Suites Mercador

In looking over the previous reviews I found I was going to write practically the same review as the Flying Dutchman (July 2023), so I refer you to that for a highly accurate description of Mercador as I found it two years later. I have a few details to add. Mercador does have the feeling of a colonial-era mansion in which you have a studio apartment. The classic blue and white tiles on the stairs look and apparently are authentic to the time, very similar to those we saw in the National Tile Museum. Mercador is located on a quaint and very narrow alley with little fruit stands and old-style specialty shops (our favorite was filled to the rafters with sets of dishes). It also appears to be restaurant row for both tourists-in-the-know and locals. The restaurants are small and charming, more appealing than the big tourist magnets down in Baixa, which is a short walk away. And, yes, the ALDI supermarket across the alley. More about that later. Just a block, but a world away, is Liberdade, with its ultra-fashionable row of big international names: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada, and so on. And a nice crafts market on weekends with modestly priced gifts to take home. Also on Liberdade, a block from Mercador, is the Avenida subway stop, providing easy access to the rest of the city and the airport. We had a small but serviceable kitchen with a small refrigerator, microwave oven, and hot plate. Thus, that ALDI supermarket directly across the street was very convenient for modest at-home meals – essential as we were there for two weeks. Americans will find this ALDI oddly familiar, with its Trader Joes-branded products. There are two departments not to miss: the wines – including the local equivalent of (you heard it here first) Two Buck Chuck: the EUR 1.80 vinho verdes, which like Charles Shaw back home, are remarkably good for the price. The other corner not to miss is the pastry display, where you will find pasteis de belem. These are not the best pasteis de belem in town, but at EUR 0.39 a piece, they are an irresistible bargain and perfect fuel for energetic Lisbon sightseeing. To sum up: Lisbon is great, Mercador is great, Miguel (still there) is great. Go.