Over her 40+ years on the street, she has witnessed Lisbon's transformation from a traditional residential neighborhood with old shops to a tourism-driven hub filled with hostels and pastry shops.
If you are visiting Lisbon during the chestnut season (typically October to March), you can find vendors like Fátima throughout the city.
The smell of roasted chestnuts is often described as the "scent of autumn" in Lisbon. lisboa_fatima_pinto_vendedora_de_castanhas_assadas
Fátima inherited this trade as a family tradition. She began roasting chestnuts at age 14, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother.
She emphasizes that while chestnuts can be cooked in many ways, nothing compares to those roasted over charcoal and coarse salt , which creates the signature "hot mist" and aroma that fills Lisbon's streets on cold nights. Experience the Tradition Over her 40+ years on the street, she
is a prominent street vendor in Lisbon who has been roasting chestnuts for over 44 years . Her presence is a staple of the city’s autumn and winter atmosphere, particularly around the Feast of Saint Martin (São Martinho). The Story of Fátima Pinto
Beyond the flavor, it is a common local practice to use the warm paper cones of chestnuts to warm your hands while walking through the city. Lisboa - Fátima Pinto, vendedora de castanhas assadas Fátima inherited this trade as a family tradition
She has worked at the same spot for decades, specifically at the intersection of Rua Augusta and Rua de São Nicolau in downtown Lisbon (Baixa).