LXFactory The Epicentre of Lisbon’s Contemporary Culture and Art
LXFactory is born in the place of the former industrial complex of fabric and thread companies “Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Lisbonense”. The factory was empty for many years, since 2008 the old brick buildings have been transformed into an Arts Centre related to fashion, graphic design, advertising, communication, interior design, fine arts, architecture, music, photography, gastronomy… Numerous exhibitions, concerts, parties, performances, workshops, and festivals also have there place. You can actually breathe the industrial environment at every step.
Every year, the centre hosts different artistic events, like the one called “Open Day”. LX Factory opens the doors to the general public and showcase the work of almost 150 resident artists and companies.
Visiting LXFactory.
If you’re in the mood for a great brunch in a vintage atmosphere you can’t miss Café na Fábrica, their Saturday brunch buffet is simply amazing!
For the magazine lovers the MAG Kiosk could really be interesting, installed inside a maritime container, this store proposes international magazines in numerous areas. LXfactory is a great place to sit outdoors reading your favourite newspaper or magazine.
Loosing yourself in the factory could slowly bring you to the Ler Devagar Bookshop (Slow Reading Bookshop) filled, from the floor up to the ceiling, with the latest and oldest books. There is a small café/winebar inside, with comfortable chairs and sofas, where you can drink something while reading a book.
One of the most attractive spaces you can find in LXFactory are the furniture ateliers, where old furniture is painted and renewed conserving their charming old character as they become beautiful new unique pieces.
A part of the space is dedicated to cooking workshops, from traditional to modern cuisine, Portuguese to International, and where the pastry tops off the blend of gastronomic cultures.
For lunch or dinnertime, imagine you’re in 1846, have a seat with the factory employees at Cantina LX, the old canteen of the textile factory. What is now a restaurant still preserves it’s industrial look, decoration and old furniture. In Cantina LX you can order international food or traditional Portuguese dishes like escabeche de coelho, bacalhau corado or tarte de maçã. Bread here is still cooked in their own log-fired oven.
If you’re still hungry, visiting O Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo might be a good option, what better than to taste what they call “The Best Chocolate Cake of the World”?
At last but not least, each Sunday leaves place to a second hand vintage market, the doors of the biggest brick building of the factory are open to the public. Have a walk around the stands and discover old cameras, musical instruments, clothes, ready to eat food, jewellery, accessories… at very affordable prices.
The atmosphere is somewhat incomparable, what you may find after each red corner even more, be sure to not miss the stop as you continue your journey to Lisbon on the nearby river.
By Carla Cascales Alimbau, a graphic designer and photographer from Barcelona now living in Lisbon.
