Some recommendations from my week-long trip in Lisbon. (p.s. those in bracket are ones that I haven’t visited myself but keen to try out) 

Main Meals: 

  • Time Out Market Lisbon. And within there:
    • Monte Mar: for seafood. Had a grilled octopus with potato there which was nice
    • Henrique Sá Pessoa: had their pork sandwich there the first night which was good. Their fish and chips also appeared to be very popular
    • Manteigaria: great nata
    • Recordação de Sintra: features a lot of portuguese sweet. Good one to snack on 
    • Croqueteria: don’t bother with this. The croquette I had just wasn’t nice
  • Frade dos Mares: famous for their Octopus. Recommend booking. Also serves a good fish soup
  • Essencial: fairly priced fine dining in the middle of Bairro Alto. Stylish with an open kitchen
  • (Cervejaria Ramiro) – probably one of the most popular places in Lisbon. Famous for their seafood. Loads of people raved about it and I didn’t manage to get a table…one for next time! 
  • (Bistro 100 Maneiras)
  • (Estrela da Bica) – my colleague swore by it
  • If you visit Sintra: Bacalhau na Vila

Breakfast / Brunch

  • Dear Breakfast  (Alfama / Chiado)  – so good that I came back twice. Just top notch brunch
  • Milkees: a casual one near Parque station where I stayed. Their scramble egg & cream cheese bagel was delicious. Also good cookies too. But I wouldn’t take a special trip there if you are not nearby
  • (Hello, Kristof)
  • (The Mill)

 

Nata – see my detailed nata guide here

  • Pasteis de Belem: another Lisbon institution serving the best natas. 100% must visit
  • Manteigaria: there are a few dotted around town including the time out market. Very good quality and much easier to visit than Pasteis de Belem. Also well recommended by locals
  • Castro – Atelier de Pastéis de Nata: a small nice looking shop to just pop in for a nata + espresso

 

Ice-cream / patisserie

  • Gelados Santini:  I made an ice-cream section just for them. Genuinely surprised by how good their ice-cream was (I had melon & dulce de leche and both were excellent) 
  • (Pastelaria de Bairro Alto Hotel) – I walked by it and it did look excellent inside

 

Don’t bother

  • Pastel de Bacalhau: tasted fine and overpriced. Poster child of what a tourist trap looks like
  • Taylor’s Port: got good reviews for port tasting but I found it quite underwhelming really
  • Cervejaria Antártida Lisboa: one of the bars at the main square Praça do Comércio. Super slow service. Just don’t.
  • Any natas you get from the airport 

 

Other notes…

  • The walk alongside the shore from Praça do Comércio to Cais do Sodre was just beautiful 
  • Generally strolling aimlessly around Alfama and Bairro Alto was also great 
  • LX factory: very trendy, loved the vibe

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