At A Ginjinha, a pint-sized bar in Lisbon, you’ll find locals and tourists alike savoring shots of the city’s beloved sweet cherry liqueur, often paired with indulgent boozy cherries.
"Ginjinha is a type of cherry liqueur with close links to Lisbon, and in and around Largo de São Domingos, a square in the city’s historical center, there are at least five bars that specialize in the drink. The most famous of these, and quite possibly the first, having opened in 1840, is A Ginjina. The space is roughly the size of a large closet, the marble walls etched with prizes won nearly a century ago. When you approach the bar at A Ginjinha, you’ll be asked one question: “With or without them?” The query is a reference to booze-soaked cherries, and the correct answer is “With.” From there, you escort your tiny glass to the square—there’s no seating at A Ginjinha—shoes sticking to the syrupy floor with every step, and have a sip in the perpetual Lisbon sun. The drink consists of grape pomace brandy supplemented with sour cherries, cinnamon and a generous amount of sugar. It’s sweet and fragrant, goes down easy and is deceptively powerful, especially if you’ve opted for those cherries. Know Before You Go A Gijinha is a cash-only establishment." - rbenn250, Collector of Experiences, Austin Bush
"Sweet Liqueur A Ginjinha was the first establishment in Lisbon to commercialize the drink called Ginjinha. Ginjinha is a liqueur made with ginja berries, aguardiente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, water, and cinnamon. Francisco Espinheira, a Galician friar of the Church of Santo Antonio, put together all these ingredients, and the result was this sweet and very good liqueur. In Óbidos, the drink is served in chocolate cups, about the size of shot glasses. (They make a very nice gift.) You can eat the cup after drinking the liqueur, or just pour more into the cup. Before having a drink, visit São Domingos Church. It’s worthwhile."
"Sweet Liqueur A Ginjinha was the first establishment in Lisbon to commercialize the drink called Ginjinha. Ginjinha is a liqueur made with ginja berries, aguardiente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, water, and cinnamon. Francisco Espinheira, a Galician friar of the Church of Santo Antonio, put together all these ingredients, and the result was this sweet and very good liqueur. In Óbidos, the drink is served in chocolate cups, about the size of shot glasses. (They make a very nice gift.) You can eat the cup after drinking the liqueur, or just pour more into the cup. Before having a drink, visit São Domingos Church. It’s worthwhile."
"Sweet Liqueur A Ginjinha was the first establishment in Lisbon to commercialize the drink called Ginjinha. Ginjinha is a liqueur made with ginja berries, aguardiente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, water, and cinnamon. Francisco Espinheira, a Galician friar of the Church of Santo Antonio, put together all these ingredients, and the result was this sweet and very good liqueur. In Óbidos, the drink is served in chocolate cups, about the size of shot glasses. (They make a very nice gift.) You can eat the cup after drinking the liqueur, or just pour more into the cup. Before having a drink, visit São Domingos Church. It’s worthwhile."