4 days in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lisbon may very well be my favourite European city.
Charming, cultured & filled to the brim with beautiful food. Four trips later and I still can’t wait to go back for more sangria, frango churrasco and authentic de natas.
For my 33rd birthday I decided to spend 4 days in Lisbon looking like good food and eating good food. Days & nights spent getting dressed up and eating out, it was absolutely amazing. Here is everything & everywhere I ate that you should definitely add to your itinerary when you book that city break to Lisbon.
Beijos x
Knowledge of Beef by Olivier - R. do Salitre 169, 1250-043
An exceptional steak house by acclaimed Portuguese chef Olivier, K.O.B showcases multiple cuts of steak from around the world whilst celebrating local dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed & sophisticated which was perfect for a late lunch after an early arrival into the city. I’ve never tasted anything like the Octopus Carpaccio before in my life and I miss it daily. I loved my experience so much, but for all the juicy details check out my TikTok.
Our order: Sparkling Water, Octopus Carpaccio, K.O.B Steak Ribeye, Bacalhau a Bras, Small Baked Potatoes, Mashed Spinach, Tangerine Sorbet
Sofia’s Place - R. de São Bento 67, 1200-816
One of the only Black-owned restaurants in Lisbon, Sofia’s feels more like home than dining out, but that doesn’t mean that the experience is not high quality! Born and raised in Lisbon, Ana Sofia pays homage to her Cape Verdean roots with her menu, whilst celebrating other African countries with a presence in the city. She describes Sofia’s as “A celebration and elevation of Afro gastronomy experience”. The restaurant is small and intimate much like the service that was so loving, and the food felt just like a warm hug from a close friend.
Our order: White Sangria, Caldo de Mancarra, Pastel de Milho com Rechcio de Atum, Corvina a Moda de Cabo Verde, Cheesecake de Maracuja
Nannarella - R. Nova da Piedade 64A, 1200-299
The artisanal gelateria featured on the Netflix series ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ Nannarella is extremely popular for it sensational gelatos & sorbets made from traditional homemade recipes with the best ingredients. When the sun is out this is the perfect place to visit & then relax in the Praça das Flores just across the street.
My order: Mango, Raspberry & Coconut Sorbet
O Churrasco - R. das Portas de Santo Antão 85, 1150-266
Located on what is said to be the most touristy food street in Lisbon, O Churrasco was recommend to us by our driver on the way to the hotel. The decor feel like something out of a 1950’s movie; wooden chairs, white linen tablecloths and a fully stocked back wall bar area. We came for the famous grilled chicken, fries and a jug of white sangria just before the city closed for its afternoon siesta. The meal did not disappoint, at all. There are quite a few restaurants in the city you can visit to experience the famous, Frango Churrasco but if you’re stuck for choice give this place a try.
Our order: White Sangria, Frango no Espeto, Batatas Fritas, Polvo Lagareiro
Rosamar - R. da Rosa 317, 1200-381
For our final meal in the city we wanted some seafood, so we booked a table at Rosamar, a sustainable seafood & oyster bar. Take me back, immediately. The only dish I didn’t make audible moaning noises about was the dessert, but if you know me well then you know that I’m not a big dessert person and all I really ever want is a good sorbet. The quality, creativity and flavours at Rosmar were amazing. Coconut clams, banana fish, sea bream croquettes. Fantastic. I don’t know how often the menu changes if it all, but I will 100% be returning as soon as I can!
Our Order: Chipotle Agave Mezcal, Chocolate Espresso Martini, Sea Bream Tartare Croquettes, Fried Coconut Prawns, Banana Fish, Broken Peach
Time Out Market Lisboa - Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479
I’ll be honest, I didn’t particularly love my experience at the Time Out Market, as it was really busy and we struggled to find a place to sit and eat. That being said I think it has the potential to be really fun. Just manage your expectations better than mine. There are loads of food options, cooking workshops, restaurants & cultural events to explore, so definitely add it to your itinerary and see how you get on. We kept it short and sweet as we were flying out that afternoon, however my highlight was my lovely shrimp burger (this kick started a week long shrimp burger obsession) & the strawberry, lemon and basil sorbet combo I got. Fabulous!
My Order: Pastéis de Bacalhau, Shrimp Burger from O Prego da Peixaria and Strawberry, Lemon & Basil Sorbet from Gelato Davvero
Pastéis de Natas
You absolutely can not go to Lisbon & not try a Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese custard tart). If you are trying them for the first time, or like myself, love them bad bad bad then here are two places you must add to your list for custard tart perfection.
Pastéis De Belem - Apparently this where the OG Nata’s were first baked and the most authentic place to go.I found these tarts to be slightly sweeter and the pastry was thicker. Richer, more indulgent. Not for the faint-hearted.
Fabrica Da Nata - We stumbled across this place after revelling in some grilled chicken and sangria. Foolishly, we only bought a box of 6 to share and I still regret it to this day. For me these tarts were lighter, not as sweet and the pastry was very flaky. Lovely.
I personally don’t have a favourite, but could tell the subtle difference between both natas. In my humble opinion, you should aim to try both :)
