Lisbon is a captivating city of beauty. But to really get to grips with its charm, you need to head beyond the bustling squares and historic sites. It’s when you wander through the streets that you’ll discover the city’s culinary soul.
Thankfully, we’ve spent countless hours exploring the nooks and crannies, searching for special places that offer an authentic taste of the city. From cozy wine bars pouring natural wines to lively restaurants serving up local dishes, we’ve curated a list of 10 unexpected gems that will make your visit unforgettable.
We start our journey just outside the Arroios metro station, only a short walk south from Fonte Luminosa.
1. Garrincha
This fabulous restaurant and bar serves plenty of options, changing daily. But they’re particularly known for their exquisite, fresh fish and seafood. But it’s the vast collection of around 150 wines in their cellar that always captures our attention. A perfect first port of call.
2. Tati
Just a little further along the street, nestled on the corner, there’s this cozy bar. It not only has a wide selection of wines and a wonderful range of food, its outside space is a fantastic spot to sit in the Portuguese sunshine and watch the city life unfold.
3. Bom Bom Bom
As we make our way to our next destination, we recommend stopping off at this lively bar. Every night is different, as they host evenings with winemakers, jazz nights, and street food extravaganzas. They even do the occasional pop-up store, like Luana’s sustainable clothes, where you can check out their creations while enjoying a glass of wine.
4. Vino Vero
Tucked away down a narrow street, just before a beautiful painted archway, Vino Vero serves a fantastic selection of wines. Proud supporters of the natural wine movement in Portugal, they love to showcase local producers and highlight the very best local winemakers in the country.
5. Cervejaria Ramiro
Ramiro isn’t just well known for its iconic seafood, but also for its admirable focus on sustainability. They’ve planted 4 hectares of trees, use solar panels to generate electricity, and use their carpark to raise money for reforestation efforts. The fact that their seafood is recognised internationally is a happy bonus.
6. Pigmeu
It’s time to head a bit further afield for our next recommendation. This is a restaurant dedicated to pork and eating food in a more conscious and responsible fashion. Their menu is filled with meals that focus on showcasing how every part of the animal can be cooked in gorgeous ways.
7. Black Sheep Lisboa
Now let’s head back into town to visit our personal favourite: the Black Sheep wine bar. This excellent establishment only chooses wines from small independent producers, including those that use biodynamic and organic processes. Every single one has an excellent story behind it, so make sure to ask where your wine came from.
8. 100 Maneiras
Just a little further along the way, this award-winning restaurant is home to art, music, and cocktails. With its rich history, it’s a mixture of fine food, inspired drinks, and authentic attitude. An exceptionally trendy venue with over 100 wines on their list.
9. Prado
Serving only organic and low-intervention wines from Portugal, this bright, airy restaurant and wine bar is the perfect place to relax and discover your next favourite. An elegant space to while away the hours and find the best that Portugal has to offer.
10. À Margem
Last, but not least, we highly recommend taking a trip further along the coast to A Margem. This non-descript restaurant on an off-beat section of the seafront is a cool and wonderful place with excellent food and a great atmosphere. The perfect place to end our trip around Lisbon.
Come taste the sun at our bar
Can’t wait to visit Lisbon and experience those excellent Portuguese wines? Well, you can head on over to our bar in Bristol and try them out before you go. All our wines are shipped by sail from the very best local Portuguese winemakers. We’re open Thursday to Sunday, just down at Wapping Wharf. We hope to see you there.
And if you’d like to get a little taste of Lisbon, we’d highly recommend either:
See you soon.
Curious where our next wine adventure will take us?
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