Food paradise: Mercado da Ribeira
Sampling food at Lisbon’s largest market
Built in 1882, the elegant Mercado da Ribeira stands right across from the Cais do Sodré train station. Lisbon’s largest food market is a paradise for gourmands. Browse the stalls for salted cod, live octopus and tiny snails in large nets - all the ingredients for a delicious meal can be found here. In the afternoon and evening you can also sample various dishes as dozens of stands serve up their specialties. There is plenty of room under the wrought-iron roof with 500 seats inside and another 250 seats on the patio.
Taste of Lisboa Mouraria Food Tour
A culinary tour through Mouraria
The Taste of Lisboa Food Tour is more expensive than the competition, but one of their culinary tours of Lisbon takes visitors off the beaten track to the multicultural neighbourhood of Mouraria. In groups of no more than 10 people, you will enjoy a 3.5 hour walking tour through winding alleys, steps and narrow streets, guided by a knowledgeable local. The tour will stop at 6 different delis, restaurants and tascas to sample local specialties and Portuguese wines. Get ready for a long and enjoyable walking lunch. This culinary tour costs 56 euro, including food and beverages.
Become a Portuguese top chef
If sampling ingredients and tasting local dishes has whetted your appetite for learning how to prepare typical Portuguese delicacies, consider taking one of the many cooking classes on offer in Lisbon. Try Cooking Lisbon, where a group of up to 14 people learns how to prepare a traditional 3-course meal using only fresh ingredients. The cooking class runs from 6:00-10:00 pm. After preparing all the food, the group sits down to eat their creations with a good glass of wine. This costs 65 euro, including food and beverages.