28 janeiro 2013

Vai um gin do Peter’s?

É tão bom saber que vários recantos lindos do nosso país estão a ser descobertos e recomendados em sites de turismo, dos aventureiros aos clássicos.

O badalado TRIPADVISOR elege como dos Melhores Hotéis do Mundo o ONYRIA MARINHA EDITION HOTEL & THALASSO(1), na Quinta da Marinha, com golfe, spa e uma localização privilegiada. O termo grego «onyria» significa sonho e corresponde, na perfeição, às imagens do boutique hotel. Aliás, a descrição feita pelo famoso site parece referir-se ao próprio paraíso: «If you cannot find happiness during your stay here, stop looking. There isn't a better place you'll find. The staff will go above and beyond to meet any expectations you may have. The accommodations are second to none.». E conclui com uma visita ao campo de golfe, para melhorar o handicap:  

  

O site Globe Spots(2)  coloca Portugal no TOP 10 dos destinos imperdíveis para 2013, por muitas e boas razões: «Portugal oozes 'old European charm'. Medieval towns and historical quarters are full of squares, churches and monasteries. Narrow lanes are flanked by old skew houses with crooked balconies draped in drying laundry. Here, neighbours still share the latest gossip or discuss politics from their windows. Pastry shops and taverns are found in such abundance it makes you wonder whether the Portuguese eat at home at all. The pace is soothingly slow and any day seems to be a good day for a drink. Chances are that after a few days in Portugal, you’ll find yourself sitting in a small square with a glass of tawny port in your hand, no matter whether you previously liked the stuff or not. It's just one of those things Portugal does to you.»

O portal de turismo britânico GlobalGrassHopper tem 2 cafés portugueses no TOP 15 da Europa, onde apenas Itália merece mais do que uma referência. E falamos de países como França, Áustria, Holanda, Espanha, República Checa, Hungria, Alemanha, Polónia, Alemanha e Suíça, com uma única referência…

Os dois eleitos nacionais são o Majestic no Porto e a Brasileira em Lisboa. Claro que teríamos mais (talvez até outras) alternativas para propor, sobretudo em Lisboa, onde a Versailles, a esplanada do miradouro de S.Pedro de Alcântara, as duas esplanadas na Rua D.Pedro V (no Lost In e na boutique ao lado), para além das casas de chá estrategicamente situadas na Graça ou junto ao Castelo ou nas bordas do Tejo, tornariam quase impossível ficarmo-nos só por uma… Mas esta foi a selecção de cafés históricos preferidos da escritora e música Holly J.Holly, viajante compulsiva. 

Vale a pena citar o artigo, até pelas excelentes dicas para um chá ou café quente, capaz de nos ajudar a descongelar do frio e abrigar da chuva e ventania louca deste tempo (no site encontra-se uma imagem alusiva a cada café: 

http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/europe/15-historic-cafes-europe/)

15 of the best historic cafes in Europe

Written by guest writer Holly J. Holly is a travel writer and musician based in the UK. When she’s not scouring Europe for her favourite historic cafes she also enjoys travelling further afield. Her favourite travel destination is Japan, and her favourite cities include Paris, Barcelona and Tokyo. 

The Best Historic Cafés in Europe – Once favourite haunts of aristocrats, writers, poets and louche libertines, many of Europe’s coffee houses have a colourful history. Where better to sample of a slice of Europe’s bygone past than one of the beautifully preserved historic cafes? From fancy Art Deco to one of Amsterdam’s oldest brown cafes here are 15 of the best historic cafes in Europe:

La Closerie des Lilas, Paris – best for literary history

La Closerie des Lilas is the perfect place to visit on Paris weekend breaks. A former philosopher’s favourite, the cafe is known for its rich history of hosting such heroes of literature and art as Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, Apollinaire, Cézanne and Picasso. Every Tuesday night great thinkers, artists and poets would pile into La Closerie and mull over the latest theories, sharing their work and their ideas. Fans of Hemingway will most certainly want to visit the lush secluded terrace where the great author spent endless hours scribbling out his work. Hemingway lived a mere stone’s throw from the café and his favourite place at the glistening mahogany bar is marked with a well-polished brass plaque bearing his name.
  • 171 Boulevard du Montparnasse  75006 Paris, France

Café New York, Budapest – best for most beautiful


Café New York, Budapest is often mentioned as one of the most beautiful cafes in Europe – if not the world – and if you happen to vist you’ll probably agree. Renowned for being the place to meet for early 20th century artists, today it’s also a restaurant offering both traditional and Italian dishes to locals and tourists alike. The décor is suitably lavish with elaborate and decorative traditional pieces combined with more contemporary elements. Grab yourself a seat at one of the mirrored tables you may be lucky enough to experience a short performance from the local actors who frequently tread the boards at this popular café.
  • 1073 Budapest, Erzsebet korut 9-11, Hungary

Café Central, Vienna – best for classical music

With its marble pillars, glistening array of chandeliers and sweeping ceilings Café Central in Vienna is a fabulous example of early 19th century architecture. Nestled within a grand expanse of a historic palace it has long been associated with intellectuals since its opening in 1876. Most European cafés have used the idea of a Viennese café as a template, and the Café Central is probably the most superb example of them all. If refined elegance stirs you then you must visit this beautiful place, afternoons are particularly pleasant as they offer live classical music recitals. As you can imagine the acoustics are incredible.
  • Herrengasse / Strauchgasse, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Majestic Café, Porto – best for Art Noveau


Fans of Art Nouveau will adore the glorious Majestic Café, Porto which exhibit’s a stunning façade, exquisite interiors and a delightful winter garden. Famed for its Belle Epoque atmosphere it is perhaps one of the most photographed and aesthetically pleasing cafés in the world, let alone in Europe. The architecture was executed by the exceptional Joao Queiroz.  As well as the beautiful surroundings the café boasts a rich calendar of cultural activities throughout the year.
  • Rua Santa Catarina 112, 4000-442 Oporto, Portugal

Cafe Chris, Amsterdam – best for interesting locals

Amsterdam is famous for its ‘Brown cafes’ so called for their dark but cosy wooden interiors and the nicotine-stained walls and ceilings. Cafe Chris – established in 1624 – is said to be the oldest “Brown Cafe” in the city. A truly historical landmark located in the attractive Jordaan area, people come for the genuinely old interiors and probably also to meet a handful of colourful local personalities.
  •  Bloemstraat 42, 1016 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Caffe Torino, Turin – best for glamorous past

Turin is actually the first place in Europe where coffee fever first took hold and the Italian city is still home to a thriving cafe culture. Another café that can claim a Belle Epoque atmosphere is the attractive Caffe Torino, Turin first opened in 1903. Clustured amongst the other coffee houses on Piazza San Carlo, Caffe Torino certainly stands out with its rich velvet furnishings, expanses of wood and homely fireplaces. The café has welcomed a whole host of famous names including Ava Gardner, Alcide De Gaspari and pianist Ludovico Einaudi. Boasting a heated terrace since the 1950s, it also has a refined restaurant which adds to its charm.
  •  Piazza San Carlo, 204, 10121 Turin, Italy

 

The Antico Caffe Greco, Rome – oldest cafe in Rome



Anyone who has visited Rome knows it’s filled with many excellent cafes, but the one that really stands out is The Antico Caffe Greco. It is the second oldest café in Italy, and the oldest bar and café in the whole of Rome. Since opening its doors on Via dei Condotti in 1760 it has hosted such historical figures as Stendhal, Goethe, Byron, Franz Liszt, Henrik Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Keats, Wagner, David Reynolds, Felix Mendelssohn, Maria Zambrano, Levi and Casanova. More contemporary visitors include artists, politicians and writers.
  • Via Condotti 86 | Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy

 

Ultieme Hallucinatie, Brussels – best for stained glass decor

Formerly a popular historic cafe, then closed and fully restored ‘The Ultimate Hallucination” is housed in a mansion built in the second quarter of the 19th century. With an elegant neo classical style filled with beautiful stained glass the restaurant consists of three parts. The front has Art Nouveau Empire style, the middle section refers to the Art Nouveau style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the dining room of yesteryear has a distinctive French Art Nouveau flavour. A truly unique place to dine or grab a coffe.
  • Koninsstraat 316, Brussels, Belgium

 

Café Slavia, Prague – best for understated

Café Slavia, Prague is handily situated near to such beloved landmarks as Charles Bridge, Castle Hill and the National Theatre. Since its opening towards the end of the 19th Century it has hosted a number of dissidents, artists and writers. Even Vaclav Havel enjoyed a coffee here prior to his engagement as president of the Czech Republic and supposedly, this is where Apollinaire used to sup absinthe. Today it’s a more sedate example of Art Deco nostalgia, although it still maintains a nationalist aura.
  • Smetanovo nábřeží 1, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic

 

Jama Michalika, Krakow – best for quirky decor

One of the quirkiest cafés in Europe has to be Jama Michalika, Krakow. The walls are adorned with caricatures of the great cabaret artists, actors and writers who have visited this favourite bohemian haunt. With its secret back room hide out, delicious bigos stew and the tradition of enjoying lashings of absinthe, European historic cafes don’t come any more interesting.
  •  Floriańska 45, Kraków, Poland

 

Caffe Florian, Venice – oldest cafe in Italy


Caffe Florian in Venice - first opened in  1720 – is considered to be the oldest café in Italy, if not the world. Famous patrons of the two room café include Goethe and the legendary  lothario Casanova. Today Caffe Florian has huge displays of diverse artwork that grace the walls, ranging from comic strips to classical oil paintings. Hosting the world-renowned La Bienniale de Venezia art festival, this café is the perfect place to indulge in some Italian culture as well as enjoying some of the finest coffee in Europe.
  • Piazza San Marco, 56, 30124 Venice, Italy

 

Café de l’Opera, Barcelona – best for Opera fans

Fans of Art Nouveau will probably enjoy this cafe the most. Idyllically located just across from the opera house amidst the bustling hub of Las Ramblas, it is the perfect place to absorb the buzz of the city as well as look out for familiar faces and meet new friends. It has welcomed opera goers and performers for over a century.
  • La Rambla, 74, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

 

A Brasileira, Lisbon – best for old school elegance



Lisbon is also known for its fine collection of historic cafes. One of many people’s favourites is the ‘The Brazilian Cafe’ – one of the oldest and most famous cafes in the city’s old quarter. Tourists flock to the place drawn by its early original early 20th-century facade, old carved wood and burnished metal decor and glinting bottles behind the bar. Service may not be the quickest but at least it’ll give you  a chance to people watch in gorgeous surroundings.
  • Rua Garrett 120, 1200 Lisbon, Portugal

 

Cafe Buchwald, Berlin – best for sweet tooth’s

Many traditional cafes in Berlin specialise in baking but this cafe has to be one of the oldest. The house specialty is the cake, a tradition first started by confectioner to the Royals, Gustav Buchenwaldmade. Opened in 1900, decor still lingers in a bygone era with kitschy wallpaper, floral curtains and simple furniture will give you an authentic feeling of sitting in old-fashioned parlour.
  •  Bartningallee 29, 10557 Berlin, Germany

 

Cafe Odeon, Zurich – best for famous past

One of Zurich’s most famous cafe, this fancy Art Deco establishment -opened in 1910 – was a favourite haunt of  a number of writers, painters and musicians. Albert Einstein, James Joyce, Lenin and  Picasso are just a handful of its former famous visitors – giving it a reputation as a meeting point for intellectuals and high society. Today it draws a crowd aching for a bit of Europe’s old school elegance with high ceilings, brasserie fittings and formally dressed waitresses.
  •  Limmatquai 2, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland

Opções não faltam, no Velho Continente, para passar uma boa tarde de Inverno entre quatro paredes ou em plena natureza, por exemplo, num enclave delicioso de pinhal e mar (o tal, de sonho), a pouco mais de 15 minutos de Lisboa. Demasiado bom para ser verdade? Sem dúvida.

Maria Zarco
(a  preparar o próximo gin tónico, para daqui a 2 semanas)
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(1) http://www.onyriamarinha.com/pt/Onyria-Marinha-Edition-Hotel-Thalasso.aspx
   

(2) www.globespots.com/besttravel.php?year=2013#.ULjC5cchEeA.facebook

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