7 Essential Dishes You Can’t Leave Lisbon Without Trying

In this guest post by the culinary experts at Eating Europe, you’ll learn about the seven dishes you must try while in Lisbon, plus where to find them and what to sip alongside each.

Picture this: you’ve just settled into a café after exploring Lisbon’s sun-dappled cobblestone streets. The scent of grilled sardines still lingers in the air, mingling with the briny breeze from the Tagus River. A waiter sets down a golden pastel de nata, its custard heart still warm, as fado music hums in the background.

Scenes like this are part of daily life in Lisbon, where every bite tells a story of the sea, the soil, and centuries of tradition. For food lovers, this is paradise found. So, if you only have a few days to eat your way through Lisbon, these are the plates you can’t miss:

1. Bacalhau à Brásamazing Portuguese foods

The Salt Cod Dish That Stole the Nation’s Heart

Portugal’s love affair with salt cod goes back centuries, and bacalhau à brás is arguably Lisbon’s most comforting interpretation. Shredded cod is sautéed with onions, garlic, and straw-thin potatoes, then bound with scrambled egg and sprinkled with parsley and olives. It’s creamy, savory, and deeply satisfying.

What to Pair it With: a crisp vinho verde—its slight fizz will cut through the dish’s richness

Photo by Sandy and Alan

Did you know Portugal’s coastline spans over 800 kilometers (497 miles), and Lisbon sits right at the heart of it? That proximity to the sea defines much of the amazing Portuguese foods locals eat. Salt cod, sardines, octopus, and clams are central to many iconic dishes, often cooked simply with olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs.

2. Sardinhas Assadas

Chargrilled Sardines and the Spirit of Festas

Come June, the smell of grilled sardines wafts through Lisbon’s streets during the Santo António festival. Served whole on bread or with boiled potatoes and peppers, sardinhas assadas celebrate simplicity. They’re best eaten outdoors, with a cold beer and a view of the Tagus River.

What to Pair it With: a chilled rosé from Alentejo complements the smoky fish well

Photo by Yusuke Kawasaki

3. Caldo Verde

Portugal’s Comfort Soup in a Bowl

This humble kale soup is a staple at family tables and local eateries alike. Made with potatoes, onions, garlic, and thin ribbons of collard greens, it’s topped with a slice of chouriço (smoked sausage) for richness. Warming and hearty, caldo verde is a taste of home for many.

What to Pair it With: sip a light Douro red to match the soup’s earthy chouriço

Photo by Premshree Pillai

4. Polvo à Lagareiro

Octopus, Olive Oil, and Oven-Roasted Bliss

Polvo à lagareiro combines tender octopus with generous drizzles of olive oil, roasted garlic, and baked potatoes. It’s often served during holidays but is widely available year-round in Lisbon’s seafood restaurants. The olive oil bath gives the dish its signature richness and depth.

What to Pair it With: a buttery Dão white enhances the olive oil’s silkiness

Photo by Miguel Silvar

5. Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato

Garlic Clams Worth Fighting Over

Named after 19th-century poet Bulhão Pato, this dish features clams steamed in olive oil, garlic, cilantro, and white wine. It’s the perfect starter with crusty bread to mop up the aromatic broth. Light yet bursting with flavor, it captures Lisbon’s coastal essence in a bowl.

What to Pair it With: go for a minerally Alvarinho to echo the briny clams

Photo courtesy of Eating Europe

6. Bifana

Lisbon’s Beloved Pork Sandwich with a Kick

Thin slices of marinated pork are cooked in garlic and spices, then stuffed into a crusty roll. The result? A spicy, juicy bifana that’s a favorite at snack bars and football matches alike. Add mustard or piri-piri sauce for an extra punch.

What to Pair it With: a cold Sagres beer balances the spicy pork’s heat

Photo by Sonse

Fun Fact: Lisbon’s historical ties to global trade brought exotic spices like cinnamon, piri-piri chili, and saffron into its kitchens. These elements (once rare luxuries) are now staples, woven into traditional recipes in subtle but essential ways. The influence of Mozambique, India, and Brazil still lingers on Lisbon plates.

7. Pastel de Nata

The Custard Tart That Defines Dessert

No trip to Lisbon is complete without trying this golden pastry. The flaky shell holds a creamy egg custard, caramelized just enough on top. Eat it warm, dusted with cinnamon, and preferably at a café with a shot of espresso. The original comes from Pastéis de Belém, but dozens of bakeries do it justice.

What to Pair it With: end with a glass of tawny port, its caramel notes are a perfect match for the custard

Photo by Amber Dunlap

Eat Like a Local: Where to Find These Authentic Lisbon Flavors

Knowing what to eat is only half the journey. Where you eat in Lisbon matters just as much. Below are the top spots where locals go when they want a true taste of home.

Delfina-Cantina Portuguesa: Located in the historic neighborhood of Chiado, Delfina blends rustic charm with modern flair. Their cod dishes and grilled meats are crowd favorites, and the wine list highlights small Portuguese proDelfinaducers. It’s a perfect spot to ease into Lisbon’s culinary traditions. Praça do Município n.º 23, 1100-365

Time Out Market: A bustling food hall packed with some of the city’s best chefs, Time Out Market offers everything from seafood rice to gourmet burgers. It’s tourist-friendly, where you can sample top-notch versions of local dishes without committing to a full sit-down meal. Mercado da Ribeira, Av. 24 de Julho, 1200-479

Mercado de Campo de Ourique: Less crowded than Time Out, Mercado de Campo de Ourique combines fresh produce stalls with a cozy food court. Locals drop in for lunch or early dinner, feasting on traditional Portuguese plates or sipping wine at the central bar. It’s authentic, approachable, and full of charm.

Lisbon’s cuisine leans on what’s fresh and local. Markets like Mercado de Campo de Ourique brim with seasonal treasures like spring asparagus, summer tomatoes, and autumn chestnuts (castanhas assadas). Chefs, like those in the market’s food court, let these ingredients shine with minimal fuss: a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, or a quick char on the grill. This respect for nature’s rhythm ensures every dish feels vibrant and alive.

Tascas and Tabernas: Lisbon’s small, no-frills eateries—called tascas—are the beating heart of its food scene. Think handwritten menus, grandma’s recipes, and unbeatable prices. Look for spots where the tables are full of locals and the wine flows freely. (Amber here: I loved Tasca do Chico in Bairo Alto and heard good things about Taberna Sal Grosso in Alfama)

Beyond the Tourist Trail: Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district, hides some of its most atmospheric dining spots. Here, you’ll find family-run restaurants tucked between narrow alleyways, often with live Fado music in the background. Expect hearty stews, fresh fish, and plenty of old-world ambiance.

About Eating Europe

Eating Europe is the largest tour operator specializing in culinary tours and activities across Europe. The company started in Rome, Italy in 2011 and then expanded into Florence, London, Amsterdam, Prague, Paris, and in 2019 into Lisbon, Naples, Strasbourg, and Porto. Since 2011, they have shared a taste of local life with over 200,000 guests, offering an insider’s glimpse into the cities their local guides know and love.

Check Out These Eating Europe Food Tours in Lisbon

• Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour: This tour takes you away from the tourist traps, to the local and largely undiscovered backstreets of Lisbon where locals spend their days. Taste some of the most amazing Portuguese foods paired with wines and beers you won't get elsewhere and gain an understanding of the international influences present throughout the city, from the amazing street art to learning all about the Fado musical genre.

• Heart of Lisbon Food Tour: Baixa, Chiado, and Bairro Alto: Get an authentic taste of the city on this intimate food tour starring the city’s best custard tarts, an underground restaurant in a converted church, and delights from piri piri chicken to fresh-grilled sardines to ginjinha liqueur in a chocolate cup. Take in some local landmarks along the way, as well as craft beer and wine.

• Lisbon Food & Tuk Tuk Tour: Experience the best food and history of Lisbon during this tuk tuk food tour of the three most historic areas of Portugal's capital: Baixa, Alfama, and Mouraria. Feast on diverse dishes that you might otherwise have missed if exploring alone.

• Exquisite Wine & Dine Tour (New!): Designed for wine lovers and curious foodies, this tour is a sophisticated, unhurried food experience through the stylish neighborhoods of São Bento and Santos, two effortlessly cool districts where locals live, eat, and drink. Along the way, enjoy elevated takes on Portuguese classics and sip your way through a curated lineup of wines, from crisp whites to bold reds, and a touch of Portugal’s iconic fortified styles.

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