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What to Do in Lisbon if You Love Food: A Local Guide

  • Oct 14, 2025
  • 3 min read

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most vibrant food capitals. From fresh seafood to centuries-old recipes, bold spices, local wines, and traditional pastries, the city is a paradise for food lovers.

If you’re visiting Lisbon and want to explore its culinary scene beyond restaurants, here’s a local guide to the best foodie experiences you shouldn’t miss.


Market
Market

1. Visit a Traditional Market (Mercado da Ribeira, Campo de Ourique, or Arroios)

Lisbon’s markets are the heart of the city’s daily food culture. Here, you’ll find:

  • fresh fish and seafood

  • seasonal vegetables

  • artisanal cheeses and cured meats

  • local olive oils

  • regional ingredients from all over Portugal

Markets are the perfect place to discover how locals shop, cook, and eat.

💡 Tip: Join a market tour before your cooking class to learn how to choose the best ingredients.


2. Take an Authentic Cooking Class With Local Chefs

This is hands-down one of the best things any foodie can do in Lisbon.

A Portuguese cooking class allows you to:

  • learn traditional recipes

  • discover regional food stories

  • cook with local chefs

  • taste Portuguese wines

  • take home skills and recipes you’ll use forever


You can even choose themes like:

  • Traditional Portuguese Cooking Class

  • Pastel de Nata Pastry Class

  • Market Tour + Cooking Class

👉 Book a cooking class in Lisbon: https://www.thechefscompany.pt

It’s authentic, cultural, and delicious — a must for any food lover.


3. Enjoy a Portuguese Wine Tasting

Portugal has some of the world’s most unique wines:

  • Vinho Verde

  • Douro wine

  • Dão reds

  • Alvarinho

  • Setúbal moscatel

  • Madeira

  • Port wine

A wine tasting helps you understand the regions, grapes, and techniques that make Portuguese wine so special.

💡 Best part: Many tastings include charcuterie boards with cheeses, chouriço, and pão alentejano.


4. Try Fresh Seafood by the River

Foodies cannot leave Lisbon without trying:

  • grilled sardines

  • clams à Bulhão Pato

  • octopus à Lagareiro

  • seafood rice (arroz de marisco)

Head to restaurants near:

  • Cais do Sodré

  • Alfama

  • Belém

  • Cascais (short trip but worth it!)

You’ll taste Portugal’s Atlantic identity on a plate.


5. Eat a Fresh Pastel de Nata (But From the Right Places!)

Not all pastéis de nata are created equal.For the real experience, go to:

  • Pastéis de Belém (the original)

  • Manteigaria

  • Aloma

  • Castro

Better yet — learn to make them yourself during a pastry class. The moment you pull them from the oven is unforgettable.


6. Explore the Traditional Portuguese Diet

Portuguese food is more Mediterranean than many visitors expect.Try dishes like:

  • Caldo Verde

  • grilled fish

  • stews made with vegetables and olive oil

  • simple salads with fresh herbs

It’s tasty, healthy, and deeply connected to local culture.


7. Dine in a Tasca for a True Local Experience

A tasca is a small, traditional Portuguese eatery — humble, authentic, and full of character.Here you’ll find comfort dishes like:

  • Bifanas

  • Isca de fígado

  • Pataniscas

  • Feijoada

  • house wine served in small glasses

It’s the closest you’ll get to a Portuguese grandmother’s kitchen.


8. Watch the Sunset With Petiscos and Wine

End your day like a local:

  • order petiscos (Portuguese tapas)

  • grab a glass of wine

  • enjoy the sunset over the Tagus River

Nothing captures Lisbon’s lifestyle better.


🇵🇹 Final Tip for Food Lovers Visiting Lisbon

If you really want to dive into Portuguese cuisine — not just taste it, but understand it — combining a cooking class, a market visit, and a few traditional meals will give you an unforgettable foodie experience.

👉 Explore our Cooking Classes in Lisbon Cook traditional recipes, meet local chefs, and take home the flavors of Portugal.https://www.thechefscompany.pt

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