Huge flea market! So many venders with some great finds, and then some that are not. Many do take…read morecredit cards thankfully.

With nothing on our agenda for the weekend, we heard about this "flea market" online and decided to…read morecheck it out. I did a bit of online research about it, and saw several pictures posted. The pics were nothing really exciting; however, it was a gorgeous Saturday in December, so we thought we'd check it out to kill time. We caught public transportation from Praça do Restauradores, which zoomed us over to the Apolonia train station and a short walk to the market. Little did that Mercado de Santa Clara was gonna be HUGE, and apparently THE thing to do on a spectacular Saturday morning!!! The pics I saw online did absolutely no justice to what we had in-store for us! The place was overflowing with what seemed like hundreds of vendors, all hawking bric-a-brac and doo-dads and even "crap"! It was definitely a "flea market," indeed!!! It was truly fun to see all the stuff folks were trying to sell and make money off of. Lots of interesting stuff; lots of uninteresting stuff. Exactly what one would expect from a flea market! We even splurged on several ponchos and blankets that were too cool to pass-up!! :D We easily spent a good hour and a-half roaming through the "aisles." Shoppers were there in-force! And, too, being right next to several outdoor cafés made it easy to refuel and people-watch! (The indoor part of the market wasn't nearly as fun; but, still worth checking out.) The market is on Saturdays and Tuesdays, so I'm thinking I might pop back there on Tuesday, as I had my eye on something that I'm crossing my fingers will still be there...! We both cannot recommend the Mercado de Santa Clara enough...!!! :D

A coworker recommended this flea market to me. It is HUGE! There are so many great items. Even if…read moreyou don't buy anything, it is so fun to look around.

We loved this flea market and spent a good amount of time walking around here. Several locals told…read moreus about it and I was thrilled that we were here on a Saturday and could go. There were tons and tons of vendors with all sorts of things at great prices for several city blocks with roads blocked off for pedestrians making it easy to shop. There was a nice mix of antiques and ceramics and old and new. I got a few small keepsakes as well as some totes and clothing for my daughter at fair prices. Definitely worth the visit. Plus, we walked through the charming Alfama and did additional shopping and snacking along the way. Several really cute breakfast spots can be found here.

Time Out market is overwhelming and fun. Best to come with a small group, so you can finagle a…read moreplace to sit, while others in the group hunt and source for the best bites. There's a variety of options and cuisines available, plus beers, wine and cocktails for purchase. I would leave small children at home with a babysitter, as trying to maneuver through the crowds with a stroller is just too much to deal with. We liked the tacos, burgers and pad Thai. Desserts are also available.

There's a big difference between a Time Out Market versus a hawker market like Maxwell Food Centre…read morein Singapore or the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo. Jamie W and I have been to the smaller Time Out Markets in NYC (Union Square and DUMBO), but we could never find our footing in these places. This one has the distinction of being the original Time Out Market, so it's had over a dozen years since its opening in 2014 to develop its cred with dilettante foodies and insufferable vloggers. At the same time, the rigid conformity of the food vendors to the Time Out brand makes this place feel far removed from the family-run businesses where you can get a more authentic ambiance and for the most part, cheaper prices. Paying the equivalent of $8 for an overdecorated donut may produce momentary Instagram gratification but little else (Photo 8). That's not to say the layout here isn't well organized, but basically you're relegated to long communal tables where your movements are restricted. Being elbows-to-elbow with famished, arm-waving tourists is not ideal. We were even here during off-peak hours, so I'm presuming it becomes more chaotic and cacophonous during lunch and dinner rushes, especially with the reverberations created from the high ceilings (Photo 9). With dozens upon dozens of food choices, this place is ideal for large groups who have no interest in exploring their own dining options, the ones who are perfectly satisfied with hanging out in food courts in shopping malls. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/RRnWvpDcj1

From the owner: First weekend of every month, Anjos70 opens the door to +100 stalls with the best selection of new,…read moreused, vintage, art, decor and much more.