Where to eat in Coimbra
At the heart of Central Portugal lies Coimbra, an ancient city with a young student heart. To eat here is to navigate that same contrast. One moment you could be seated in a medieval alleyway peeling meat off a tray of pig bones, and the next sipping Bairrada sparkling wines on a rooftop overlooking the […]
Where to eat in Tavira: Best restaurants & cafés
Somewhere between my second flat white of the day and a plate of clams drenched in olive oil and white wine, I realised Tavira might just be the best town in the Algarve to eat and drink well. I’ve visited this eastern Algarve beauty half a dozen times since moving to Portugal in 2018. On […]
Where to eat in the western Algarve: Best restaurants in Aljezur, Arrifana & Sagres
The south-west edge of Portugal has a different feeling altogether. On the wild and gorgeous western Algarve coast, a handful of villages have quietly attracted an international crowd seeking surf, sunshine and a slower, sustainable lifestyle. Over decades, this mix of local Portuguese with other Europeans and people from further abroad has etched out a […]
Where to Find the Best Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon – 2026 Edition
How many pastéis de nata could you eat on a holiday to Lisbon? Our friend Jayden smashed 30 on his trip to Portugal, but I will say that not all of them were prime pastéis. The man was on a mission to eat at least two Portuguese custard tarts a day, picking them up from […]
Where to eat in Baixa, Lisbon: Local’s guide to the best restaurants, snacks and bars
If you’re someone who finds joy in food, then Lisbon’s Baixa (bye-sha) may be one of the trickiest places to eat well – but don’t fear, I have some great local tips. The capital’s flat, grid-pattern downtown neighbourhood is a place where time both zips by and stands still. Here you’ll find historic 20th-century taverns […]
Taste of Porto: A food-filled weekend at Canto de Luz
Canto de Luz invited me to experience their boutique hotel and food experiences as part of this sponsored collaboration. Reflections remain independent. Beyond azulejo-covered churches and cobbled lanes that wind down to the Douro River, at its core, Porto is a city connected to food and wine. I’ve visited Porto a dozen times, and on […]
Where to eat in Tomar: Best restaurants, cafés & bars
It’s not just Tomar’s monuments that are layered with history. Tucked down its many streets, you’ll find taverns from the mid-20th century still serving the locals, a bakery that invented sweets now famous across Portugal, and a Bauhaus café open ‘til 2am. If you’re visiting Tomar and are wondering where to eat dinner, grab a […]
Where to eat in Lisbon this summer: guide to the hottest tables for 2025
While you’ll always be able to eat well (even without a reservation) in Lisbon, if you’re chasing a seat at one of its buzziest tables, or want to revisit the beloved classics that locals still swear by – you’ll need to plan ahead. I’ve lived in Lisbon since 2018 and spent years as a food […]
Where to eat in Belém: the best restaurants, snacks and bars
Belém might be packed with tourists, but finding a good spot to eat doesn’t have to feel like a scavenger hunt. I live close by and have spent plenty of time dining in Belém, so consider this your Belém food guide to dodge the tourist traps and actually eat well – whether you’re grabbing a […]
Where to eat in Santiago de Compostela: Best restaurants and tapas bars
I fell hard for this small stone city stuck in time, with a bar and restaurant scene fed by some of the best seafood Spain has to offer. It’s a rare thing to say but Santiago de Compostela exceeded my expectations in every way. I arrived in Galicia pretty pumped to eat my way across […]
Local’s guide to Lisbon’s best restaurants: 45 great places to eat (2026)
A perfectly salted fish cooked over coals. A juicy tomato plucked in the peak of summer. The crunch of a pastel de nata, still warm from the oven. Portuguese food is a lesson in perfectly executed simplicity.
8 best poncha bars on Madeira Island
It’s an impossible task to write a list of all the poncha bars on Madeira. Any bar worth its liquor license will almost certainly be serving this strong and fruity local punch. Over multiple trips to this mountainous Portuguese island off the coast of Africa, I’ve enjoyed a few (too many) Madeiran ponchas – a […]