2024 Food Festival Guide: Best Gastronomic Events in Portugal
From celebrating sausages and sweet potatoes to Michelin-starred chefs cooking with fire, Portugal honours its rich gastronomic heritage with dozens of food festivals, wine fairs and events. Food is closely intertwined with culture in Portugal so it’s no surprise the small country puts on more than its fair share of food events. Each village has […]
The Best Food Tours & Experiences in Lisbon
A food tour is my favourite way to get to know a new destination, and Lisbon is a prime place to explore via your stomach. As you traverse its hilly cobbled streets you’ll soak up history as you sip ginjinha, snack on pastéis de bacalhau, and hear tales and legends about the city. Portugal’s capital […]
Where to Find the Best Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon – 2024 Edition
How many pastéis de nata could you eat on a holiday? Our friend Jayden smashed 30 on his trip to Portugal, but I will say that not all of them were prime pasteis. The man was on a mission to eat at least two Portuguese custard tarts a day, picking them up from any old […]
The best Portuguese cookbooks in English
Whether you’re looking for a brilliant souvenir to mark your time in Portugal, or a thoughtful gift for someone special, I’ve rounded up what I think are the best Portuguese cookbooks available in English. While living here I’ve been collecting Portuguese cookbooks in both English and Portuguese, and one thing I’ve noticed is that many […]
Where to eat in Porto
Francesinhas (the everything sandwich). Pork steak sandwiches. Offal stew. Spicy hot dogs. The food in the north of Portugal is heavier, that’s for sure. I adore Porto (and its food). It has everything you want and need from a city in a small walkable centre that’s cheaper than Lisbon. I’ve visited countless times now, and […]
Where to eat in the Algarve
Fine dining fans could spend the week knocking back degustation menus at Michelin-starred restaurants and emptying jugs of white sangria at beach bars priced for the British crowd. Me? With my tasca budget and Michelin palate, I hunt for the best tabernas, cervejarias and marisqueiras that locals love as much as blow-ins like us. These […]
6 best food markets in Portugal
My favourite way to get to know a place is through its food, and there’s no better place to start than at the source – the local fresh produce markets. Every town and city in Portugal is home to permanent market halls filled with fruit and veg vendors, fish wives, butchers, cheesemongers and spice stalls. […]
Where to find the best Portuguese street food and snacks in Lisbon
There’s nothing more comforting than knowing you can get a snack at any hour. From hot sandwiches like bifanas and pregos, to petiscos (tapas) of snails and prawns and an overwhelming range of eggy treats, Lisbon is not short of snacks. Hell, there’s even an entire 5pm meal, dedicated to hoeing down a sweet treat […]
Where to eat in Viana do Castelo
One thing I love about dining in Portugal is how each city, town and village offers something new. Same ingredients, a whole new world of food. I recently visited Viana do Castelo for the annual Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia festival, but I have to say I was as excited about the hearty Minho food […]
It’s worth a flight to Madeira just to eat these espetadas
The best espetadas on Madeira Island? Not where we expected to find them. Forget the famous spots in Câmara de Lobos. Next time we land in Madeira we’ll be returning straight to this local espetada spot – which we visited twice on our first trip. Guest post by Jorge Branco. Meat and fire. Sometimes that’s […]
What to eat in the Azores Islands
Fresh seafood, hearty stews and heavenly pastries await in the Azores islands. Lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the volcanic archipelago of nine islands offers up many unique dishes and unusual ingredients, partly thanks to its climate and remote location. Taste the thermal-cooked Cozido das Furnas, visit an island best known for its […]
Best places to eat octopus in Lisbon
One question I get asked a lot is where is the best spot to eat octopus in Lisbon. It seems every traveller coming to visit wants to try great octopus dishes in Portugal, whether that’s a traditional Polvo à Lagareiro or a simple octopus salad. It’s true – octopus is a favourite ingredient in Portugal. […]