Best of Food and Drink in Lisbon
In the winter of 2018: andre, his cousin john, our friend mike, and i decided to escape the snow-pocalypse that was ontario to live in the sunny, steep cobblestone streets of lisbon, Portugal.
We ate and drank our way around that city for three months and I am here to list the best of from the cafes to the wine bars. Please feel free to comment some of your known favourites below!
best pastel de nata:
There are two: PASTÉIS DE BELÉM: have to take a train from downtown, but it is not too far - about half an hour away. known to be the best and i loved the tile work inside. you can also see the production line of the pastel de nata getting made.
Manteigaria: I, personally, would add this place to one of the best as well. make sure you go and get a warm pastel de nata from here, it will bring a tear to your eye.
best rooftop bar:
park bar: you could classify it as a speakeasy since it is a little challenging to find at first. it is the local hot spot for enjoying a drink at sunset. drinks aren’t particularly remarkable but they are good and you come for the ambiance and the view.
best bar with castle view:
topo: often has a DJ, good cocktails, and gorgeous view of the castle and square. kind of a strange/unassuming entrance - you walk all the way up the stairs of a strip mall looking building to the rooftop. the decor and ambiance once you get to the roof is wonderful though.
best pizza:
zero zero: hands down. italian style. authentic and delicious and won’t break the bank. we frequented the Príncipe Real location.
best steak:
Atahlo real: affordable and gosh darn delicious steak and secretos de porco! warm and inviting ambiance, this steakhouse is not rivalled.
best wine bar:
ba Wine bar: the owner has hundreds of bottles and just unlimited knowledge on all wines. it is a tiny place and you need to reserve. let the owner choose a glass for you, he dOES not disappoint. (Says temporarily closed on google…someone let me know if they will be reopening in the comments??)
best market:
Time out market aka Mercado da Ribeira: popular but worth visiting. different food selections from vegetarian to seafood to desserts to cocktails - try a little bit of everything. great spot to go for lunch or meet up with a friend…near public transit and well known.
best breakfast:
the mill: best aussie breakfast cafe in town. amazing coffee, sourdough bread, full aussie breakfasts with avocado toast…i walked 30 mins every morning to eat and drink my coffee here. it’s busy though, so you may have to wait outside for a little bit to get a table, but you won’t regret it!
best cafes: (spoiler alert: there’s actually four)
fabrica coffee roasters: go for the pour over or v60 coffee here. no wifi though, if you are hoping to get work done at a cafe this isn’t the one for you.
the mill: as mentioned before, i would recommend the mill if you like your coffee with steamed milk like a flat white or a cappuccino…aussie style… if you like gross burnt/piping hot coffee this is not the place for you. free wifi if you, although seats are in high demand so be prepared to wait a bit for a seat.
hello kristof: this was recommended by jessica at bon traveler and is another good spot for coffee. personally, i Preferred the cafes two above but who doesn’t love having options when it comes to making sure you can get a caffeine fix asap.
copenhagen coffee lab: another great spot for coffee, the downside is that it is quite expensive and no wifi if you are planning to get some work
BEST NIGHTLIFE:
THE PINK STREET: FOR NIGHTLIFE, THIS IS THE SPOT. IT USED TO BE LISBON’S RED LIGHT DISTRICT. The painting OF THE STREET started in 2011 and was finished by 2013 IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE CITY. Since then, it has become locally known as Rua Cor de Rosa, meaning Pink Street. new bars opened and the street has replaced the shady nightlife and turned it INTO THE COOL SPOT.
BEST FADO:
a baiuca: what is fado? it is a portugese type of music typically sung in dinner setting renowned for its expressive and profoundly melancholic character. Admittedly, this spot was the only fado I experienced, but it is a must-do even though it has become quite touristy, this restaurant felt more authentic then some of the others we looked at. most commonly occurring in the alfama neighbourhood, the chef, the waitress, and the owner each sang in between dinner courses. definitely need to make a reservation, it is a small restaurant and very popular.
best seafood:
A Cevicheria: pricey, but worth it. peruvian restaurant specializing in ceviche, fresh and delicious - every dish is executed perfectly. totally worth the splurge!
best portugese liqueur to try:
the typical portugese liquor is ginja! it is made by infusing ginja berries (sour cherry, Prunus cerasus austera, the Morello cherry) in alcohol (aguardente) and it is smooth and lovely. have to try it at least once! in alfama, they often sell it on the street in a plastic shot glass - 1 euro for a shot.
