Lisboetas have a joke about the city of Porto: “The only good thing about Porto is the road to Lisbon”. But boy do we love the chocolates of Arcadia Casa do Chocolate, we are extremely happy that this Porto chain has found its way to Lisbon!
Handmade chocolates have been produced at Arcadia in the city of Porto since 1933. In 2010 the first shop was opened in Lisbon and Arcadia currently has several branches in the city, including one in Time-Out Mercado da Ribeira.
Sweet temptation
We visited the shop in the Belém area on Rua de Belém. Like the other branches, the interior is comparable to that of the original store in Porto. It may seem old-fashioned, but I found it to be a very special atmosphere you step into. A well-organized shop with the smell of cocoa, a wooden interior and enough chocolate wherever you look (although I think you can never have enough chocolate surrounding you).
The chocolates are beautifully presented. Dark, white or milk chocolate in different forms with different flavours (fruit, caramel, nougat, coffee), with different percentages of cocoa. There is even sugar-free chocolate.
My eye caught some with Port stuffed chocolates. To be honest I don’t like alcohol in my chocolates at all, but when I tasted a little bit of this one I was converted and knew I had to take it home with me.
The bland taste you usually get from chocolates with alcohol wasn’t here at all. Afterwards I was disappointed that I hadn’t taken a lot more with me, because I let too many people taste the chocolates.
In your suitcase?!
The shop staff was very friendly and thoughtful. I got the chocolates the day before we were going back to Amsterdam – so I had the chocolates packed to take with me in my hand luggage. The chocolates were well packed, not only against the pressure of other stuff in your suitcase, but also in a separate bag that doesn’t let outside odours in. It would be a shame if your chocolates started smelling like the dirty laundry in your suitcase.
Besides the chocolates with chocolate, I also bought some chocolates from the Hart collection. The chocolates are not cheap, but they are delicious.
Where to find Arcadia Casa do Chocolate
Address: Avenida de Roma, 14 D, Areeio
Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m – 8 p.m.
Address: Rua de Belém, 53/55, Belém
Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m – 8 p.m.
Address: Mercado Da Ribeira, Cais do Sodré
Opening hours: Monday through Wednesday and Sunday 10 p.m. – 00:00 | Thursday through Saturday 10 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Address: Rua Almeida e Sousa, 29 A, Campo do Ourique
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m – 8 p.m. | Sunday and public holidays 10 a.m – 6 p.m.
Address: Av. João Crisóstomo, 48, Saldanha
Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 hours
Address: Alameda dos Oceanos, 41 X, Parque das Nações
Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m – 8 p.m. | Sunday 10 a.m – 6:30 p.m.
Adres: Avenida de Roma, 14 D, Areeio
Openingstijden: maandag t/m zaterdag 10:00 – 20:00 uur
Adres: Rua de Belém, 53/ 55,
Openingstijden: maandag t/m zaterdag 10:00 – 20:00 uur
Adres: Mercado Da Ribeira,
Openingstijden: maandag t/m woensdag en zondag 10:00 – 00:00 uur | donderdag t/m zaterdag 10:00 – 01:00 uur
Adres: Rua Almeida e Sousa, 29 A,
Openingstijden: maandag t/m zaterdag 10:00 – 20:00 uur | zondag en feestdagen 10:00 – 18:00 uur
Adres: Av. João Crisóstomo, 48, Saldanha
Openingstijden: maandag t/m zaterdag 10:00 – 20:00 uur
Adres: Alameda dos Oceanos, 41 X,
Openingstijden: maandag t/m zaterdag 09:00 – 19:00 uur | zondag 10:00 – 18:30 uur
