Indagare Insiders: The Women Behind Casa do Passadiço, Lisbon

Casa do Passadiço interiors, the interior architecture firm, was born in 1992, when Catarina Rosas opened her showroom in Braga, Portugal, in an 18th-century manor house and founded the atelier with the same name. Her daughters, Cláudia and Catarina Soares Pereira, soon joined her and the atelier started their work—architecture and interior design in high-end private residences and commercial spaces—mainly in Portugal. Now, the atelier, also in Lisbon, has more than 30 projects underway all over Europe and beyond, from Paris, London, Florence and Milan to Miami and New York to Moscow, Qatar and São Paulo. Here, the design team tells Indagare about where they find design inspiration, plus all of their favorite places to eat, shop and what to see in Lisbon. Contact Indagare to plan your trip to Lisbon with recommendations for where to stay, eat, shop and what to see and do.

 Why Go Now: Portugal

What should no visitor to Lisbon miss seeing or doing?

There are great contemporary art galleries spread across the city, but I would recommend a walk around the area of Xabregas-Marvila-Beato to visit galleries like Filomena Soares, Francisco Fino or a cultural space called Fábrica do Braço de Prata. It is an emerging area that any curious visitor should definitely include. You may also head to Alvalade and visit the private Foundation Leal Rios and several galleries, namely Vera Cortês and Uma Lulik. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, if you want to learn about Portuguese history and its amazing heritage. Portugal has the oldest borders in the world—and we were the ones to create through our discoveries and expansion “the first global village.” Visit this Museum and you will be impressed by its rich content that spreads throughout paintings, porcelain, furniture and jewelry, etc.

 Do you have a favorite shop, restaurant or hotel and if so, why? 

Our shop, Casa do Passadiço Interiors, in Avenida da Liberdade, 166 is our new favorite in Lisbon! We have a good selection of furniture (contemporary furniture and objects, our own designed furniture and also antiques we gather from all over the world.

When it comes to restaurants, in Avenida da Liberdade, we also love JNcquoi Avenida and Jncquoi Asia, and our store is right in between the two! We also recommend:

Bica do Sapato, with good food and views of the River Tagus

Bairro do Avilez, for a Portuguese typical feeling and food

Gambrinus, an old classic, where you eat divinely.

Aqui ha Peixe, for a good fish selection

For fashion:

Stivali, for a very good selection of luxury clothing brands such as Chanel, Fendi, Ellie Saab and Valentino 

Fashion Clinic for a selection of international brands, some more mainstream, some more emerging and contemporary, like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Isabel Marant, Louboutin and Aquazzura

Isabel Lopes da Silva, for very good selection of jewelry

As for where to stay, we also recommend:

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz, classical with timeless beauty. When it was built, the hotel had commissioned works by all the best Portuguese artists, such as Almada Negreiros, that are still well preserved. Verride Palace is also a good option for a stay stay in Lisbon.

Related: Five to Know: Comporta