Recommendations for Food in Portugal
Portugal is a country that is synonymous with seafood, and rightly so. The coastal country’s bounty is something to behold, and it’s reflected in the traditional dishes found throughout the region. Let’s take a look at some of the must-tries when visiting Portugal.
Bacalhau, or dried and salted cod - Portugal’s national dish
Bacalhau, or dried and salted cod, is Portugal’s national dish. With over 1000 ways to prepare it, you can be sure you won’t get bored sampling it. We tried our first bacalhau the afternoon we landed in Portugal at Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau in Vila Nova de Gaia while in Porto. As we were walking along the Duoro River in Vila Gaia de Novo to start our port tasting adventures, we spotted this 4.4 star Googled reviewed large establishment that had both bacalhau and port. The delicious fried snack brings together two Portuguese icons: crispy fried cod and the melty and gooey PDO Serra da Estrela Cheese. Yummy! Because it served in a wooden paddle you carry with your thumb, we enjoyed it while sitting outside looking at the “rabelo” boats on the Douro River. If the weather is not great, the adorable Harry Potter like library inside is another option to enjoy the snack while you are walking around and marveling at the books, architecture, and design.
They are open everyday from 10am to 10pm.
Pastéis de Nata, delicious pastries for breakfast
Pastéis de Nata (the plural form because who can have just one), also known as Portuguese custard tarts, are a sweet pastry made with egg custard and flaky pastry. Imagine biting into a crème brûlée delicately tucked into a phyllo dough shell. Yes! It’s soooo good! You can find these treats all over the country, and we did! Our days were not complete if we did not have two a day for breakfast.
Mely and Jon enjoying Pastéis de Nata at Casa de Companhia, Vignette Collection – part of an insanely heavenly included breakfast at this absolutely lovely and unbeatable Porto hotel
Sardines and other tinned fish - a sustainable & delicious treat
Sardinhas and other tinned fish are a quintessential treat in Portugal. While you can head to the coast during the summer sardine seasonal months of May through October and find grilled sardine stands lining the beaches, if they’re not in season, you can get this sustainable and delicious treat almost anywhere all year round. They’re a cheap, fresh, and delicious option to taste part of the culture and heritage of Portugal.
My dad loves tinned fish, so I wanted to bring some back as a gift for watching the dogs while we were away.
We headed to the The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines in Lisbon. This store front is in front of the King D. Pedro IV statue in the centre of Lisbon’s Pombaline quarter. Comur is a staple of the of the Portuguese canning industry from the 1940s, and the employees were happy to tell us the history of canning in Portugal and walk us through the different options of tinned fish. I had an absolute blast photographing the the beautiful lithographed tins with original illustrations.
We ended up taking the skinless and boneless sardines, roasted codfish, octopus, and shrimp in garlic and olive oil.
Most cost from $7-$15 dollars. We learned the hard way after waiting almost 4 hours in Denver that you do not need to declare these at customs. You can also buy them online.
Arroz de marisco - seafood rice is a delight
Arroz de Marisco is a seafood rice dish popular on the coast. It’s made with a variety of seafood such as shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab. It can be a mixture of different types of seafood or a singular fish, which is cooked together with rice in a rich tomato sauce. We tried the arroz de lingueirão or razor clam rice at Pharmacia Felcidade in Lisbon. Lingueirão or Navalha is the Portuguese word for razor. Razor clams are long bivalves shaped like a straight razor. The combination of clams, rice, tomatoes, wine, and herbs makes this a velvety rich dish to share during happy hour. Another delight was the arroz de polvo or octopus rice we had at Tik-Tak in Ericeria, Portugal for dinner. This was a lovely casual dinner at affordable prices. Ask for the spicy oil that comes with the rice. Yum!
All things POLVO - octopus!
If there is one dish you must try when visiting Portugal, it’s polvo or octopus. This tender and flavorful seafood is highly revered in Portuguese cuisine and can be found on menus across the country. Here’s where you can enjoy the best of polvo in Portugal:
Just 40 minutes outside of Lisbon, your culinary adventure takes you to the quaint seaside town of Colares. Restaurante Monumental in Praia das Maçãs not only offers fantastic sunset views of the beach and ocean but the biggest and most delicious octopus skewer you could dream of enjoying. The servers bring out the massive skewer dangling from a metal post that reminds you of playing hangman as a kid. The octopus, prawn, onion, and bell pepper skewer is served with boiled potatoes and greens.
Another spot just 40 minutes outside of Lisbon is the coastal Restaurant da Adraga. We came upon this place by accident. We had been staying at a breathtaking wine property called Quinta Vale de Roca and had gone to tour Monserrate Palace in Sintra midday. On the way back, we Googled a town with a store to pick up toothpaste and sunscreen. The closest town to our wine hotel was Adagra. We found an amazing beach with sea tunnels near by and Restaurant da Adraga. The servers were beyond friendly and chatted about where the seafood came from and about living in Portugal. We dinned on delicate and delicious grilled octopus and mussels with garlic and coriander sauce.
In in the capital city of Lisbon, don’t miss out on a trip to the Mercado da Ribeira. This vibrant market is a food lover’s paradise, featuring dozens of vendors selling everything from local cheeses to fresh seafood. There are more than 10 seafood stalls to enjoy. The most popular seafood spot that serves a mean plate of polvo à lagareiro is Sea Me, where you get octopus in a delicious preparation that involves baking the octopus with potatoes, garlic, and olive oil.
Best Lunch Experience in Portugal - Tascantiga
Perhaps the best lunch we had in Portugal was at a gem of a restaurant in the town of Sintra. I had read a few blogs and watched a video on this restaurant before we got to the country. I knew I wanted to dine there, and oh dear, I am glad we did. My cousins, the hubby, and I got to revel in the bounty that was lunch. Just after spending a couple magical hours strolling around Quinta da Regaleira, we made our way to Tascantiga, an adorably cozy, cute, and delicious restaurant in Sintra. They serve traditional petiscos , tapas, or small plates that are beautifully presented modern takes on traditional Portuguese food. Because it is tucked away at the top of a hill, it felt like a hidden treasure, and we were able to get the last table for lunch. We ended up ordering about ten plates to share. Among the treasures were a grilled portobello mushroom with arugula, smoked ham, and São Jorge cheese, fried prawns with garlic and coriander, seafood salad (shrimps, octopus, and mussels), octupus blades, “lagareiro” style, a steak sandwich with onion preserve jam and serra cheese, mushrooms with roasted vegetables, and of course beer and cider.
Best Dinner Experience in Portugal - Moinho Dom Quixote
When we were told by our host at Quinta Vale de Roca that “Donkey Shots” the bar had drinks and burgers just a 6 minute walk away from the boutique wine hotel, we did not expect the amazing experience we had at Moinho Dom Quixote in Azóia.
Fully expecting a bar with food as an afterthought, we walked the 6 minutes through dense forest hat screamed Hawaii meets Portugal meets Super Mario Brothers with the oversized succulents, trees, and plants on the Atlantic coast. When we got to “Donkey Shots” we soon learned our host was saying Dom Quixote, which is comically similarly pronounced. We entered the red gate to Moinho Dom Quixote and immediately felt a sense of calm and wonder.
Nestled in the serene countryside of Azóia, Cabo da Roca, Portugal lies an idyllic gem that is sure to transport you back in time – Moinho Dom Quixote. This old-world windmill and restaurant is a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Upon arriving at Moinho Dom Quixote, you will be greeted by the towering windmill, which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. The surrounding rolling hills are a countryside lover’s dream, with charming farmhouses and grazing animals dotting the landscape.
As you step inside the property, you will be struck by the rustic elegance of the space. The expansive outdoor space places you front and center to views high on the hills at the Western most point in Europe. The interior has been beautifully decorated with traditional Portuguese furnishings, creating an ambiance that is both cozy and sophisticated. With its exposed wooden beams and fireplace, it’s the perfect spot to curl up with a good book and soak in the peaceful surroundings while enjoying drinks and food. Or, if you’re a dog, cozy up on the beautiful tiled floor and receive scratches from the humans.
The creative menu offers delicious local products and greens from the garden. While tucked under blankets on the windmill’s outdoor terrace as the sun set, we sipped on locally made drinks, an outstanding dinner of pan fried prawns, garlic, ginger, lime, coriander and chili, a burger served on naturally fermented brioche buns (from the famous Gleba bakery), and a beautiful salad fresh from their garden. The tranquil surroundings and the gentle rustling of the windmill’s sails overhead make for a truly magical experience.
A visit to Moinho Dom Quixote is a must for anyone looking to experience the beauty and tranquility of rural Portugal. The quaint windmill, coupled with the stunning surrounding countryside, make for a dreamy escape from the stresses of everyday life and was just what we needed and wanted.
- Suggested eateries: Moinho Dom Quixote in Azoia, Cabo da Roca, Tascantiga in Sintra, Restaurant da Adraga in Adraga, Restaurante Monumental in Praia das Maçãs, Pharmacia Felcidade in Lisbon, Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau in Vila Nova de Gaia, and The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines in Lisbon
- Photography tips: 1) Natural lighting is your friend, so try to avoid irritating other diners with your flash. 2) Try to create a scene or story by altering your perspective or angles. 3) Start with a hero object or use people to make the shot more engaging.
- Language lesson: Please – por favor. Thank you – obrigada (feminine speakers) and obrigado (masculine speakers). Red wine – vinho tinto. White wine – vinho branco. Octopus – polvo.
