No trip is complete without great food. Food that haunts you in a delicious way, months (even years) after you get home. Shrimp po’ boys in New Orleans. Hot Chicken in Nashville. Pizza in Naples. Pasteis de nata in Portugal. While these yummy pastries are the standout in most conversations about what to eat when you visit Portugal, here are a few other perfect bites I discovered on my trip to Lisbon.
Time Out Market Lisbon
Great for a quick bite any time of day, Time Out Market Lisbon is a fancy food court with endless dining options. If you’re traveling with a group, or hopelessly indecisive, you can wander through Time Out and find everything from steak to seafood. Grab a seat at a communal table, enjoy delicious food from around the globe and take in the hustle and bustle of the foodie scene in Lisbon.
A Cultura do Hamburguer
I can feel your skepticism- ‘why go all the way to Portugal for a burger?’ Well friend, this particular burger at A Cultura do Hamburguer is juicy, flavorful perfection and comes with hand-cut fries. Fries that made TK’s little heart sing. She is a fry connoisseur, so this endorsement is not given lightly. There are a few locations in Lisbon. We had burgers and mojitos at one; margaritas and fries late night at another. Choose your own adventure!
Valdo Gatti Pizza Bio
You probably grew up eating pizza. Or you thought it was pizza. Chuck E. Cheese, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Straw Hat. Maybe you got older and a little fancier- hello, Round Table. Even if you grew up in a place with good Italian restaurants, the first bite of pizza you have in Italy makes you feel like you’ve been missing out, big time.
After my experience in Italy, wandering from Florence to Naples, eating (and making!) pizza- I am ruined for life. I’m always on a quest to find pizza that great again. Walking into Valdo Gatti, packed at 10:30pm on a Tuesday, gave me hope. The pizza was every bit as good as this picture would make you think… better even. TK and I stopped by twice during our visit to Lisbon. In addition to festive nightlife, the cobblestone streets of Bairro Alto also boast some delicious flavors!
Manteigaria – Portuguese custard pies factory
Manteigaria plays no games about their custards. “Do you like cinammon?”, asks the man behind the counter, with a very serious expression. TK and I both smile and nod. He hands us these designed packets with a large ‘C’ at the center, sharing that these yummy treats are meant to be served with a sprinkle of cinammon on top. He was so right- cinammon added a layer of depth and spice that put these pastries right over the top. Stop by on your visit to Bairro Alto and give them a try yourself.
Pastelaria Batalha
TK voted these the best pasteis de nata in Lisbon. I’d have to agree. In all fairness, we may be biased since we made these in our baking class, but I stand by our decision. Pastelaria Batalha is a charming family-owned, award-winning bakery in Lisbon. Don’t take our word for it; pop on over and grab a few pastries for your own taste test. If you have time, stay and learn to make your own!
Grom
Grom was a favorite of mine from my trip to Firenze, Italy. Nothing is better than real gelato on a hot, summer day. The dark chocolate and salted caramel made my walk through the hot streets of Bairro Alto much more pleasant.
Fear Factor
Sooo, Portugal is known for its seafood. You may think you know what that means. Until you’ve seen an octopus roll past you on a platter, you don’t quite know. After traveling for nearly 24 hours, TK and I, exhausted and hungry wandered into a traditional Portuguese restaurant near our AirBnb. With the full menu only available in Portuguese, we tried with the help of our waiter to order something we might like. We did manage to enjoy some fried fish, but the calamari was a little more authentic than I’m used to. TK gave it one look and told me I was on my own.
Check please!?!
I tried… I really did. And I failed miserably. That squid stayed right there on my plate. I wish I could tell you that I loved it. Or that I tried octopus. My heart was willing. My mind said ‘hell nah!?!?‘. Oh well, there’s always next time.
I hope your Lisbon food crawl is full of perfect bites and a little adventure of your own. Maybe you’ll be braver than I was. Try the octopus!! Either way… Bom apetite!