Taste of Lisbon

Don’t miss these key bites when visiting this culinary capital of Portugal.

By Anubhuti Krishna

Its historical sites, iconic buildings and sprawling views of the Tagus already make Lisbon a desirable destination—however its culinary scene makes the Portuguese capital completely unmissable. Influenced by its colonies and celebrated by its people, Lisbon’s food is a melting pot of diverse, unique, and gratifying dishes hard to find anywhere else.

These flavors aren’t confined to elite restaurants either; street stalls and mercados offer affordable and delicious eats. Whether you’re visiting the tourist-centers like Placa de Commercio and Mercado da Ribeira, or the hidden slopes of Alfama and shores of Belem, don’t miss these must-try dishes.

Pastéis de Nata: This palm-sized pastry comes filled with gooey custard, layered with butter, and charred on top. While it can be found everywhere in the city (including supermarkets) the best place for nata remains its birthplace, Belem. Invented in the convent of Jeronimos, the custard tart is now sold from a neighboring shop, Pastel dé Belem, which claims to use the same centuries-old recipe of the nuns.

Pastéis de Bacalhau: Bacalhau cutlets are to Lisbon what bagels are to New York. Made by mixing salted cod with potatoes, onion, garlic and local cheese, these patties are a staple in Lisbon and go perfectly with Lisbon’s traditional espresso and a shot of milk. Remember to insist on getting them fresh and hot when you go on any walking tour of Lisbon, as touristy places sometimes pass on cold cutlets to unsuspecting tourists.

Bifana: The mother of all sandwiches, Bifana is assembled fresh from the pan with thick rustic bread, sliced pork slow cooked in white wine and garlic, and eaten with mustard or piripiri. Try one at Casa das Bifanas for a filling meal on the go.

Sardines:

No place celebrates Sardines like Alfama, the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, which was once a fishing village. Throughout summer residents put out tables in their courtyards and grill sardines on charcoal for hours while the locals throng the neighborhood for their share..

Ginjinha:

Sweet, strong, scented, sticky and very heady, this concoction has been Lisbon’s favorite drink since the 1600s. Traditionally made at homes with Morello Cherry, the liqueur is drunk from shot glasses and with or without the cherry. You can also opt to drink it from a chocolate cup. The best places to taste—and buy bottles as souvenirs—are from tiny old bars in the Rossio area, like A Ginjinha, or from locals in Alfama who sell home-brewed jugs.