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  Óbidos is one of those names that inevitably shows up on suggestions of the best day trips from Lisbon, and lists highlighting “most beautiful Portuguese villages”. Even though it has become quite touristy as travelers’ influx to the Portuguese capital has increased in recent years, Óbidos’ hype is still justified. This fortified medieval town,…

  In Portugal, olive oil is perhaps the one ingredient that holds the entire country’s cooking together. It would be virtually impossible to ask a Portuguese cook to work without it. If you’ve ever wondered why Portuguese food tastes so rich despite its simplicity, the answer often lies in olive oil. Long before other parts…

  Fado is Lisbon’s most iconic sound. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, this music genre was born in the city’s oldest neighborhoods and has grown into a symbol of Portuguese identity. It’s often linked with saudade, a very Portuguese feeling that is somewhat a mix of longing and nostalgia. But saying that Fado…

  Whether you are in an apartment in the centre of Lisbon, a farmhouse in the Alentejo, or a family home in the Azores, when you go into a Portuguese kitchen, there’s a familiar set of ingredients that are usually sitting in the pantry and the fridge. A bottle of olive oil is a given,…

  Portugal eats a lot of fish. In fact, we are one of the countries in the world that consumes fish the most and, when you visit Portugal, you’ll quickly notice how fish is such an important part of Portuguese food culture. That is noticeable in markets, in home kitchens, and especially in the way…

  One of the first things anyone visiting Portugal would notice is that we take food very seriously. Not in a pretentious or fancy kind of way (even though there are plenty of fine dining restaurants worth exploring in Lisbon and beyond the capital), but in the sense that, here, food is tied to everything….

  If while in Lisbon you crave a slower and quieter kind of day, we would recommend heading to Évora. This city in the Alentejo region is located just 130km east of the capital and it offers a very different experience, particularly appealing for those into gastronomy, wines, culture and history. Since 1986, Évora has…

  Until just a few generations ago, shopping for groceries in Lisbon was almost a daily affair. People stopped by the local market, greeted the fishmonger by name, and carried fresh ingredients home for that day’s lunch. There were no freezers stuffed with meal preps for the entire week, nor impulse buys of vegan cheese…

  A pastelaria defies easy classification. It’s not quite a café, although you can sit down with a cup of coffee and linger as long as you like. It’s not exactly a bakery either, though the counter is stacked with typically Portuguese pastries. And calling it a snack bar or lunch joint misses the point…

  If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers tascas over tourist traps, then you should consider Moita as the destination for your next day trip from Lisbon. If you’re in the Portuguese capital, this laid-back town is on the south bank on the Tagus river. Visiting offers an insight into everyday Portugal, complete with…

  Portugal is one of Europe’s biggest rice lovers. We’re not just saying that because we adore rice recipes, whether it’s as a main dish or as a side; we literally are the Europe continent’s largest consumers, eating more rice per capita than most countries on this side of the world. To be more precise,…

  We’ve all been there. One minute you’re clinking glasses of ginjinha in Alfama, or saying “just one more” to that deceptively smooth vinho verde… and the next morning you wake up feeling like the bells of Lisbon’s cathedral are ringing inside your skull. Lisbon has a way of seducing you into a longer night…