Food
Lisbonites love their food, and with the Atlantic sea at their doorstep it’s no wonder their cuisine is top quality. Some menus will have an English translation, but if not, often the restaurant will store its fresh produce in a glass cabinet on display.
Peixe e marisco (fish and seafood)
They may be full of bones, but the Portuguese love sardines, and theirs are always fleshy and full of flavour. Nearly every restaurant will offer barbecued sardines, particularly popular during the summer festival.
Dried cod or bacalhau is also a typical meal in Lisbon, with much of it eaten on Christmas eve. Other types of fish on the menu include tuna, mackerel, swordfish, cuttlefish, sea bass, monkfish, red mullet and more. Plus shellfish of all shapes and sizes.
Pastries
Pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) are famous the world over, and there’s no shortage of them in Lisbon. Belém boasts the best pastries with their unique Pastéis de Belém. They’re made from a secret recipe passed down from the monks of the 19th century. A visit to Lisbon is not complete without a visit to Antiga Confeitaria de Belém at Rua de Belém 84-92. (Catch the train from Cais do Sodré to Belém, or catch tram 15)
Read more about Portugal’s Food and Drink
The tap water is safe to drink in Lisbon.
