It was in February 2012 that the most famous grocery in Flores Street opened doors for the first time. Joana, the economist, and Joana, the biologist, joined forces and they both allowed their passion for Portuguese gourmet products to lead the way. Wine, craft beer, conserves, honey, bread, jams, cheeses and many more Portuguese delicacies fill the shelves and the balcony inside number 110. “Our idea was always to have a place where the producers could sell their products and visitors could taste them. We wanted and still want to raise awareness of small domestic producers, explaining to those who visit us what they are eating and drinking. Just overvalue what it is Portuguese”, highlight both Joanas. May your will be done! You can buy and take away or, if you wish it, enjoy your groceries there. The apparent simplicity served at table only deceived the unprepared and for a short time. A cheese board, some bread baked in a wood oven, a glass of wine or a craft beer can be distinguished ambassadors. Portuguese food is good! “Our tables came from a small village, the chairs are second hand and the balcony made with black slate is more than 20 years old. In this house everything is by no means a random choice”. 

The desire to plug the gap on the offer of coffee available on the Portuguese market was the starting point of this adventure. They wanted to change the way Portuguese looked at this product as it plays such an important role in national identity. And just like that was born Vernazza Coffee Roasters. An effort on a differential concept and product was aimed. “We are not a traditional brand. We are focus on clients that value quality and exclusivity. We carefully selected all the places that work with us and we only establish partnerships with those who share our values. We know that we will not please everybody. Clearly it is a different way of being in the market”, explains Gianpiero Zignoni, head barista. Made of the best green coffee beans from Africa and Latin America, Vernazza coffee meet all the requirements to be consider a specialty coffee. Roasted less than 7 days and exclusively made of origins (and not blends), it is one hundred per cent made of Arabica beans. The valorization of regional flavors it is a priority to these roasters that make a point in using the correct name when talking about their coffee: specialty coffee hand roasted. Regarding the best way to enjoy Vernazza during your stay at Rosa Et Al and according to the experts: “A cappuccino for breakfast, un expresso in the morning and another one after lunch. In the middle of the afternoon, the ideal will be a slow extraction coffee. Try it with and without sugar so that you may taste the unique and distinct flavors and aromas”. 

Design though and produced in Portugal. A mix between of shop and gallery that just wants to communicate design, designers and its stories. Un ambitious and auspicious goal which Scar-Id wants to achieve. Anyone that goes into this old grocery from mid 20s can find emerging creators and brands in fashion, accessories, furniture and product world. “We believed in the urgency and need of building a space gathering a shop and a gallery. More then just a point of sales it should be a place where the work of the creator does not run out or stops in one collection. We keep the past in the present and we raise awareness of the designer’s professional path”, explain Sílvia Costa and André Ramos, the duo responsible for Scar-Id. The commitment on a timeless language to express the urban and contemporaneous lifestyle concept has the contribution of 30 distinguished creators and projects. Susana Bettencourt, Carla Pontes, Margarida Gorgulho, Lagrima, Lia Gonçalves, Cristina Real, DAM, Filipe Faísca, Naturalook, Sofia Gomes are some of them. Small collections, unique pieces or limited editions reflect the identity by design supported and taken by the duo. “We have chosen based on the quality of global design and production, experimentalism and creativity at both material and conceptual levels.”Ideas, conception and quality production made in Portugal just around the corner. A pleasant surprise for those who came across Portuguese creativity at Scar-Id. Why? “Because everything is Portuguese: creation and production. Many did not think it would be possible to gather Portuguese ideas, conception and production with such a high quality”.  

Café Vitória invites you to come in, have a seat and enjoy the relaxing and clam environment. Street hustle and bustle stays at the door and it does even dares to have a peek. Listening to world music, it is possible to talk, sharing some snacks with a nice glass of wine. There time goes slowly, no hurries. It allows itself to be carried away. “It may sound trivial but what started as trouble-free venture ended up turning into a serious project”, reveals one of the 4 business partners, adding: “The main idea was very simple: to open a coffee place with a classic style, where friends could get together to chat, to have some drinks and snacks. It worked out very well and so the project has been growing up in a sustainable way”. The interior design with a classic touch is well present. The soft light with smooth colors. Wooden tables and chairs bringing back to memory the salons from old times. The coached sofas comfort anyone who seats down. The perfect set for a break. Without even realized, you travel back in time and found yourselves in any coffee in Paris, London. The hand painted tiles in white and blues shades send you back to Porto...You are in José Falcão Street, number 156.On the back, un amazing interior garden. Ideal for having some cocktails in the late afternoon or meet some friend for a coffee or even for a quick lunch. “The relaxed mood ended up becoming our branding” 

Coração de Alecrim is a unique shop in Porto. The confidence showed by Rita Dixo and Filipa Alves, owners and creators of the place, does cause any wariness to who visit them. This world shop is, actually, a crossing point as well as a friendship and partnership point where vintage, green and indie have a special place. “It is our way of life that is reflected around us. It has nothing to do with being fashionable or trendy. We love reusing, giving a second life to objects and valuing national artisans. We combined efforts and we give life to the project”, reveal the 2 friends and authors. Anna Westerlund’s ceramics, Toino Abel’s baskets, Miguel Cunha’s necklaces and Alves da Cunha’s hats share the space with some eco friendly furniture pieces created by Coração Alecrim. On the walls, photos illustrate Nature, a loved subject to both Rita and Filipa. Sustainability and simplicity are cross cutting to everything you see and listen. Concepts adopted by the duo in its day to day and that are reflected in the surrounding space, where the Portuguese knowhow and simplicity acquire the deserve importance. A way of life that has earned a soul. “The beauty of simple things overcomes everything.”

A creative concept that is perfect to anyone looking for a different shopping experience. The Feeting Room focus strongly in Portuguese design, proposing itself to introduce inside and outside the country the shoes made in Portugal. Felmini, Nobrand, Guava, Manuel Dupont, Silvi Rubatto, Rugui, Goldeman are among the 12 brands carefully selected to show the best made in our country. “There was not a true national recognition of the Portuguese shoes. We took on the role of promoters, both in Portugal and outside, because we want to fill the gap. We looked and are steel looking for the best produced in our country”, clarify Edgar Ferreira and Guilherme Oliveira, 2 of the 4 partners. In Porto downtown flagship store it is also possible to see and buy their selection of lifestyle products. Fashion, accessories, art and home design from new creators are displayed. The demand for new it is a must to the owners who aim to offer their clients a complete package: experience and looks. “We want our client to feel well, both off line and on line, and that he identifies himself with the brand and bound with it”. The Feeting Room Lisbon opened December 2016 in Chiado.  

Authors and pieces share the number 221 in Rosário Street. A privileged space to artistic creation, idealized by the two creators Tânia Santos e Miguel Ferreira. Just a simple setting detached of any luxurious. Less is more. The passion for Portuguese creativity, which both shared, was the starting point. Half shop, half coworking, CRU is a meeting point for creative minds and spirits. Design, fashion, accessories, architecture, illustration, photography, ceramic, creative tailoring, video were and still are represented in a perfect way. Unique pieces, complementary and distinctive, give the colored touch. “We knew many creators that worked from home and that did not have any place to show and sell their work. We realized that this situation was a serious gap and that we could fix it by opening a space where creators and authors from different sectors could meet each other. Just like that we had the idea for the project with two strands: coworking space and shop”, explains the couple. My little garden, nham nahm!, Fia, Fernanda Pereira, Airosa Design, Nenäliina, Play Stop Play, Mi Mitrika, Ana Segurado, Bioco Tradition, Fine & Candy are some of the well-known associates from CRU community. Find out the hanging gardens, have fun with the textiles, fell in love by the necklaces, use and misuse the rings, explore illustrated elegancy. “We did and we still do an accurate selection of all the items we have in the shop. We do not want to have a overlapping of products. Our goal is to present a complementary offer to everyone that comes in. Until now we did not feel the need to look for it in the foreign market. The quality and demand level we want can be found in Portugal”.
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