Portugal Pride – Gay Travel Influencers Michael and Matt Experience Lisbon
Escape to Lisbon with Michael and Matt
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
Husbands Matthew Schueller and Michael Lindsay share their LGBTQ+ secrets for Lisbon, Portugal.
The happy, smart, and sexy duo are no strangers to Out Travelers, who were introduced to the married world travelers and their meet-cute in our Spring 2022 print edition. The social media savvy Schueller came out on his YouTube channel in a viral video that inspired Lindsay to come out himself and record a video reply, albeit a year later and 1,300 miles away. The rest is history, as they say.
The pair married in 2018, and when they’re not posting about their travels and life together on their social media, Schueller works as a nurse and Lindsay is a practicing dentist.
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We recently caught up with Michael and Matt to ask for travel tips on some of their favorite destinations. They previously shared their secrets about Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica.
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Here are Michael and Matt’s answers to seven questions on LGBTQ+ travel to Lisbon, Portugal.
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Be sure to follow Michael and Matt at their blog (www.michaelandmatt.com), Instagram (@michaelandmatt), YouTube (@michaelandmatt), and TikTok (@michaelandmatt1).
Where do you recommend eating?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
There are limitless great options in Lisbon, but the following are a few of my favorites. Leonetta is an adorable Italian-influenced restaurant in Alto Barrio serving a great variety of fresh seafood amongst an aesthetic dining room and pink-walled patio. For something off the beaten path and absolutely worth an evening, Restaurante Pastanaga is an unassuming eatery close to Green Street. While small and requiring a reservation, the quality of dishes and service is unmatched. The staff not only made us feel at home, but the sommelier gave us an entire wine tasting experience to ensure we knew exactly which bottle we wanted from the menu–something I’ve never experienced at a restaurant before! Lastly, for an incredible view along with fantastic cocktails and, check out Java Rooftop near the Time Out Market.
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Where are the best places to stay?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
One of the best known destinations for the LGBTQ+ community is The Late Birds Hotel. A 4-star gay owned and run urban resort in the Alto Barrio. Complete with an outdoor pool, garden terrace, and bar, The Late Birds Hotel is the perfect place not only to sleep but to meet other travelers and have a truly unique experience. It is a little paradise in the heights of Lisbon.
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What’s the LGBTQ+ culture like there?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
Lisbon Portugal is perhaps the most underrated, and yet fastest growing up-and-coming LGBTQ+ destination in the world. We had the privilege of attending Pride last year, and there’s no better time to highlight the LGBTQ+ culture there. I felt more welcome and free to be myself than I usually feel in my home city of Portland. Take a walk down Pink Street and you’ll feel like you’re back at a Pride festival. The city is vibrant and full of great opportunities for a night out. Alto Barrio is the well known gayborhood of the city, but even in tourist-centric Baixa, you’re likely to see a drag queen who frequently roller skates and performs down Rua Augusta. It speaks to the nature of the city, open, friendly, and unabashedly gay.
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Where should you grab a drink?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
Starting off with caffeine, grab a latte at Copenhagen Coffee Lab. We were impressed by the quality of their espresso and the dishes they served alongside! Try the avocado toast – it does not disappoint. As it warms up in the afternoon, head to Pitcher Cocktails along the waterfront to grab the best piña colada in a pineapple you’ll ever have. For happy hour, you can’t go wrong with grabbing a spritzer and Pastel de Bacalhau along any of the outdoor cafes in Alto Barrio. Later in the evening, find yourself at one of Lisbon’s most well known and popular clubs, including Trumps, and Posh Club.
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What are the must-dos while visiting?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
You can’t go to Lisbon without trying the infamous Pastéis de Nata. The Portuguese egg tart is sweet and decadent. You can get it at nearly any of the bakeries and cafes in the city, but Manteigaria is a clear favorite location. Make sure to stroll down to Praça do Comércio and marvel at Arco du Rua Augusta. Shop for some new clothes or your favorite luxury goods along Av. da Liberdade. And lastly, head to Time Out Market for an aperitif and a great curation of local restaurants. It’s the perfect place to hang out for happy hour and to experience the diversity of Portuguese cuisine.
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What are the top Instagrammable spots?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
Pink Street is perhaps one of the best known Instagrammable spots in Lisbon. It can be crowded, but it is super cute to get a photo surrounded by pink. The upper roads of Alto Barrio are exceptionally great photo opportunities, given that some of the roads are built for the trolleys. The most widely known is Tram no. 28 which runs from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique. To go even higher, take a hike or grab a cab to Castelo de S. Jorge for a panoramic view of the city.
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What’s your favorite memory from there? (VIDEO)
MichaelMattLisbon_08_fave moment video
“Few places have a more special place in my heart than Lisbon. On an evening when I was particularly not feeling too well, I ordered a pizza to eat in my hotel room. As I sat on my bed watching a show, I looked out the window only to see that six feet from my hotel room window was another apartment, inside of which a man was dancing to Kylie Minogue while dusting the shelves in his room. His entire room was filled with model cows. It was the strangest sight I’d ever seen, so of course I had to yell hello from my window. We immediately became friends and ended up hanging out several times throughout Pride week. He had us over for dinner, and I gifted him a model cow before I left. Strange, but so serendipitously incredible.”
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Want to learn more?
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHUELLING/MICHAEL LINDSAY
Here’s how you can follow all the adventures of Michael and Matt:
Blog: www.michaelandmatt.com
Instagram: @michaelandmatt
YouTube: @michaelandmatt
TikTok: @michaelandmatt1
RELATED: This Gay Couple Shares Their Love of Life and Travel Together Online
RELATED: Escape to Puerto Vallarta with Gay Travel Influencers Michael and Matt
RELATED: Gay Travel Influencers Michael and Matt Share Their Secrets for Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
RELATED: 25+ Thirsty Pics of Out Travelers Michael and Matt in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
RELATED: 25+ Gorgeous Pics of LGBTQ+ Lisbon, Portugal, with Gay Travel Influencers Michael and Matt
