Lisbon’s food scene is a fantastic mix of the old and the new. You have tiny, traditional restaurants tucked down side streets, right alongside busy food markets where you can try a bit of everything. A top tip for eating well and saving some money is to look out for the prato do dia, or dish of the day.
With the Atlantic on its doorstep, it’s no surprise that the traditional food in Lisbon revolves around wonderfully fresh seafood and fish. You'll find it's often prepared very simply – just grilled with salt, garlic, and olive oil – because the whole philosophy is about letting high-quality ingredients shine, whether it's fish from the ocean or rich meats from the land.
Best traditional Portuguese food: savoury main dishes
When you sit down for a proper meal in a traditional Lisbon restaurant, or one of those brilliant little family-run places called tascas, these are the kinds of classic savoury dishes you’re likely to see on the menu. They represent the cornerstones of Portuguese home cooking, focusing on either incredible seafood or rich, satisfying meats, and are just a few of the traditional Portuguese must-try dishes you’ll discover on your travels.
Bacalhau: the national dish of Portugal
You really can't talk about Portuguese food without mentioning bacalhau. It's dried and salted cod, and the locals will proudly tell you there are more than 365 ways to cook it – one for every day of the year. A classic one to try in Lisbon is Bacalhau à Brás, a comforting mix of shredded cod, onions, finely chopped fried potatoes, and scrambled eggs, all topped with black olives.
Sardinhas assadas (grilled sardines)
If you find yourself in Lisbon during the summer, especially around the June festivals, the whole city smells of one thing: grilled sardines. Sardinhas assadas are a true symbol of the city at its liveliest. They're cooked whole on an outdoor grill, seasoned simply with coarse salt, and usually served on a slice of rustic bread, which soaks up all the delicious oils.
Cozido à Portuguesa (Portuguese atew)
This is not a light meal, so make sure you’re hungry. It’s a traditional stew, or more accurately a boil, that’s packed with a huge variety of meats – beef, pork, chicken, and different types of sausages like chouriço – all cooked with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. It's proper comfort food, the kind of thing families get together to eat on a Sunday, and you'll often find it as the dish of the day in traditional places.
Arroz de Marisco (seafood rice)
People often compare Arroz de Marisco to Spanish paella, but it’s a different beast entirely. Think of it as a soupy, saucy seafood rice. It’s cooked in a rich broth of tomato, herbs, and white wine, so the rice is much wetter and packed with more flavour. It comes loaded with a generous mix of prawns, clams and mussels, and is usually served for two people to share, arriving at the table bubbling away in a terracotta pot.
Classic Lisbon street food and sandwiches
Beyond the main courses, there’s a whole world of casual food that's a massive part of daily life in Lisbon. These aren't things you'll find in fancy restaurants, but in small snack-bars or at little kiosks dotted around the city.
Bifana (pork sandwich)
The Bifana is probably the most iconic sandwich in Lisbon. You'll smell them before you see them. It's a very simple concept: thin slices of pork are marinated and then simmered in a garlicky white wine sauce. They're then stuffed into a fresh, crusty bread roll, a papo seco. It’s often served just as it is, or with a dash of yellow mustard.
Prego no Pão (steak sandwich)
The Prego no Pão is the beefy cousin of the Bifana. It's a thin steak that’s been marinated in garlic and fried, served in the same kind of bread roll. There's also a funny local custom attached to it. Sometimes, after a big seafood feast (mariscada), people will order a Prego for dessert. It sounds strange, but the idea is that the savoury steak fills any last gaps and gets rid of the seafood taste.
Famous Portuguese desserts and sweet treats
Every other corner in Lisbon seems to have a pastelaria (pastry shop), and they are a massive part of daily life. It’s where you grab your morning coffee and a pastry, or pop in for a mid-afternoon sugar boost. The variety on display can be dizzying, but it's a very tasty challenge to take on.
Pastéis de Nata (custard tarts)
This iconic Portuguese custard tart is famous for a good reason. You have this incredibly crispy, flaky pastry shell holding a creamy, rich egg custard that’s caramelised on top. The proper way to eat them is warm from the oven, with a sprinkle of cinnamon or powdered sugar on top. Every bakery has its own slightly different version, and the local debate over where to find the best pastel de nata in Lisbon is a serious business.
While the pastel de nata is the star of the show, it's really just the gateway to a whole universe of sweets. There are so many other popular Portuguese desserts to discover, from almond cakes to sweet egg-based puddings, so it's worth being adventurous.
Traditional drinks in Lisbon
To really get the full flavour of Lisbon, what you’re drinking is just as much a part of the experience as the food on your plate. There's a unique local liqueur that’s a real city institution, along with the region's most famous wine, and both are well worth getting to know.
Ginjinha (cherry liqueur)
You’ll see tiny little bars across the city, sometimes just a hole in the wall, dedicated to serving Ginjinha. It’s a sweet liqueur made from infusing sour cherries in alcohol, and it’s a true Lisbon institution. It's served in a small shot glass, and you'll usually be asked if you want it com ou sem elas – with or without a cherry in the glass.
Vinho Verde (green wine)
Don't let the name confuse you; Vinho Verde isn't green in colour. The name means "young wine," as it’s released just a few months after harvest. It comes from the cooler, rainier north of Portugal, and it's characteristically light, crisp, and often has a very slight, natural fizz.
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