Pavilhão Chinês occupies a converted corner grocery on the Rua Dom Pedro V in Príncipe Real — the building retains its original display cabinets, which are now filled with an accumulation of several decades: model soldiers, vintage tins, ceramic animals, militaria, toys, hats, and miscellaneous objects that resist classification. The rooms continue in this vein: billiard tables, pool tables, oil paintings, shelves of curiosities, and a bar that operates as if it has always been here. The drinks are secondary to the atmosphere, though the gin list is considered. Pavilhão Chinês is one of Lisbon's most photographed interiors because it cannot be replicated — it was assembled over time rather than designed, and the distinction shows. The best time to visit is a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, when the bar is full but not crowded and the objects on the shelves have the quality of props in a story you cannot quite identify.
Príncipe Real, Lisbon, Portugal