The Best Things I Ate & Drank In Lisbon

During a recent trip to Europe, I was able to spend three full days in Portugal’s capital city. Although my time in Lisbon was quite short, I was lucky enough to stumble upon some truly delicious eats and equally tasty beverages during this quick visit.

PORTUGUESE WINE

ROSÉ in Cascais – I love a glass of dry rosé, and this particular bottle of Quinta Nova did not disappoint. It was cold, crisp, and everything a California girl could want on a hot day by the beach. To top it off, the service and ambiance at Hifen – the chic, little oceanside restaurant serving up our afternoon wine – really made the rosé taste that much better!
Hífen > Avenida Dom Carlos I 48, 2750-310 • Cascais, Portugal

VINHO VERDE in Cascais – I rarely find myself ordering white wine nowadays but was excited to try a glass of this popular Portuguese staple during dinner that same day in Cascais. Our bottle of Adoraz was dry, slightly fruity, light on the palate, and incredibly drinkable. I was thoroughly impressed by the taste and found that it paired lovely with our summer evening, seafood feast – which I mention a bit about more below!
Mar do Inferno > Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-800 • Cascais, Portugal

SAVORY BITES

GARLIC PRAWNS in Cascais – These local prawns were incredibly fresh, cooked to perfection, and seasoned wonderfully in an unctuous, garlic and herb-based sauce. My friends and I also enjoyed some tasty rice and grilled whole fish during this meal, but nothing compared to the prawns!
Mar do Inferno > Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-800 • Cascais, Portugal

CARIL DE CAMARÃO COM MOLHO DE CÔCO in Saldanha – I was super excited to have Indian food while in Portugal and was thrilled to stumble upon a family-owned restaurant just down the street from my hotel. I ordered a single samosa to start which ended up being quite small and pretty average in taste. However, the shrimp coconut curry that I ordered as my main dish was truly fabulous. The shrimp were wonderfully cooked, and the curry itself was fragrant, rich in texture, and the perfect level of spice. The service I received was also top notch!
Zaafran > Largo Dona Estefânia 7, 1100-092 • Lisboa, Portugal

PASTEL DE BACALHAU in Belém – I absolutely love salt cod, and the fritter I ordered from the Navy Museum Cafeteria during my visit to Belém was phenomenal. It was crunchy on the outside and warm and creamy on the inside. It was the perfect midday snack to keep me going.
Cafetaria do Museu de Marinha > Praça do Império, 1400-206 • Lisboa, Portugal

STEAK SANDWICH in Alfama – I stumbled upon a casual eatery named O Prego while strolling through the gorgeous, hilltop streets of Alfama. They had a cute patio so I glanced at the menu and was quickly shown a seat. I ordered an ice cold beer and a steak sandwich. For some reason, I didn’t feel like eating much bread that night so I removed the bun and made myself a plate of steak frites. The sandwich came with a lovely peppercorn sauce which I poured all over my steak before diving in. I wasn’t expecting much from this meal, but the steak was tender and incredibly tasty. The fries were also crispy and delicious. Funny enough, I ended up taking a bite of the bread that was soaked in the juices of my steak towards the end of my meal. It was so good that I ended up eating majority of the bun afterward while enjoying good conversation with the folks at the table across from me.
O Pregro > Largo Rodrigues de Freitas 14, 1100-375 • Lisboa, Portugal

SWEET TREATS

SORBETTO WITH VODKA in Cascais – As I mentioned above, the garlic prawns at Mar Do Inferno were absolutely phenomenal, and I didn’t think anything could taste better during that particular dinner until our server suggested that we order the sorbetto with vodka to conclude our meal. My friends and I were stunned by how delicious this dessert truly was. The sorbetto was tart, sweet, cold, creamy, and expertly spiked with just the right amount of liquor. It was culinary perfection served in a tiny glass!
Mar do Inferno > Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-800 • Cascais, Portugal

PASTÉIS DE BELEM in Belém – First and foremost, it’s important to know that I absolutely love Portuguese egg tarts AKA pastéis de nata. I grew up eating these divine pastries and still order them every single time I go to dim sum here in Los Angeles. Secondly, pastel de nata was the only Portuguese food item I researched prior to my trip. During my research, I was thrilled to discover that Belêm, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Lisbon, is the birthplace of these delicious custard tarts! According to local history, someone from the Jerónimos Monastery started selling these egg-based pastries a few years after the complex was taken over by the government following the Liberal Revolution of the nineteenth century. The pastries became so popular among the locals and visitors alike – that Pastéis de Belém bakery officially opened in 1837 a few steps away from the monastery. The bakers started making Pastéis de Belem (also the name of the original pastéis de nata) in mass using the same ancient recipe created by the Portuguese monks who once resided nearby. So with a head full of historical pastry knowledge & a belly full of nothing – I took the train to Belém on my last full day in Lisbon and walked straight to this historic bakery for breakfast! I excitedly found a seat in the sun laden dining room towards the back of this giant establishment and ordered two Pastéis de Belem and a coffee from my kind server. The pastries were creamy, insanely flaky, the perfect level of sweet, and sublimely delicious. It was the ideal start to my morning and the best way to kick off my day of exploration in Belém.
Pastéis de Belém > Rua de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 • Lisboa, Portugal

I personally cannot wait to return to Portugal one day so I can indulge in more local fare and fabulous wine. Until then, I will just have to remember these culinary moments from my trip to Lisbon with great fondness.