A Foodie’s Guide to Lisbon: 9 Must-Trys, Lisbon, Portugal

Perhaps surprisingly, I didn’t have high expectations of Lisbon. Not that I thought I wouldn’t like it, mind you - I had just done zero research about the city. I’d not even googled photos of the place. I was over there for the wedding - everything else was just bonus material as far as I was concerned. And with no idea what Lisbon would look like, or even what the food scene would be over there, it was possibly the perfect starting point. I drank in the sights and sounds and scents of the City of the Seven Hills like a child - with rapt attention. Here’s what I learnt along the way…

1. Pastel de Nata at Manteigaria - Ok, so this was possibly the only expectation I did have: those little custard tarts. And while everyone raves about them in Belém, the queues there are apparently round the block. So instead, and if you’re staying more centrally, go to Manteigaria for your custard tart fix: they bake them tirelessly for 16 hours a day, and ring a bell by the door every time a new batch comes out of the oven (which is roughly every 10 minutes). Needless to say, I tried a few different varieties while I was in Lisbon, and those from Manteigaria were by far the best.

2. Salt cod and eggs at Fabulas - the Portuguese seem to absolutely love their bacalhau (salt cod) and I’d never entirely understood the attraction. That is, until I tried a very simple dish at restaurant Fabulas, which is more or less a mixture of scrambled eggs, salt cod and potato. It’s buttery but not too rich, seasoned but not too salty, and ultimately comforting. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).