Arraiolos travel guide for food lovers
Arraiolos is a charming town in Portugal’s Alentejo region. Ask any Portuguese and they’ll probably tell you that Arraiolos is synonymous with typical carpets, carpete de Arraiolos, but there’s certainly much more to this lovely town than what happens under your feet.
Feat photo by Evasões
Photo by Zara Quiroga
Located about an hour and a half from Lisbon by car, Arraiolos is easily accessible for a day trip, offering a straightforward drive via the A2 and A6 motorways. Getting there by public transportation is also possible, as there are buses connecting Lisbon and Arraiolos, but we’d say that this is the type of destination that you’ll probably enjoy best by car. Not because of getting to Arraiolos in itself, but because having a car would allow you to explore other nearby areas, such as Montemor-o-Novo and scattered spots in nature, like the several megalithic sites that dot the area around Évora, including the famous Almendres Megalithic settlement (or cromlech – pictured below).
Photo by Câmara Municipal de Évora
As you arrive in Arraiolos, like it happens in many Portuguese towns and small cities, the first thing that will catch your eye is the castle atop a hill. This circular castle, with quite a unique architectural feature, was granted by King Dinis in the 13th century and it indeed dominates the landscape. The castle is now in ruins, but within its walls still lie centuries of stories waiting to be discovered, including those that revolve around the remarkable Church of Salvador, built in the 16th century. You can drive up to the castle itself starting at the centre of the town, but keep in mind that this is a small place so you could easily park your car and get everywhere walking, to better soak by the medieval vibes Arraiolos emanates.
Just a short distance from the castle is the Pousada de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, a beautifully restored convent that now serves as a luxury hotel, blending Gothic and Manueline architectural styles with a little luxury.
Photo by William Sasao
One thing you’ll inevitably do when you come to Arraiolos is to wander around its winding streets lined with traditional whitewashed houses and artisan shops showcasing the famed Arraiolos rugs and pies – more on that below. Unless you visit during the afternoon on a hot summer day, something which we wouldn’t recommend and which applies to pretty much all places in the Alentejo region, you can enjoy the quaint alleys and the slow life feeling, as you browse colorful handicrafts or simply marvel at the monuments and sites you come across.
Photo by William Sasao
Beyond architecture and history, the famous Arraiolos rugs are perhaps what the town is most celebrated for. These tapestries are a symbol of Arraiolos which are recognized all over the country, and are one of Portugal’s most significant handicrafts, dating back to the 16th century. The colorful designs are a fusion of several cultural influences, including Moorish, Persian and Portuguese. The process of making an Arraiolos rug is intricate and labor-intensive, involving meticulous hand embroidery on canvas to create various traditional patterns, full of symbolism and meaning. The dyes and threads used have naturally evolved over the centuries but have for the most part maintained the vibrant color palette that makes these rugs so distinctive. Originally, the artisans in Arraiolos were predominantly women, who passed down their skills from generation to generation.
Photo by Diário do Sul
Today, visitors can explore this rich tapestry heritage at the Centro Interpretativo do Tapete de Arraiolos (Interpretive Center of Arraiolos Carpet, Praça do Município 19), housed in the beautifully restored old hospital building right in the town’s center. This center displays a variety of historical and contemporary Arraiolos rugs while giving good historical context about the evolution in rug-making in the region. For those interested in seeing more of this craft, the town often hosts exhibitions and events, especially during the O Tapete está na Rua festival, which translates to “The Rug is on the Street.” During this event which takes place in June, the streets of Arraiolos come alive with displays of these magnificent rugs, transforming the town into a vibrant gallery under the open sky.
If you are a nature lover, the area around Arraiolos won’t disappoint either, as there are lots to do around here. One of the highlights is for sure the Almendres Megalithic Settlement (HW5Q+2G2, Nossa Sra. de Guadalupe), a fascinating Neolithic complex that provides a unique glimpse into ancient human history amidst natural settings, which we have mentioned above. This site, about a 30 minutes drive from Arraiolos, is one of the largest groupings of megalithic structures in Europe, allowing visitors to explore numerous stone circles and menhirs that have stood for thousands of years.
Photo by Touraventur
For those looking to enjoy the serene beauty of the Alentejo countryside, the Divor Dam presents a perfect spot. This dam and its reservoir are popular for picnics, bird watching, and peaceful walks in nature. Additionally, the newly constructed Passadiço de Arraiolos (N370 7040, Arraiolos) offers another way to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. This wooden walkway meanders through the picturesque landscapes near the town, providing safe and accessible paths for walking and cycling. It’s an ideal way to spend a day outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and the panoramic views of the Alentejo region. You can find more information about trails around Arraiolos here.
Photo by William Sasao
No matter what you’ll end up doing, you will need to eat and recharge at some point during your visit to Arraiolos. This is a fantastic town where you can enjoy traditional Alentejo food, characterized by Mediterranean influences where olive oil, bread, and wine are staple ingredients. The town is particularly famous for its empada de Arraiolos, an individual savory pie most typically featuring a filling of shredded chicken, but that can include various fillings such as duck, Portuguese cured and smoked meats, and even vegetables. Vegetarians and those who do not eat pork should keep in mind that, traditionally, the dough is made with pork lard, so even if they advertise “vegetable pie”, this actually refers to the filling, as most likely there would still be animal fat in the dough. If you’ll truly like to indulge in Arraiolos pies, there’s no better time to visit than during the Festival da Empada, a food fair dedicated to this speciality, which usually takes place between October and November.
Photo by Zara Quiroga
If you do like to eat meat though, the regional cuisine will present you with comforting recipes made not just with pork, particularly the Iberian black pig (porco preto) the area is known for, but also lamb (borrego). Throughout the year, Arraiolos hosts several weeks dedicated to various meat specialties, organizing tasting events and entertainment to attract tourists and to indulge locals as well. The exact dates may vary but you can expect that several weeks in June are dedicated to veal, while February is all about pork, Abril is lamb and, in August, during the scorching heat of the summer, in contrast, Arraiolos is devoted to local soups, celebrating the Semanas das Sopas Alentejanas.
Photo by William Sasao
On the sweet side, once can’t travel to Arraiolos and miss its pastéis de toucinho, a unique pastry made with pork fat and lots of egg yolks, following the Portuguese conventual sweets tradition, as well as other regional confections such as nógados, made with fried dough featuring flour, eggs and olive oil; and the cavacas, light and airy cakes, also prepared with olive oil (see picture below).
Photo by CM Arraiolos
As with great food one needs good wine, you’ll be happy to know that the local wine culture is thriving around Arraiolos. In fact, Alentejo is one of Portugal’s most prolific wine regions. If you are looking to engage in enotourism activities [inserir link para novo artigo sobre enoturismo], you can visit several cellars near Arraiolos (see below), to learn more about the region’s viniculture through guided tours that will allow you a glimpse into Portuguese winemaking, as well as partake curated tastings.
Now that you have an idea about what should definitely be on your table when you go eat out in this town, let’s explore the best restaurants in Arraiolos:
Best Portuguese food restaurants in Arraiolos
Tasquinha da Vila
Let’s start our list of typical restaurants in Arraiolos with this quaint spot that embodies the charm of small-town Portuguese dining. Run by a lovely couple, at Tasquinha da Vila everything is made from scratch: the wife is in charge of the kitchen, while the husband waits tables with such warmth and familiarity, that you’ll immediately feel at home. This homely feel is complemented by a rustic decor and a menu of home style dishes that are delicious and great value for money too. You’ll come across authentic preparations of Iberian pork meat like secretos and plumas, usually served with migas, a savory bread pudding typically enriched with either coriander, wild asparagus (when in season) and olive oil. Desserts at Tasquinha da Vila offer a journey through Alentejo’s sweet traditions with an array of ancient conventual recipes, as well as more contemporary options like lemon meringue pie or coffee pudding.
📍N370 12-16, 7040-040 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/people/Tasquinha-da-Vila/100089760335908
Photo by Tasquinha da Vila on Facebook
O Alpendre
Right in the heart of Arraiolos, next to the town’s main church, you’ll come across O Alpendre, a truly great ambassador of traditional Alentejo cuisine. While they prepare many dishes which pay homage to the region’s flavors, the special emphasis is put on pork and lamb recipes. Standouts include the grilled lamb chops (costeletas de borrego grelhadas) or the thin and succulent cuts of Iberian black pork, served with migas. For a taste of Alentejo style comfort food you may want to try the lamb stew (ensopado de borrego), still prepared according to traditional cooking methods that have been perfected over generations. Your meal at O Alpendre can be complemented by a thoughtful selection of wines, housed in an impressive cellar visible upon entry. As dessert is no less important when having a good main dish, they offer a selection of traditional desserts, mostly rich and decadent, including local specialities like pastel de toucinho or cinnamony sericaia.
📍Bairro Serpa Pinto 22 7040, 7040-014 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/p/Restaurante-Alpendre-100057607271231
Photo by O Alpendre on Facebook
República do Petisco
Petiscos are essentially the Portuguese version of tapas, small dishes meant for sharing and tasting a variety of local flavors in a single meal. At República do Petisco in Arraiolos, as the name clearly anticipates, petiscos are the stars of the menu. We’re talking things like local cheeses and cured meats, as well as cooked items like tender cuts of beef and Alentejano pork in savory sauce with pickles (pica-pau), scrambled eggs with farinheira sausage (ovos com farinheira), eggs with green asparagus (ovos com espargos) and even Spanish inspired broken fried eggs on fried potatoes with ham (ovos rotos), nodding to the neighbouring country that, after all, isn’t that far away. If you’d like to enjoy something more robust, República do Petisco also prepares excellent main dishes from the local traditional recipe repertoire. If you enjoy meat, try the local beef with protected denomination of origin (Carne Mertolenga DOP), the mixed platter with several cuts of Iberian black pork (mista de porco preto), or an even more comforting lamb roast (assado de borrego). If you aren’t familiar with the concept of pijaminha de sobremesas, this is the place to change that. When you are unsure of what to order for dessert, some traditional restaurants in Portugal will prepare you a platter with small servings of various desserts. Here at República do Petisco this means you’ll be able to taste sweets like farófias (a traditional dessert made from whipped egg whites, that is, the Portuguese version of poached meringues), cookies and buttercream cake (bolo de bolacha), sericaia (a typical Alentejo dessert with cinnamon and preserved plums, usually from nearby Elvas), and more.
📍Praça da República 6, 7040-026 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/p/Rep%C3%BAblica-do-Petisco-100038880295434
Photo by Evasões
República da Empada
República da Empada is a sister establishment to the renowned República do Petisco, mentioned above. This eatery specializes in lighter meals, focusing particularly on the traditional empada as the name clearly indicates (it translates as The Empada Republic). Here, pies come with a wide variety of fillings, from chicken to duck, pork and vegetables. Their pies have deliciously flaky pastry and generous fillings. However, it’s important for diners to note that the dough for all empadas includes pork lard, which means even the vegetable empadas aren’t strictly vegetarian. Lard is indeed what gives the pies their authentic taste and texture, though. The ambiance of República da Empada adds to its appeal. República da Empada has a simple but cozy interior and a welcoming patio. It’s a great spot to observe the local life unfolding as you enjoy a meal which is indeed representative of the local food culture, without breaking the bank. Besides the pies, they also serve a selection of hot dishes and traditional conventual pastries, always made inhouse. Each pastry is small enough that you might find yourself tempted to try more than one.
📍Praça do Município 6, 7040-027 Arraiolos
www.instagram.com/republica.da.empada
Photo by William Sasao
O Gingão
Situated in one of the most picturesque squares in Arraiolos, O Gingão occupies the site of the former café Diana, right across from República da Empada. Just like the other business above, they also proudly display an old sign on the wall announcing the “Special Manufacture of Empadas”, a label that the local authorities grant to the eateries which do a good job representing the local tradition of pie making, according to the original recipe. Empadas are indeed one of the focal points of O Gingão, but this restaurant’s menu is more diverse than that, featuring a wide range of regional and national dishes, available at any time of the day. The restaurant is known for its authentic Alentejo cuisine, with daily menus that offer great value for money and feature dishes like black pork cheeks (bochechas de porco preto), dogfish soup (sopa de cação), and Iberian pork “feathers” (that is plumas, the name of one of the most popular cuts of this type of meat), with tomato migas. Here the food is as authentic as it comes, of high quality, and all of this tastes even better thanks to the warm and friendly service of O Gingão.
📍Praça do Município 23, 7040-027 Arraiolos
Photo by Paulo A on TripAdvisor
A Moagem
Going to eat at A Moagem is like going to eat at your Grandma’s home… well, if your Grandma was Alentejana! Everything here is reminiscent of home-cooked meals, with a sense of nostalgia that can be tasted in some of the restaurant’s signature dishes like Alentejo style tomato soup (sopa de tomate), the succulent pork chops glazed with wine and honey, or the humble but delicious açorda Alentejana, which consists on a serving of garlic and coriander broth served atop thick slices of rustic Alentejano bread, complemented with an egg poached on the broth. The restaurant is managed by a husband and wife team. Mr. João Maria takes excellent care of guests with his attentive service, while Mrs. Natália creates magic in the kitchen. Together, they provide an unforgettable dining experience that will help create memories during your trip to Arraiolos.
📍Rua da Fábrica 2, 7040-037 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/people/Restaurante-A-Moagem/100067905043857
Photo by A Moagem on Facebook
Best bakeries and pastry shops in Arraiolos
Pastelaria Espiga D’Ouro
This traditional pastry shop is known for its wonderful array of typical Portuguese pastries, including the local specialty pastel de toucinho. This sweet treat, known for its rich texture and distinctive flavor profile, carries a subtle hint of lard, traditional in many Portuguese desserts, particularly in the Alentejo region. Beyond its specialty, Pastelaria Espiga D’Ouro offers the typical experience most Portuguese pastelarias would. On the sweet side of things these include options like creamy pastéis de nata or bean and almond tarts. This pastelaria is also an ideal place for a traditional Portuguese breakfast, featuring coffee, pastries, sandwiches, or toast in an unpretentious setting, most likely amongst locals. Visit Espira D’Ouro and live the essence of Portuguese café culture!
📍Rua Lima e Brito n 3, 7040-060 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/p/Pastelaria-Espiga-DOuro-100049203656211
Photo by Andrelianeto on TripAdvisor
Pastelaria O Toucinho
Just like in Lisbon it is customary for visitors to try more than one pastel de nata, to compare and contrast – and join in the local debate of which one is indeed the best! – in Arraiolos the equivalent would be to sample multiple pastéis de toucinho. Here, these typical treats are available in both small individual sizes, called pastéis, and larger family-sized tarts known as pastelão. Pastéis de toucinho are crafted from a dough of flour, egg yolk, and butter, filled with a rich mixture of ground pork fat, almonds, egg yolks, sugar, and cinnamon, baked to perfection in order to be the sweet symbol of Arraiolos which they have certainly become. No matter where you have lunch in Arraiolos, we’d recommend coming to Pastelaria O Toucinho for an after meal espresso and a sweet pastry. If you are too full after indulging in one of Alentejo’s traditional meals, you may want to save this opportunity for later, when the craving for something sugary strikes as it often does, as these pastries aren’t exactly on the lighter side.
📍Largo 25 de Abril 4 A, 7040-016 Arraiolos
www.facebook.com/Pastelaria.Toucinho
Photo by Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses
Degust’Arte
This is a casual pastry shop and snack bar, perfect for either a coffee and a sweet treat, or a typical Portuguese savory snack, such as the famed Arraiolos empada (with chicken, duck or game meats). If the weather allows, we recommend sitting out on the terrace, which provides a pleasant setting where you can relax and soak up the town’s ambiance. Degust’Arte has a similar menu to other pastelarias in Arraiolos, featuring typical Portuguese pastries as well as regional recipes once upon a time developed by nuns in convents. The quality of the food is good, the prices are fair and the service is friendly, turning this café into a wonderful choice in Arraiolos.
📍Praça do Município 1, 7040-027 Arraiolos
www.instagram.com/degust.artepastelaria
Photo by Degust’Arte on Facebook
Aqui Há Pão
Aqui Há Pão is the largest chain of bread stores in Alentejo, with a network of 18 locations, including a presence in Arraiolos and even across the border in Badajoz, Spain, under the name Padaria Alentejana. This franchise offers a wide array of products ranging from savory pastries and sweet treats to its standout selection of bread. Amongst the many products which are a part of their catalogue, we find the bola de Elvas, an individual bread bun akin to a carcaça, and the pão dos frades, with a blend of wheat and rye. As one would naturally expect around here, the classic rustic Alentejo loaves are also available. A notable aspect of Aqui há Pão is that they sell truly vegetarian pies (empadas de vegetais). These pies are crafted with plant-based fat instead of traditional lard, making them a fully vegetarian option that doesn’t compromise on the authentic taste that customers expect from these uber typical baked goods from Arraiolos.
📍Rua Lima e Brito 2, 7040-037 Arraiolos
Photo by Aqui Há Pão
Vineyards near Arraiolos which organize tours and tastings
Ravasqueira
Ravasqueira is a very popular wine brand recognized across Portugal as a symbol of the Alentejo region. Since 2015, the vineyard has been distinguished by TripAdvisor with its Certificate of Excellence, reflecting its commitment to quality and the positive feedback it consistently receives from visitors who come over for enotourism experiences. The vineyard has also garnered international accolades, such as the Wine Tourism Awards from Drinks International magazine, further being named the second-best Visitor Center in 2014, receiving awards for the Best Educational Experience in 2015, and the Best Tasting in 2016 as recognized by the Guide to Vineyards in Portugal, a popular publication in the Brazilian market. Ravasqueira offers a range of wine tasting experiences that cater to different preferences and budgets, from introductory sessions to premium tastings. These tastings provide an opportunity to explore the vineyard’s diverse portfolio, showcasing the unique qualities of each varietal and blends crafted on the estate. In addition to traditional wine tastings, Ravasqueira has embraced wine tourism with its nature-focused tours led by a biologist. These tours explore the natural cycles of the vineyard’s ecosystem, offering guests an educational and immersive experience in the beautiful surroundings of the estate, which can be complemented with additional wine tastings.
📍Monte da Ravasqueira, 7040-121 Arraiolos
https://ravasqueira.com/enoturismo
Photo by Portugal by Wine
Tapada de Coelheiros
Located in the tranquil setting of Igrejinha, Arraiolos, Tapada de Coelheiros is a vineyard which offers a comprehensive enotourism experience. If you’re looking to learn more about winemaking, but also appreciate the beauty of sustainable agriculture, you’ll be happy to know that this estate is committed to organic and regenerative farming practices, with its vineyards part of a larger mosaic that includes cork oaks, olive trees, walnut trees, pines, and a variety of other species that coexist in a balanced ecosystem. This commitment to biodiversity is not only evident in the landscape but also in the quality of the wines produced. Visitors to Tapada de Coelheiros can enjoy tours across the vast 800-hectare property, where they will encounter sheep, deer, a variety of bird species, hares, and rabbits, all contributing to the ecological harmony of the area. For an additional cost, a jeep tour of the estate can be added to any wine tasting option. You will see firsthand how the vineyard’s commitment to nature extends beyond grape cultivation. When it comes to wine tastings, options at Tapada de Coelheiros range from casual samplings to more structured experiences, even with the possibility of enjoying lunch at their “Taco Shelter”, which is perched at a scenic high point on the property, providing a breathtaking backdrop.
📍Tapada de Coelheiros, 7040-202 Igrejinha
Photo by Winedering
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