Fado in the Heart of Lisbon.
Founded in 1947, O Faia remains up to the present day as a reference in Lisbon nightlife: daily Fado evenings, in which big names have always been present - starting with the founder, Lucilia do Carmo, herself an important figure in the history of Fado, and her son, Carlos do Carmo (who managed the house until 1980), together with other preeminent artists, such as Alfredo Marceneiro, Tristão da Silva, Fernando Mauricio, Ada de Castro, Beatriz da Conceição, Vasco Rafael, and Camané.
Today, Lenita Gentil, Anita Guerreiro, Ricardo Ribeiro and António Rocha, accompained by the Portuguese Guitar player Fernando Silva and the Classical Guitar player Paulo Ramos, continue the tradition.
The balance between the cultural experience of a Fado evening and gastronomic culture that fits best with it, is a daily task at O Faia. Aromas and flavors reveal themselves in a creative and contemporary cuisine, where the tradition and the respect for the Portuguese cuisine is not forgotten.
The talent and dedication of Chef André Pola and his team, create dishes from bases, marinades, seasonings and spices always present in the Portuguese Cuisine, that are combined with the excellence and freshness of the season products. In the wine cellar, where all the producing regions of the country are represented, and that includes the most important domestic producers and the varieties most representative of each region, you will find the perfect complement to match your meal.
Rua da Barroca, 54-56
Bairro Alto 1200-050 Lisboa
Origin of Fado
The origin of Fado, a musical style typical from Lisbon, is temporally and geographically difficult to locate: some think that Fado came from the songs of the Muslim people, strongly nostalgic and melancholic, others rely themes and inspirations for the songs of the Portuguese medieval troubadours (songs of friend, of love and scorn and cursing), still others think that it comes from the “lundum”, Brazilian music of the slaves brought to Lisbon in the return of the court of D. João VI from Rio de Janeiro, around 1820.
The most recurrent themes of Fado are “saudade”, love and the city. The idea of destiny (Fado derives from the Latin Fatum, fate), as an implacable force beyond human will, is essential for its true understanding.
In Lisbon, the Fado is an unavoidable phenomenon in the city's oldest neighborhoods and is sung in many typical restaurants, Casas de Fado (Fado Houses). In these places, at the time of Fado show, the lights go down, the artists take their places, the conversations stop in the room and there is silence, the silence is part of the show.
Artists
Lenita Gentil | António Rocha | Anita Guerreiro |
Ricardo Ribeiro | Fernando Silva | Paulo Ramos |