LX factory. Quite a mysterious name, to be honest. And it is something special, indeed. Old industrial buildings are being reused as a kind of market. There are plenty of ateliers, restaurants, shops and cafés in this little area right under the ponte 25 de abril. It is a lovely area to spend a sunny evening or to go on a day of shopping in the several little stores. So what are you waiting for? Explore this hidden gem of Lisbon!
When you arrive at the entrance, you can see a huge name with the small area`s name on it, but not a lot more. As soon as you walk through the gate though you will start to hear people chattering and music playing in some of the bars and restaurants. The design of the old industrial buildings is still relatively original while the insides have been renovated according to the needs of the stores and cafes. In the ways between the alleys there are some seating areas and some artworks installed.
On the first floor of pretty much all the buldings around here you will find workshops and ateliers of the owners of the stores below or simply local designers.
Walking through the cobblestone ways, don`t be afraid to look inside the shops. Dare to explore something new and maybe even get in touch with the owners to learn something new and very interesting.
Behind some of the windows you can absolutely find some extraordinary things: As already advertised at the entrance, there is a drag queen show in one corner of the area. A special highlight is the cooking workshop together with the drag queens, known as drag dinner, and the possibility to actually watch the impressive transformation while the young men are sitting all in a row in front of a large window. It truly is a fantastic form of art!
One more form of modern art to be seen around here is street art. Plenty of the historical buildings are decorated with artworks, mostly spray paintings, by highly skilled street artists. They give the entire area a totally own character.
Due to its location in Lisbon right underneath the start of the iconic red bridge leading to the southern coast of the Tejo, watching the sunset in here is an amazing experience, without being at an overcrowded spot. So have a relaxing evening and dine in the open air sitting area of one of the wonderful restaurants here. Enjoy!