Maximum of the Portuguese restaurants and bars have a very homely and traditional atmosphere. Most of them are pretty small, run by a family and inexpensive. Before entering, you will in all probabilities find a chart listing the dishes of the day, that are generally fresher and cheaper than the other items in the menu. While dining, you might find the waiter bringing you unordered starters, also called couvert. But, mind it; they are not free yet definitely worth a try. Portuguese meal customs generally comply with Mediterranean siesta timing. If you are a tourist willing to try the traditional Portuguese cuisine, you must go to the Chiado or Bairro Alto area. The downtown of Baixa is another nice place for restaurants with meal deals and laminated menus. The Rua das Portas de Santo Antão is the place for seafood with restaurants serving delicious roasted chicken. The Doca de Santo Amaro and the Nations Park have similar eateries. The Doca de Jardim de Tabaco portion of the waterfront under St. George’s Castle is filled with restaurants showing culinary excellence. If you have a higher budget, Lapa will fetch you quality items. Alfama district is best if you are travelling in a group. It has the most welcoming fun-filled atmosphere. But most importantly, no matter which area you choose, make sure you can find at least one restaurant that plays the traditional Portuguese music, Fado. Pastelarias are another specialty of this place. They are restaurants serving pastéis de nata, a special Portuguese dish served like a sizzler together with some side dish made of cinnamon and sugar. It is a must-eat! Following are some budget-wise classification of the popular restaurants:
- Low-budget
- Gurkha
- Rosa da Rua Restaurant
- Café Buenos Aires
- Mercado da Ribeira
- Mamma Rosa Ristorante Pizzeria
- Medium-budget
- Chapito
- Malmequer Bemmequer
- A Tasquinha
- DeliDelux
- Pois Café
- Cervejaria da Trindade
- Tamarind
- Néctar WineBar
- Arroz Maria
- Sul
- Terra
- Ali a Papa
- Brasuca
- Calcuta
- Lisboa a Noite
- Imperio dos sentidos
- High-budget
- Panorama
- Eleven
- Bica do Sapato
- II Gattopardo
- Gambrinus
With a buzzing nightlife, Lisbon truly keeps the spirit of all its tourists, high. The Bairro Alto district is known for the lively nightclubs and bars providing delicious drinks and beautiful music. Just after you are done with your dinner, a drink at one of these places will be the most appropriate thing to do. The streets of this district, especially in weekends, are filled with people pub-crawling the whole night. Santos, Alcantara, Nations Park and the St. George’s Castle region have wonderful drinks-parlors. The Docas region is also another center for nocturnal tourists and drink-lovers. Some of the famous bars are as follows:
- Garrafeira Alfaia: This is an exotic wine bar with a telling collection of wines and starters. Apt for a pre-dinner outing.
- Chafariz do Vinho: Situated under the ex-aqueducts of Lisbon, this place serves a perfect combination of wines and appetizers.
- Ritz Bar: Placed inside the Four Seasons Hotel, this bar is a very cozy one with sofas, displays of contemporary art on its walls and perfectly dressed bartenders serving you the perfect drinks. It is best for client meetings.
