LX Factory Lisbon – The Creative Hub: What to See and How to Get There

In Lisbon’s Alcântara district, a former textile factory is now home to over 50 shops, restaurants and bars. LX Factory attracts shopping enthusiasts and those looking for unusual places to visit. Entry is free, and you can easily spend over two hours exploring the area – if not more.

Lisbon is full of surprises. I’ve been living here for over 8 years and I still feel that, no matter how much I explore it and wander its beautiful streets, it will always surprise me with something new. I still play at being a tourist all the time. I’ve already explored Bairro Alto, I know what to see in Alfama, and I’ve even hired a guide to show me around Lisbon for a day. Yet new places worth visiting keep cropping up.

LX Factory was one of the first places I visited outside the centre of Lisbon. I went there because I wanted to see something modern and different, and I was hoping for a great experience. I wasn’t disappointed. I still visit LX often and always recommend it to anyone visiting Lisbon.

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Quick details about LX Factory

📍 Address: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa

🕐 Opening hours: Site open daily approx. 9:00am–11:00pm; shops usually 11am–8pm

💶 Price: Free entry

🚋 How to get there: Tram 15E or bus 714/728/732/751 to the Calvário stop (~20 min from Praça do Comércio, €1.80); or train to Alcântara-Mar station

🛍️ LX Market: Sundays, 11am–8pm (May–Sept) / 10am–6pm (Oct–Apr)

⏱️ Time to reserve: 2–3 hours

A bit of history

One of Portugal’s most important factories once stood on the site of today’s complex. The Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Lisbonense was founded here in 1846. The site was later occupied by other companies, until they eventually moved out and the site lay unused for a long time. It was only recently that it was realised that the industrial buildings and the surrounding land were ideal for bars and restaurants, and that the unfinished interiors and somewhat raw style could attract large numbers of people. LX Factory is visited by both locals and tourists. It is always a colourful and lively place.

What to do at LX Factory?

LX Factory is home to a huge number of shops, boutiques and restaurants. It’s hard to list them all here, but I can personally recommend the following.

• Ler Devagar — a bookshop in a former printing works
• Mex Factory — a Mexican restaurant serving cocktails (this is your current ‘Mexican spot’ with no name)
• A Cantiga — Portuguese petiscos
• Cantina — burgers and dishes to share
• Pequeno Jardim Flower Truck — a flower shop-cum-food truck, very Instagram-worthy
• USAxe Club — axe throwing with live music

You’ll also find the famous Coworklisboa co-working space here, which is well worth a visit if you’re coming to Lisbon to work remotely.

Ler Devagar – A beautiful bookshop at LX Factory

This place deserves its own section. Ler Devagar is a stunning bookshop right in the heart of LX Factory. As you step inside, you get the feeling that you’ve found yourself in the middle of a huge hangar full of books. The shelves, running the length of the shop, reach right up to the ceiling. Old metal stairs lead up to the higher shelves; they were probably here when the factory was still in operation. On the top floor, a huge printing press takes up most of the space. Around it, you’ll find additional stalls selling posters and vinyl records.

A white bicycle, with a figure riding it, hovers above the entire bookshop.

It is the most photographed spot in the whole of LX Factory.

LX Market

LX is open as usual during the week, and there’s even more to see at the weekend. From early morning, stalls spring up in its narrow streets. Vendors offer homemade snacks – cakes, cupcakes and empanadas. Those on the hunt for local produce are sure to find plenty of tempting treats here. Small businesses and independent artists sell jewellery, clothes, cosmetics, and paintings or posters.

Opening hours – Sundays – May–September 11:00–20:00, October–April 10:00–18:00.

Atmosphere and other attractions

LX Factory is intended to be a place where visitors have the chance to see and experience something different from what they’ve seen before. That’s why most of the bars look rather unusual. There’s a Mexican bar here serving excellent cocktails, with a high-ceilinged room featuring huge windows and a view of the river. There’s also a restaurant serving old-school hot dogs in an equally old-school setting. There are vintage shops, tattoo studios and art galleries. The so-called ‘escape room’ is hugely popular: you’re locked in a room and, to get out, you have to solve a series of riddles and puzzles.

During my visit, the weather was a bit of a mixed bag. It was a sunny morning and I had the chance to see what LX Factory looks like when you can sit outside. Most of the cafés had set out parasols and tables, which were immediately filled with people.

In the afternoon, it started to rain and the whole street emptied out. Fortunately, all the venues in the area also have indoor seating, so you can simply move inside.

LX Factory – The creative hub – FAQ

Is there an admission charge for LX Factory?

No, entry to the LX Factory site is completely free. You only pay for food, drinks and any purchases you make in the shops.

What are LX Factory’s opening hours?

The site itself is open daily, usually from around 9.00 am to 11.00 pm. Shops and galleries are generally open from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm, whilst restaurants and bars are often open later, even until late at night.

How do I get to LX Factory from the centre of Lisbon?

The easiest way is by tram line 15E (towards Belém) or by bus 714, 728, 732 or 751 – get off at the Calvário stop, a 2–3-minute walk from the entrance. From Praça do Comércio, the journey takes about 20 minutes and costs €1.80. Alternatively, take the train to Alcântara-Mar station.

How much time should you set aside for a visit to LX Factory?

A leisurely visit, including a break for coffee or lunch, takes 2–3 hours. If you’re planning to do some shopping at LX Market or spend a bit longer in a restaurant, set aside half a day.

When is the LX Market held?

Every Sunday: from 11:00 to 20:00 during the summer months (May–September) and from 10:00 to 18:00 during the winter months (October–April).

LX Factory – Practical information

Address and map: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103 Piso 3, 1300-501 Lisboa

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