LX Factory
An insider tip in Lisbon is the LX Factory, located in the Alcântara district, which is very popular with locals. It is an old factory site that has been transformed into a small modern relaxed oasis for creatives. Here you can find various designer shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries as well as street art in an industrial atmosphere.
How did the LX Factory develop?
In 1846, the textile factory "Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Lisbonense" with a size of more than 23,000 square meters was built on the site in the former working-class district of Alcântara. After economic problems the factory had to close and also the following printing house could not resist the financial problems for a long time.
After a long period in which the old factory site was abandoned, the first ideas for a new use of the site emerged in 2008. In 2012, after several years of reconstruction, the LX Factory opened as a kind of mini-city of creativity. The original state of the buildings and the area were preserved, as a reminder of the glorious days of industrialization.
What is there to see here?
A walk through the LX Factory shows visitors the charm of the old factory site. Walking over the original cobblestones, you will come across the various buildings with their many small shops, bars and cafés. The atmosphere is very relaxed and there are events of various kinds, such as live concerts, exhibitions and theme weeks.
On the ground floor of the main building there are many restaurants, cafes and some shops. The upper floor is mainly offices and co-working areas. The bookstore "Ler Devagar" is also worth seeing, with walls full of books, the printing press and a bicycle floating in the room. On the rest of the factory area, the various graffiti can be discovered and admired.
If possible, a Sunday visit is also a good idea, as there is a flea market on the grounds on that day.
