a stand-alone shop on Pátio do Tijolo, with lines of flat sandals, Mary Janes, ballerinas, and myriad loafer styles. Made in Portugal using Italian leather, and with a specially designed sole that doesn’t slip on Portuguese pavements (even in the rain), Lachoix shoes are sleek, stylish, and extremely comfortable. Look out for understated slip-ons in dusty neutrals.
The best fragrances
Although Portugal has lacked a tradition in perfume making, it has been producing quality soaps and colognes since the 19th century. Claus Porto, founded in 1887 and known for its bright art nouveau packaging and color-pop oval soaps, is one of the nation’s most beloved beauty brands. Its Lisbon shop—which sells gift sets of soap bars and tricky-to-find diffusers, candles and hand creams—occupies an old pharmacy that has been beautifully renovated by local design star Joana Astolfi, who paired the original wood-and-glass cabinets with minimalist polished gold tables. Downstairs is a barbershop, which uses Claus Porto’s Musgo Real line (a scent synonymous with Portugal’s stylish folk). Nearby, fellow heritage beauty brand Benamôr has been making creams and fragrances since 1925 from natural ingredients grown under the Portuguese sun: lemon, rose, aloe vera, and almond oils. On an unassuming road behind Avenida da Liberdade, hidden inside a former pharmacy is Next Memory Atelier. I’m always surprised that more people don’t rave about this stunning store, where walls are lined with perfumes, reed diffusers, and candles, but I’m only too happy to share the love. The solid perfumes make a great gift or travel buy, and you can personalize the leather with your initials.
