TRAVEL & WINE EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD
Published 11 Aug 2024
Lisbon. Portugal
Its all about the Wines. Food. Cocktails. Vine. Places.
Portugal is probably the most unexplored country with medieval castles, cobblestone villages, captivating cities. Join us as we explore the capital city of Portugal from local food and great wines. Photo by Andreas M
Dining with Wines.
Here's some of our top recommendations in the capital of Portugal.
Taberna Da Rua Das Flores
Taberna Da Rua Das Flores | Tasca Típica - On a quiet one-way street in the lively Bairro do Chiado, there’s André Magalhães’ Taberna da Rua das Flores. A traditional Portuguese “Tasca” serving traditional North and South Portuguese Cuisine. Full wine list, no reservations, 20mins-1hour of queuing but they offer pre-drinks while waiting. Cash only.
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Rua das Flores 103, 1200-194, Chaido
Photo from Facebook
A Muralha
A Muralha | Tasca Típica - One of the down to earth restaurants serving traditional Portuguese cuisine, often busy, with a whole lot of wines on menu.
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R. Jardim do Tabaco 112, 1100-139, Alfama
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​https://www.facebook.com/tascatipica
Photo from Facebook
O Velho Eurico
O Velho Eurico | Casual dining space serving classic regional dishes. Local wines on menu paired with good food and friendly staff. Quite busy. Tip, make a reservation at least 3 days before or waitlist yourself when you get there.
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Largo São Cristóvão nº3, 1100-179 Baixa de Lisboa
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https://www.instagram.com/ovelhoeurico
Photo from Instagram
Sem Restaurant & Wine Bar
Sem Restaurant & Wine Bar | Lara is from Brazil and George is from New Zealand, together they founded this restaurant with a focus on zero waste innovation and a close relationship with the farmers. Awarded with the most sustainable restaurant in Portugal. Sommelier Baptiste hails from France is a world knowledge of wines. Tasting menu starts from 72Eur and walk-in is welcome.
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R. das Escolas Gerais 120, 1100-220 , Alfama
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Photo from Instagram/restaurant.sem
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Bars. Cocktails.
Lisbon is known for its bar vibes along with some of the best bars in the world.
Quattro Teste
Quattro Teste | Owners Alf and Marta fuse Basque and Italian flavors with great finesse. Check out their take on the famous Kalimotxo, plus pintxos and Basque sidra that earns the accolade on the World's Best Bar Discovery list.
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R. São Cristóvão 32, 1100-177 Baixa de Lisboa
https://linktr.ee/quattro.teste
Photo from The World 50 Best Discovery
Monkey Mash
Monkey Mash | A modern tropical bar in Lisbon. Fun and Chic.
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Praça da Alegria 66 B, 1250-004 Lisboa
Photo from Facebook/monkeymashlx
Fado. Traditional Music.
Wine and Music. The feelings, the heartbreak, the conquests and the longing for someone. Here's some of our top recommendations.
Parreirinha Alfama
Parreirinha Alfama | One of the oldest Fado taberna since 1939 that has witnessed many Fado singers and musicians and play host to the late Amália Rodrigues, the queen of fado. Cash only. Dinner and Show 60eur per person. Call to confirm on the day itself.
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Beco do Espírito Santo 1, 1100-222 Alfama
https://www.parreirinhadealfama.com/
Photo from Facebook
Tasca do Chico
There's 2 locations for Tasca do Chico. Order the chouriço assado, flame-grilled pork sausage served on a clay dish paired with rustic bread and wines while enjoying the Fado singers.
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R. do Diário de Notícias 39, 1200-141 Bairro Alto
451, R. dos Remédios 83, 1100-443 Alfama
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Mesa de Frades
Mesa de Frades | This is an iconic stop on the “Fado route” in this former chapel of the D Rosa Palace full of 18th-century tiles. Renowned Fado singers, as well as singers from the new generation of fadistas perform every night. Book in for the dinner and fado show. Alternatively, you can go there after 11pm to hear singers perform.
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R. dos Remédios 139, 1100-453 Alfama
​https://mesadefrades.pt/en/
Photo from Facebook/mesadefradeslisboa​
The Wines Varietals.
Portugal is home to over 250 native wine varietals. Here's a few of them you will see in most of the restaurants and wine bars. Photo by Getty Images/Alicante Bouschet
​The Whites in Single Varietals or Blends.
Alvarinho
Commonly from the Vinho Verde region, full-bodied, subtly fragrant with aromas of peach, lemon, passion fruit, lychee, orange zest, jasmin, orange blossom and lemon balm. The wines are delicious young and sometimes can present a bit of bubbly in Vinho Verde fashion.
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Fernão Pires / Maria Gomes
One of Portugal's most planted grapes all over Portugal particularly in the regions in Tejo, Lisboa and Bairrada. Scents of lime, lemon, roses and other flowers, tangerines, oranges.
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Antão Vaz
The most prized varieties of the Alentejo. Firm, full-bodied, it has aromas of ripe tropical fruits, tangerine peel and something mineral, along with good structure and crisp acidity.
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The Reds in Single Varietal or Blends
Touriga Nacional
Planted almost everywhere in Portugal, this is the national grape of Portugal with different interpretations with each regional where it's planted. The skins are rich in colour and tannins, giving excellent structure and ageing capacity with intense flavours, floral and fruity - ripe blackcurrants, raspberries with hints of herbs and liquorice.
Aragonez
As known as the Spanish grape Tempranillo and spelled either as Aragonez or Aragonês in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal.
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Alicante Bouschet
The variety is a crossing of Petit Bouschet and Grenache, and was first cultivated by viticulturalist Henri Bouschet in 1866. With lots of aging and intense flavours, it's dark concentrated black fruits aromas changes from berries, rustic, stewed beetroot, plum to a floral, spice supported by silky tannins.
Wine Regions of Portugal
With over 1-3 hours by car or train, it's accessible to visit some of the neighboring wine regions that's a stone throw away. Wine Region Map by Wine of Portugal
From Vines to Wines.
These are some of the best or unique wines from neighboring regions. Do check them out in the restaurants or take a visit to the wineries thats 1-3hours from Lisbon. Map by Winefolly.com
Lisboa
Just 40km north of Lisboa is a region with a century-long tradition and expression of a special terroir in Lisbon Wine Region.
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Located in the village of Janas, in the municipal of Sintra, just 20mins from Lisbon. Fresh, crisp, mineral wines. ​​​
Setubal
Filipe Cardoso succeeded from his family business in the area of Palmela, making extraordinary wines in this peninsular of Setubal.
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Barraida
The Pato family has been producing wines since the 18th Century. Luis Pato is the godfather of the grape varietal Baga which is the signature grape of this region.
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Vinho Verde
Anselmo Mendes is the most talked about when you mention the region Vinho Verde. His wines are excellence showcase of the region.
Alentejo
Built in 1901, the winery produces one of the best examples of Alicante Bouschet in Alentejo with extensive restoration to the vineyard by Iain Reynolds Richardson, the 6th generation of the Reynolds family. ​
One of the finest wine producers that nature intended. ​
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A group of friends came together to make really good Amphorae Wines, keeping the traditions of amphora winemaking alive.
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Douro
Sister and Brother winemakers, Joana and António Maçanita are contemporary winemakers, discovering the diversity of the terroir of the Douro Valley in its purest form.
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Winemaker Sandra Tavares & Jorge Serôdio, two of the most celebrated winemakers in Portugal wanted to showcase the traditional varieties of the Douro Valley on an international scale. Their label includes Manoella, Pintas, Guru, Porto.​
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Shares a long heritage with Donna Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, one of the foremothers of the biggest landowner in Douro during her time. One of the finest wines from the region of Douro.
Places that interests us.
Have a few days to spare ? Take a 1-2hours train ride to some of these places.
Sintra.
Palace of Pena. Photo@travel.somm | From Sintra train station, you will take 2 different types of buses that will take you on top to Palace grounds. 2hours from Lisbon. https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/​​
Cascais.
Portuguese Riveria. Photo by passionandpassport | 1hour from Lisbon to the beautiful beaches. ​
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Traditional. Portuguese.
These are some of the must try cuisine while in Portugal.
Portuguese Egg Tarts
Manteigaria
One of the highly recommended by pastry chefs from all over the world. Several locations in Lisbon.
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Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa, Portugal
Map​
Pastéis de Belém
The original Portuguese egg tart since 1837. Don't be put off by the long queues as they move quite fast if you dine in.
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R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal
Map​
Bacalhau Salted Cod Fish
Traditional Portuguese Salted Codfish
There are more than 365 ways to cook Bacalhau, one for every day of the year.
Here's some of classic dishes that you will see on menu, all over Portugal. Photo from Tuga Singapore
Pasteis/ Pataniscas de Bacalhau
Shredded Codfish Cakes mixed with Potato and fried
Bacalhau a Bras
Shreds of bacalhau with onions and chopped fried pototes with scrambled eggs
Casserole of bacalhau, potatoes, eggs, olives, olive oil and onions​
Bacalhau à Lagareiro
Classic Grilled Codfish
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Bacalhau com Natas
Baked Casserole of codfish layered with onions, diced fried potatoes and cream
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Bacalhau à Narcisa
Fried codfish with onions and peppers, cooked with spices and olive oil
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Pica Pau
Pica Pau | Stir-fried beef or pork marinated in a garlic wine sauce accompanied with pickled vegetables. The sourness from the pickles and the garlic wine sauce is so delicious that one can soak it up with bread. Traditionally eaten with toothpick, hence the translation Pica Pau ; Wood Pecker. Photo from portugalia.com.mo
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Resources.
For your trip to Lisbon
Here's some of the resources to help you plan for your next trip to Portugal. This article is dedicated to the awesome Wines of Portugal.
Stay.
Airbnb
Duplex in the heart of Alfama.
Great location in the area of Alfama. Best host. Old part of town with old cobble stairs.
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This hotel pays tribute to Portuguese artists within the design of the hotel, centrally located near the Moorish Quarter with 2mins walk to Metro station Intendente.
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Wine.
Wines of Portugal - A great guide to the Wine Regions of Portugal.
​https://www.winesofportugal.com/en/
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Map of Wine Regions in Portugal - Wine Folly's Guide to the Wine Regions of Portugal.
https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-wines-to-drink-from-portugal-by-region/
Watch.
V is for Vino - Travel Portugal .
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Things to do.
Janz Anto-Lago - Video Blogger - In Mood for Sintra
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Curated.
Jorge is from Lisbon
He is a former international Cabin Crew.
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Pete is based in London.
He works as an international Cabin Crew and is a Professional Sommelier.
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JJ is based in Sydney
He works as a Business First Cabin Crew and is a Professional Sommelier and teaches hospitality.
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Special Thanks.
Wines of Portugal.
Joey Mayton. Fatso Somm. Singapore.
Jorge Nunes. Symington Asia.
Embassy of Portugal, Australia
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