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Lisbon Cultural Information and Guide

Food and drink

Portuguese food has regional variations, but seafood is nearly always on the menu. The principal speciality to look out for is bacalhau; dried, salted cod.
This is Portugal’s national dish, dating back to the 16th century and there are said to be 365 different techniques of preparation; one for each day of the year.

Many seafood restaurants display a full range of shellfish, such as lobster, shrimp, crab. The arroz de marisco is the perfect rice dish for sampling them all.
Grilled sardines and mackerel are popular, while Caldeirada, a stew of mixed fish, is also worth trying.
Another favourite is cozido à portuguesa, a vegetable stew made with different meat, mainly pork. Roast pig, leitão assado is fairly popular, along with sausages such as chouriço or linguiça.

Breakfast is usually coffee and a roll or pastry, but lunch is a bigger affair, often lasting up to two hours. It is served anytime between noon and 3pm, and dinner is generally served late at night. There are usually three courses, often including soup. Look out for the caldo verde, a delicious soup with potato, cabbage and sausage.

Portuguese wine has, in recent years, been earning increasing recognition worldwide.

One of the pleasures of dining in Lisbon, is the great selection of high-quality, locally produced wine, such as the Dão table wines, the Buçaco, or the Ribatejo.

Of course, Portugal’s most famous export is Port. Produced at the Douro River vineyards, it originates in Porto, but it is widely available and appreciated throughout Portugal.

Shopping in Lisbon

Lisbon is Western Europe's least expensive capital, and the specialist artisan shops in the Baixa are a nice change from its shopping malls; Colombo and El Corte Inglés.

The nicest bargains are leather and handmade goods, as well as Lisbon’s famous hand-painted tiles or embroidery. Portuguese gold, at 19.2 karats, is a great investment.

Avenida da Liberdade has top designer stores, while shopping in the Bairro Alto or Chiado districts will get you some original and unique bargains by Lisbon designers.

The Chiado area also has luxury brand boutiques, as well as high street stores and a variety of old traditional stores. The unique interior design stores at Principe Real are not to be missed.

For fresh produce, try the colourful Ribeira Market, while the Feira da Ladra in Alfama sells just about everything, from antique mosaic to socks, on a Tuesday or Saturday morning.

How to tip in Lisbon

Hospitality wages are low in Lisbon, so you can be sure that your contribution will be appreciated. In restaurants, 10% of the bill is a standard courtesy.

Lisbon nightlife

Lisbon is known as one of Europe's best cities for nightlife, with a range of clubs, bars and live music venues, catering for all tastes.
Locals have a long dinner and then bar-hop for hours, so clubs are usually empty until after 2am. Some club entrances are low-key and you must ring a buzzer at the door to get in.

Bairro Alto is Lisbon's undisputed area for nightlife. After midnight crowds gather around small bars. With a great mix of people, a night in Bairro Alto usually lasts until morning, when it’s recommended to take a walk further up to Principe Real, for spectacular early morning views of the city.

For clubs, try the Baixa and Belém districts or the docklands by Santa Apolonia train station.

Fado houses are a type of tavern found all over Lisbon.
Fado (meaning destiny or fate) is a music genre which can be traced back to the 1820’s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. It is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor.

The two main varieties of Fado come from Lisbon and Coimbra. The Lisbon style is the most popular, while Coimbra's is a more refined style. Modern fado is popular in Portugal, and has produced many renowned musicians. According to tradition, to applaud fado in Lisbon you clap your hands, in Coimbra you cough as if clearing your throat.

20th century fado performances included only a singer, a Portuguese guitar player and a classical guitar player but modern variations range from singer and string quartet to full orchestra.

Enjoy Lisbon

Lisbon is not a dangerous city but please watch your belongings. Like most big cities, Lisbon has its share of pickpockets and bag snatchers.
Don't take valuables with you when you don’t have to; leave them in a safe place in your apartment.
If you’re at a café, bar or restaurant, keep your personal items at hand; a mobile phone left on the table or your handbag out of eyesight under your seat may attract unwanted opportunists. Be aware in crowded places such as on public transport or in a busy bar.

Small precautions like these will help to avoid any unhappy moments in such a breathtaking city.