While Lisbon might not come to people’s mind as an ideal holiday destination, this once prosperous Portuguese city should definitely be on one’s bucket list. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and boasts spectacular architecture, breathtaking views and of course, delicious food. Portuguese cuisine is largely made up of toothsome savory Mediterranean food and egg yolk based desserts. Here is a guide to 5 of the best dining experiences in Lisbon.
Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis de Belém first started baking its custard egg tarts in 1837 and has been a family name since then. Baked from a secret ancient recipe, this bakery’s egg tarts have been voted as the top 50 best foods in the world by The Guardian. The traditional dessert is served fresh from the oven with a dash of cinnamon sugar and is usually paired with a strong bitter espresso shot (bica). Here is a piece of advice – One egg tart is never enough.
Rua de Belém, 84 a 92
1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: +351 213 637 423
Santo Antonio da Alfa
Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest district and entering the area is daunting as getting lost is guaranteed. As a result, tourists are a rare sight but should you take a leap of faith to explore this diamond in the rough, you will get an authentic Portuguese experience. The semi-ruined buildings are in absurd proximity, the pathways are beyond uneven and its windows are ridiculously low. Sitting in Alfama is Santo Antonio da Alfa, a restaurant so charismatic that its beauty is truly unforgettable. Tourists would also be elated that this eatery offers free WIFI.
Beco de Sao Miguel 7
Lisbon, Portugal
SeaMe
Mentioned in The New York Times as one of Lisbon’s best dining destination, SeaMe is a modern restaurant-cum-bar serving superb raw and cooked seafood. SeaMe has a unique approach to its food – it integrates Asian cooking styles to its traditional Portuguese methods, making the dishes an impeccable fishy fusion. An English menu is available upon request.
Rua do Loreto 21
1200 Lisbon, Portugal
O Fernando
O Fernando is a spacious yet homely looking restaurant frequented by locals. While it is far from fancy, it offers an extensive range of authentic Portuguese cuisine at very affordable prices. The open concept kitchen at the store’s front allows customers to watch their fishes being grilled. You have not visited Lisbon until you have a taste of Portuguese’s famous salted codfish (bacalhau).
Rua dos Bacalhoeiros 103
1100-068 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: +351 218 878 755
Castella do Polo
This quaint Japanese-Portuguese fusion café is perfect for the sweet tooth. Like its name suggests, the castella cakes are the best selling items – they are available in original, chocolate and match flavours. Do not leave the store until you tried the half-baked sponge cake and chestnug eggs. Those desserts are so divine that they are to die for! The former is an egg-filled moist cake with traces of sweet yolks underneath the cooked layer while the latter (castanhas de ovos) are addictive bite sized treats at only €0.50 each.
Rua da Alfandega 120
Lisbon 1100-016, Portugal
Tel: +351 218 880 019
About the writer
Hui Jun Ng was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc. She is currently on a break and traveling around the world. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram or The Keepers Map where she shares useful curated travel itineraries.