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It was the final day of our weekend in Lisbon and instead of paying for breakfast at our hotel in Saldanha, we decided to walk to a nearby spot that is highly recommended for brunch in Lisbon - Hygge Kafe.
Hygge Kaffe VibeImmediately loved the vibe of this place from the green and white awning... 
Hygge Kaffe Lisbon | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review Blog
.... To the artsy, floral table .... 
Cute painted tables | Hygge Kaffe Review
... to the thoughtfully designed napkins ...
The napkins read:
At Hygge, we thrive on the scent of cinnamon, we gather around waffles and/or cakes with mugs of hot coffee, sharing stories, the simple pleasures, a hot cocoa, board games, books and laughter. A haven of joy, the spirit of coziness weaving through, making it a warm and inviting home for all." Love. 
Even the napkins are heartwarming at hygge cafe in lisbon
... to the charming tiled buildings within your gaze.... 
Lisbon tiled buildings add to the charm of outdoor dining at Hygge Cafe
Hygge cafe had cute down to a science. Would you like to take a peek inside? 
Lisbon's Hygge Cafe Menu At The Entrance
Portugal Travel Tip:
Many restaurants will post the menu outside (usually there's someone sitting right by it so it's a bit awkward) but many menus will also have a QR code on them. If you open your phone's camera you can scan the QR code to open the menu on your phone. It is also common to see the menu QR code on the restaurant's tables or the back of the chairs. It's kind of funny, but handy!
Inside the trendy Lisboa brunch spot | Hygge Cafe Review
Inside Hygge Cafe is also very cute! But is the food as cute? Let's see what's on the menu..
Lisbon Hygge Cafe Menu
Paper menu for the cafe at hygge house. Tap the photo for the full menu!
We ended up ordering 1 cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting topped with pistachios, a savory waffle with bacon, an espresso, a bottle of agua com gás (sparkling water) and a menu de almoço (weekday lunch deal which included a smorrebrod (an open face sandwich/toast), a bowl of soup, a fresh squeezed juice, and a coffee for just 12€!)
Our entire order was under 26€ Feeling very happy to have all of this coming our way, we sat back and enjoyed the outdoor cafe seating and watched life go by on a Lisbon street. Sparkling water arrived in a branded glass bottle. You see this in many restaurants in Portugal as well as hotels. One cafe (espresso) arrived as well. Remember, we ordered two.. =) The coffee.
Wondering about prices at Hygge Cafe? The sparkling water was 1.60€ while espresso was 1€
Não faz mal, no problem, I didn't mind waiting a bit longer for a coffee. I had already had some of the instant at the hotel and while it in no way compares to a fresh espresso like this, it did at least provide me with a bit of caffeine on this morning. 
An espresso, simply ordered as cafe in Portuguese, at hygge cafe.
The price of an espresso at Hygge cafe Lisboa was one euro.
The espresso was nice and 1€ is a reasonable price for an espresso in a trendy cafe in Lisbon! They even have their own branded sugar packets. :) The waffles.
The waffle Salgado (salty/savory waffle) was 8€ and featured turkey bacon flakes in between and on top of two waffles, a sunny side up egg, and some micro greens for garnish. Oh, and "maple" syrup. lol.
The Avocado Toast.
I opted for the Florentine Smørrebrød which consisted of avocado cream, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and smoked paprika over a slice of Gleba bread. It was nestled beside a colorful salad (which was a pleasant surprise as I wasn't expecting it!) with a few radish slices and pomegranate seeds. Stunning visuals!
Let's see how the egg looks inside: 
Inside the poached eggs of the Florentine Smørrebrød at Lisboa's trendy brunch spot Hygge
The Cinnamon Roll.
It had been quite some time since we had an iced cinnamon roll and they seemed to be a specialty here at Hygge Kafe so we couldn't resist ordering one. I wanted to give it a try before getting too full from the smørrebrød.
Once again, the aesthetics are on point. Doesn't this cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting and crushed pistachios look amazing?! You know what would go great with it? A cafezinho (a little coffee). But mine still hasn't arrived.
And wait a minute, neither has my soup or my fresh squeezed juice. There was quite a bit of confusion, and our server seemed puzzled. We don't know who dropped the ball, but in the end all of our food showed up and that's what matters! The food we almost did not receive
The soup of the day was a nice creamy vegetable soup and the fresh squeezed juice was abacaxi (pineapple) and it was delicious. By the way, another word for pineapple in portuguese is ananás.
Lisbon hygge cafe reviews
For us, our personal experience at Hygge Kafe was a bit of an "instagram vs reality" type of deal. The aesthetic of this Lisbon cafe is on point and the food is so visually appealing, few could deny that.
The reality is that it was a bit of a miss for us. With the exception of the soup, the hot foods were not hot by the time they reached us, unfortunately. Cold eggs and hollandaise sauce, anyone? I didn't think so... The waffles were a bit on the dry side and I always think it's a gamble to order something with "maple" syrup, iykyk. Similarly, the cinnamon roll was on the dense and dry side. Now this could be the style of a Scandinavian cinnamon roll for all I know. It's just not our preference. Hygge gift ideas.
Hygge Roll-on • Cozy Socks Vintage Gift Basket • Skal Drinking Mug Hygge Gift Set • Fika All Day Poster •Hygge Gift Basket w/ Journal
The coffee, soup, little salad, and fresh squeezed pineapple juices were all great though! In the end our dining experience was a bit stressful as it took so long to get all of our food, most of it was not received at it's prime, and all of this took our morning from a leisurely brunch and hotel check out to catch a 12:30 bus to arriving at the bus station with literally moments to spare as we were the last to board the bus and had been bracing ourselves that the uber would not make it to the bus station in time. I would like to chalk this experience up as a fluke since the place has so many amazing reviews, but we can only share what our direct experiences are. If you decide to try Hygge Kaffe out, you will love the atmosphere and get great foodie pics, if that's your thing. Let us know how the actual food tastes on your visit! More from this weekend trip to lisbon in juneComing soon:
*this post contains affiliate links
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When visiting a city like Lisbon, Portugal you generally have wider access to restaurants serving unique foods from distant lands and this is, in fact, a huge draw for many weekend-in-the-city getaways!
You can imagine how excited we were when we discovered a nearby Armenian restaurant during our most recent weekend in Lisbon. Ararate armenian Restaurant in Lisbon
Ararate Armenian restaurant is located just a half mile (about a 10 minute walk) from where we stayed in Saldanha. We arrived on a Sunday around 7pm without a reservation and on this occasion there was no trouble accommodating us.
Ararate Armenian Restaurant in Lisbon | Traveling Through Food Restaurant Review Blog
The decor inside this Armenian restaurant was very cool and full of cultural elements from paintings to tapestries, and the ornate mirror everything combined to create a unique dining experience in Lisbon, as you will soon see.
Ararate Lisboa Menu
The menu at this Armenian restaurant in Portugal will take you on an absolute journey. It's somewhat of a work of art, in my opinion, and if you have time to read through it you will learn a lot, including that the restaurant is indeed named after Ararat - the mountains where the ark rested after the Flood of Noah's day. (Genesis 8:4)
Ararate Menu | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
The Ararate Menu is available in English and includes many descriptions of the traditional dishes along with beautiful photography. See the Ararate Lisbon Menu here and you'll understand what I mean!
Ararate Drinks Menu with Prices
Ararate Drinks Menu | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
While bottles of wine could be found on the left side, we focused on the right side of the page.
Remember in the 9 tips for eating at restaurants in Portugal post how we discussed ordering water in restaurants? Here is a good example for you. Still, bottled water, is available in a half liter or full liter for 2.50 and 3.50 euros, respectively. If you prefer Água com gás natural, that is naturally sparkling mineral water, you can have it for 4 euros. 
Drink Prices at Ararate Restaurant | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
You'll also note that they carry bottles of Sagres beer and when you see Cerveja pressão that means a draft beer. Wine by the glass costs 5-6 euros at this Lisbon restaurant.
Americans Try armenian food for the first time
We were really excited to try Armenian food for the first time! The menu really had us excited as everything looked and sounded so delicious!
Khachapuri Barco - Traditional Pastry with Cheese and egg 10,5€
How could we pass up a pastry boat filled with cheese? Ironically the first thing we ordered is actually from Georgia. Ararat restaurant, in fact, serves dishes from Armenia as well as the Caucasian countries bordering Armenia like Georgia!
So what is Khachapuri Barco? Khachapuri Barco is a traditional Caucasian pastry from the Adjara region of Georgia stuffed with cheese, egg yoke, and butter. 
Khachapuri Barco at Ararat | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
How to eat Khachapuri Barco
The waiter prepared the dish for us to eat, but when you receive it the pastry will not be cut and you will see a bright egg yoke on top. To eat Khachapuri Barco, you break the egg yolk and mix it together with the hot, melted cheese and butter until combined into a rich sauce. Then you can cut the pastry and eat it!
Our thoughts on Khachapuri Barco
The first bites were really tasty - I mean it's cheese filled bread after all! As the rest of the food arrived and the cheese started to firm up it was a bit too much for the two of us, although we did finish it of course. ;) We think this would be even better if shared among more people so everyone can eat a piece at its optimal temperature and texture! I would not hesitate to try Khachapuri Barco again at an Armenian restaurant, especially with more friends! Khinkali - stuffed dough bags 2,75€
The Ararat menu describes these as "Artistically hand molded dough bags, filled with succulent minced meat and a rich aromatic broth" You must order at least 3. We ordered 4 so we could each have 2 Khinkali.
I was most excited to try Khinkali because in the past when there was a Special Convention in Georgia, I thought I remembered the info page talking about "soup dumplings" and ever since I've been intrigued by the concept.
But how do you eat Khinkali?
First, pick one up by its little dough handle. =) 
To Eat Khinkali Use The Dough "Handle" | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
Remember that inside this little parcel is hot soup broth as well as a "meatball" (not really in a ball shape, but just for a familiar reference). So you want to take a little bite to create an opening in the pastry that allows you to drink up some of that delicious broth!
Enjoy the delicious broth inside Khinkali | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
While eating Khinkali, holding the soup dumpling in a way that the broth won't spill out all over the place. You can take bites of the meat along with slurps of the broth together! Once all the broth is gone, eat what's left but do not eat the doughy handle. It has served its purpose.
Flavorful meat inside Ararate Restaurant's Khinkali | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
As it turns out, Khinkali is a Georgian dumpling that is super loved in Armenia and it's not hard to tell why. These were my favorite of everything we ate at Ararate.
To me, Khinkali is a perfect food. It's cute, made with love, filled with broth (big soup fan over here), and really flavorful meat. Eating it is a cultural experience, learning the technique is enriching and entertaining because you're probably going to make a mess at first. Khinkali is just an all around good time. 10/10. Tell your friends. Lamb Lulyá-Khabab Charcoal Grilled Meat Skewers with potato 17€
Meat is central to Armenian cuisine and we opted for the lam lulyá-khabab. The ground lamb meat is really nicely seasoned and it's traditional to roast these meat skewers over an open fire.
Meat and Potatoes Armenian Style at Ararate | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
The skewer came with potatoes, a little sauce, and some red onion with herb slivers.
Armenian Grilled Meats | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
Trilogia Dessert trio - 7€
This dessert sampler platter was a feast for the eyes, don't you agree? What presentation!
Dessert Trio at Ararate Armenian Restaurant | Traveling Through Food Lisbon Restaurant Review
Dessert descriptions from Ararate Menu:
Baklava, Eclair, and Layered Honey Cake | Traveling Through Food Ararate Lisbon Restaurant Review
Of all the desserts I would say the honey cake was my favorite. Imagine the work to make such thin layers of cake and perfectly stack them with cream in between!
Cafe Ararate - 5€
It only seemed right to finish the meal with Armenian coffee. Armenian coffee is made on the stove pot in a special coffee pot called a jazve. Armenian and Turkish coffee are brewed in a similar way. Cezve is the name of the Turkish coffee pot.
This method of brewing coffee normally yields a thicker and more flavorful coffee. We are fans of intense coffee, but actually found this to be a bit thin. Not sure if it needed more time to develop or if our palates are simply not yet attuned. Still, we are happy we tried it and loved the finishing touch of fresh strawberries!
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Ararate lisbon Ararate lisboa Ararat lisbon Ararat restaurant lisbon Ararate menu Ararate the fork Ararate reviews Ararate odivelas ararate colinas Armenian food lisbon lisbon restaurant recommendations cool lisbon restaurants unique restaurants in Portugal |
Portuguese Steak with Fried Egg, Rice, and French Fries | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
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In addition to historical castles, charming villages, and spectacular cliff beaches, eating out in Portugal is going to be a highlight of your trip to Portugal, for sure.
If it's your first time visiting Portugal, you may be wondering things:
I'm going to help you navigate your first restaurant experience with a few insights that should prove helpful! |
In this post:
Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:
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1. The bread is not free.
If you're an American, you are used to a lot of freebies.
When you go to a restaurant, if there is bread and butter on the table it is complimentary. In fact, you can often get free refills on the free bread and butter at a restaurant.
If that is your background and you arrive at a restaurant in Portugal to see a lovely display of bread, butter, olives, and the like at your table, you will naturally assume it is complimentary.
It isn't.
This is called the Couvert and it may be on your table when you arrive or presented to you shortly after seating. The idea is to provide you with some little bites right away while you peruse the menu and then wait for your food.
The price for each item will be shown in the menu and you may be surprised at how it is itemized. Literally each pad of butter has a set price. To an American this can be a bit jarring the first time, but it really does promote a more intentional way of eating and less waste.
When you go to a restaurant, if there is bread and butter on the table it is complimentary. In fact, you can often get free refills on the free bread and butter at a restaurant.
If that is your background and you arrive at a restaurant in Portugal to see a lovely display of bread, butter, olives, and the like at your table, you will naturally assume it is complimentary.
It isn't.
This is called the Couvert and it may be on your table when you arrive or presented to you shortly after seating. The idea is to provide you with some little bites right away while you peruse the menu and then wait for your food.
The price for each item will be shown in the menu and you may be surprised at how it is itemized. Literally each pad of butter has a set price. To an American this can be a bit jarring the first time, but it really does promote a more intentional way of eating and less waste.
What if i don't want the Couvert?
If the couvert set is already on your table when you arrive just let the waitstaff know right away you don't want it and they will take it away and not charge you for it. (But please double check your bill at the end because it can be accidentally added)
If you've already taken some bites, I'm sorry to tell you that you will be charged for the entirety even if you thought it was free. Tourist Tax. :)
The good news is it's usually only a few dollars and in a region known for bread and olives you're more than likely going to love it! Some areas will also include things like sardine pate or algarvian cenouras (carrots).
If you want the olives but not the sardine paste, just let them know and they will remove it and charge you just for the items you want.
If you've already taken some bites, I'm sorry to tell you that you will be charged for the entirety even if you thought it was free. Tourist Tax. :)
The good news is it's usually only a few dollars and in a region known for bread and olives you're more than likely going to love it! Some areas will also include things like sardine pate or algarvian cenouras (carrots).
If you want the olives but not the sardine paste, just let them know and they will remove it and charge you just for the items you want.
2. How to get a glass of water at a restaurant in portugal
If you're not a pop (soda) person, you may be accustomed to just requesting a glass of water in a restaurant. The wait staff will bring you an ice water and regularly refill it. In some cases they will set a pitcher right on your table!
This practice is not common in Portugal. In some cases you may be able to request and receive "Tap water"[in Portuguese: "Um copo de água da torneira, por favor" meaning "a cup of water from the faucet, please".
However, generally speaking water is served here in bottles. You can order a large bottle for sharing or smaller bottles and you will always be asked "com gás?" In Portugal, sparkling mineral water is very Popular so if you want one you ask for "agua com gás" and if you want regular still water you say "agua sem gás"
Portuguese Lesson :
Agua means "water"
Com means "with"
Sem means "without"
This practice is not common in Portugal. In some cases you may be able to request and receive "Tap water"[in Portuguese: "Um copo de água da torneira, por favor" meaning "a cup of water from the faucet, please".
However, generally speaking water is served here in bottles. You can order a large bottle for sharing or smaller bottles and you will always be asked "com gás?" In Portugal, sparkling mineral water is very Popular so if you want one you ask for "agua com gás" and if you want regular still water you say "agua sem gás"
Portuguese Lesson :
Agua means "water"
Com means "with"
Sem means "without"
3. How to order a beer in portugal?
Sagres Beer in Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
There are craft breweries in Portugal, but the most popular national beers of Portugal are Sagres and Super Bock. Both are refreshing after a day at the beach under the blazing sun or to wash down a hearty francesinha in the cooler months.
There are a few ways to order beer in Portugal.
You can simply ask for a "Sagres" or a "Super Bock". Think of it like asking for "Coke" or "Pepsi". You may have a personal preference for Coca-cola, but some establishments only carry Pepsi. If you order a Sagres and the restaurant doesn't carry it they may just reply "Super Bock?" and you can say "Sim" for "yes" or nod and say, "Está bom", as if to say "it's good!"
There are a few ways to order beer in Portugal.
You can simply ask for a "Sagres" or a "Super Bock". Think of it like asking for "Coke" or "Pepsi". You may have a personal preference for Coca-cola, but some establishments only carry Pepsi. If you order a Sagres and the restaurant doesn't carry it they may just reply "Super Bock?" and you can say "Sim" for "yes" or nod and say, "Está bom", as if to say "it's good!"
Beer goes great with a Bifana | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog
By the way, a bifana is a simple sandwich of thin slices of pork on a super soft roll. In case you were wondering "what is a bifana?!"
Beer Sizes in Portugal
By the way, you may want to know how to say beer in Portuguese. The Portuguese word for beer is "cerveja", pronounced, sir-vay-juh. (vay as in va-cation)
If you're ordering a draft you can get a Caneca (mug) or my favorite, an imperial, which is a 20 cl beer. For me it's the perfect size to cool down and you can drink it before it gets warm in one of the 300+ days of sun in Portugal. Apparently in Porto this is also known as fino.
If you're ordering a draft you can get a Caneca (mug) or my favorite, an imperial, which is a 20 cl beer. For me it's the perfect size to cool down and you can drink it before it gets warm in one of the 300+ days of sun in Portugal. Apparently in Porto this is also known as fino.
How much is a small beer in portugal?
Often you can order one of these small beers, imperial, in Portugal for a little over a euro. =)
Needless to say if you are at a fancy restaurant or you're at a cafe on the beach prices will be higher, but still feel like a great value for most Americans.
Needless to say if you are at a fancy restaurant or you're at a cafe on the beach prices will be higher, but still feel like a great value for most Americans.
4. How to avoid blood in Portuguese food
A number of Portuguese dishes can contain blood. This may not be something you think about before your trip to Portugal, but for those who choose not to eat blood (Genesis 9:4; Acts 15:29) here are some dishes to look out for:
If you are unsure, it's a good idea to ask if a dish has blood in it before ordering. The Portuguese word for blood is "sangue".
You could ask something like "isso tem sangue?" meaning "does this have blood?"
You can clarify your concern by adding "I do not eat blood" - "eu não como sangue"
Of course in the end you can say thank you with the word "Obrigado" for guys and "Obrigada" for girls.
Side note: We have noticed some other food products containing blood in the grocery. So do take a moment to scan the ingredients of any sausage or chouriço whether whole or sliced and especially if the color is dark, as well as pasta sauce! Yes you read that correctly. We have actually seen sangue, blood, as an ingredient in pre-made tomato sauce. It's not common, but it happens. So if it's important to you, just keep your eyes peeled. =)
- Portuguese Feijoada is a pork and bean stew that sometimes includes blood sausage
- Morcela is Portuguese Blood Sausage
- Cabidela or arroz de cabidela is typical of Minho in the north of Portugal and is a rice dish made with blood.
If you are unsure, it's a good idea to ask if a dish has blood in it before ordering. The Portuguese word for blood is "sangue".
You could ask something like "isso tem sangue?" meaning "does this have blood?"
You can clarify your concern by adding "I do not eat blood" - "eu não como sangue"
Of course in the end you can say thank you with the word "Obrigado" for guys and "Obrigada" for girls.
Side note: We have noticed some other food products containing blood in the grocery. So do take a moment to scan the ingredients of any sausage or chouriço whether whole or sliced and especially if the color is dark, as well as pasta sauce! Yes you read that correctly. We have actually seen sangue, blood, as an ingredient in pre-made tomato sauce. It's not common, but it happens. So if it's important to you, just keep your eyes peeled. =)
Bacalhau com Grão | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog
A blood-free and very Portuguese dish, bacalhau com grão is a dish featuring salted cod and chick peas!
PSA: watch for bones!
PSA: watch for bones!
5. Prato do dia Lunch deals in portugal
A great way to save money during your trip to Portugal and eat a hearty meal is the take advantage of the Prato do Dia (plate of the day) that many restaurants offer.
Typically these set menus are offered on week days during lunch so the Portuguese can have an economical, well rounded, and "efficient" meal during their work day.
Typically these set menus are offered on week days during lunch so the Portuguese can have an economical, well rounded, and "efficient" meal during their work day.
What is included in prato do dia?
Prato do Dia in Portugal May Include Dessert and Coffee | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
At this point it varies wildly based on region and the individual restaurant, but o menu (the menu, as in the set menu for the day) could include all of the following: bread, butter, olives, soup, main dish like grilled piri-piri chicken or sardines (sardinhas), a drink (uma bebida) which can be a jarred drink like water, juice or pop, or it can be beer or a glass (sometimes pitcher) of wine, dessert (sobremesa), coffee (um café) and sometimes even a shot of liquor at the end for anywhere between 10-15 euros per person.
Again it varies a lot. You may find a place offering all of this for under 10 euros in a smaller town or you may find Prato do dia under 10 euros that is more simple like one main dish, one drink, and a coffee a the end, but no matter how you slice it these are almost always an excellent value and way to try Portuguese fare along side locals for an authentic experience.
Again it varies a lot. You may find a place offering all of this for under 10 euros in a smaller town or you may find Prato do dia under 10 euros that is more simple like one main dish, one drink, and a coffee a the end, but no matter how you slice it these are almost always an excellent value and way to try Portuguese fare along side locals for an authentic experience.
6. you don't have to rush in portugal
In America the dining experience tends to be rushed. There are lines and servers need to turn tables fast because their livelihood depends on the tips they get. More tables = more tips = hurry up, eat fast, leave asap.
This is soooo different in Portugal. The pace of life in many ways is a lot slower than the US and dining out is included. Aside from a few popular restaurants that imply (but idk if they truly enforce) a table limit like this great pizza place in Lisbon, you are welcome to take your time at a restaurant.
This is time to relax and enjoy both the food and the company who you have chosen to be around the table with. In many cases you will need to ask for the bill to signal you are ready to leave.
Relevant side note: Do keep in mind that many restaurants in Portugal will close at 3 and re-open for dinner anytime between 5 and 7 pm. So be sure to get in to a restaurant before 3 or you will have to wait a few hours and hangry scaries can set in fast...
This is soooo different in Portugal. The pace of life in many ways is a lot slower than the US and dining out is included. Aside from a few popular restaurants that imply (but idk if they truly enforce) a table limit like this great pizza place in Lisbon, you are welcome to take your time at a restaurant.
This is time to relax and enjoy both the food and the company who you have chosen to be around the table with. In many cases you will need to ask for the bill to signal you are ready to leave.
Relevant side note: Do keep in mind that many restaurants in Portugal will close at 3 and re-open for dinner anytime between 5 and 7 pm. So be sure to get in to a restaurant before 3 or you will have to wait a few hours and hangry scaries can set in fast...
7. How to ask for the bill in portuguese
There are many ways to ask for the bill after eating a meal at a restaurant in Portugal. One common expression is "A conta, por favor" or "The bill, please".
You can also say "Queria pagar" for "I would like to pay"
To sound even more Portuguese, and informal, you can simply say "a continha" (con-teen-yah).
If the restaurant is loud and busy you can also gesture in the air as if you're writing with a pen and they will know you want the check.
On some occasions a bill will be left on your table sooner, but you do not need to take it as a hint to leave. It's more for convenience and you can then take it to the till to pay when you're ready.
Cafe with a view Ohlos d'Agua Algarve Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
8. Tipping culture in Portugal
America is a tipping culture especially in the restaurant industry where workers are barely paid two nickels an hour which is absolutely insane. In Portugal workers in restaurants are paid an actual wage, so tipping here is not necessary.
In some cases it could be offensive, I'm told. In most cases a small rounding up to the nearest bill would be welcomed and appreciated. Overall, however, tipping at a restaurant is not expected. If you have the means and someone did something great, go for it! But at the same time, not leaving a tip in Portugal is not seen as rude, cheap, unappreciative, or ripping off the staff. I know it's hard to wrap your head around, but remember this is a different culture.
In some cases it could be offensive, I'm told. In most cases a small rounding up to the nearest bill would be welcomed and appreciated. Overall, however, tipping at a restaurant is not expected. If you have the means and someone did something great, go for it! But at the same time, not leaving a tip in Portugal is not seen as rude, cheap, unappreciative, or ripping off the staff. I know it's hard to wrap your head around, but remember this is a different culture.
9. Can you use credit cards in portugal?
Pastelaria Versailles in Lisbon accepts Credit Cards | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog
One final and important tip about eating out in Portugal. You may be wondering if you can use your credit card in Portugal.
It depends.
Portugal overall is a cash culture. but if you are spending time in touristy areas like Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve, for example, it is most likely that many places will accept credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than American Express.
You'll want to look at the door of the restaurant. If it says "Multibanco" with an X through it, that means they do not accept card. If they accept cards you will usually see on the door which cards they accept (Visa, etc) See the photo above for an example. The arrow points to the "Visa" logo on the door of Pastelaria Versailles in Lisbon. (PS they have one of the best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, and all of Portugal in our opinion so far!)
How to ask if you can pay with a credit card in portuguese
You can say "Posso pagar com cartão?" for "May I pay with card"
Usually they will bring the card reader right to your seat and you can use tap to pay in Portugal right from your phone.
Be sure to use a card that has no foreign transaction fees.
When the machine asks you if you want the bill to be charged in USD or Euro, always pick Euro!! When you choose Euro (the local currency) your credit card company will do the conversion at a better rate. When you choose USD then the establishment can mark up the conversion and your end bill can be more than expected. This applies in any country, by the way.
Usually they will bring the card reader right to your seat and you can use tap to pay in Portugal right from your phone.
Be sure to use a card that has no foreign transaction fees.
When the machine asks you if you want the bill to be charged in USD or Euro, always pick Euro!! When you choose Euro (the local currency) your credit card company will do the conversion at a better rate. When you choose USD then the establishment can mark up the conversion and your end bill can be more than expected. This applies in any country, by the way.
-> Our recommended travel cards <-
Enjoy your meal!
I hope these tips help you while you eat out in Portugal! Don't worry, in most major cities where you are likely to visit you will be able to get by in English. If you want to have a more interesting and enriching experience I invite you to to try some of the Portuguese phrases in this article!
Book a cruise to portugal!
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eating out in portugal
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More Like This:Pizza in Portugal • Lisbon Restaurants
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We are on a very serious mission to find the best Pizza in Portugal.
We know your time in Portugal is probably short and you want to make the most of it. We also know you're almost guaranteed to want Pizza at some point on your trip because .... pizza. ;) So once again, we are doing the responsible and kind thing - trying as many pizza restaurants as our wallet and waistlines can afford so you know where to go! |
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Forno D'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
On a summer weekend in Lisbon we walked from our hotel to a really great pizza place about one mile away - Forno d'oreo. haha okay no, it's not called that, but autocorrect made it the Oreo Oven instead of Gold Oven and I'm leaving it because just imagine the possibilities of a place called Oreo Oven....
Okay. Back to Pizza.
Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
It was a bold move to show up to a popular Lisbon restaurant like Forno d'Oro on a Saturday night without a reservation. We acknowledged right away that we had no reservation, hoping to curry favor, and wondered if they might acquiesce to letting us have a table. It didn't seem super promising, but I guess the fact that this post exists is a spoiler, isn't it? :p
The guy let us know that we could have a table if we would be done by 21:15 (9:15pm) when they presumably had a reservation. It was about 19:45 (7:45pm). So we had an hour and a half - that seemed reasonable!
The guy let us know that we could have a table if we would be done by 21:15 (9:15pm) when they presumably had a reservation. It was about 19:45 (7:45pm). So we had an hour and a half - that seemed reasonable!
Travel Tip Related to Time (Not a Time Travel Tip, that's different): Get used to the 24h clock here. Medical people - you'll be fine, you're already used to it. Everyone else, you'll probably be doing small math in your head to work out the times. hehe
Inside Forno d'oro
As you would expect, there is a literal glistening, golden oven. Our table was quite near to it. Don't you love getting to see the pizzas being slid off the peel into the oven and pulled out a few minutes later?
Dinner and a show!
Be sure not to miss the industrial sized mixer in the corner - can you imagine how much glorious pizza dough that makes at one time?!
Dinner and a show!
Be sure not to miss the industrial sized mixer in the corner - can you imagine how much glorious pizza dough that makes at one time?!
The Golden Oven at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
The golden oven branding is thorough, even adorning the napkin rings!
Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
Forno d'oro Seasonal Pizza Menu
It's great to see a Pizze Stagionali (Seasonal Pizza in Italian) menu because it means the pizzeria is taking advantage of local ingredients that are currently in season like Portugal's incredible figs.
Seasonal Pizza Menu Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
How much are speciality Pizza's in Lisbon?
The seasonal Pizzas at Forno d'Oro are 16.95 euro - June 2024 pricing. That's about $18.40 for a premium pizza at a top restaurant.
The seasonal Pizzas at Forno d'Oro are 16.95 euro - June 2024 pricing. That's about $18.40 for a premium pizza at a top restaurant.
Forno d'oro Menu
If you're looking at a more classic pizza like a Margherita, it will run you 11.95 euro or about $13.
For those not interested in Pizza there are appetizers you may like as well as a selection of pastas.
For those not interested in Pizza there are appetizers you may like as well as a selection of pastas.
Forno d'Oro Pizzeria Menu in Lisbon
Forno D'oro Beverage Menu
Wines by the glass and bottle are available at Forno d'Oro, as well as craft beers.
Beverage Menu at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
The bevvies
Beer is always a perfect match for pizza so we ordered one Benediktner Dunkel from Germany (2.95)
German Beer at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
And one Portuguese craft beer called Letra D. I have a hard time passing up a red ale. It was a splash out at 5.50, but I had no idea what a fancy experience I was in for..
The waiter opened the bottle, poured a little splash into the glass and had me taste it as if it was some sort of expensive wine. I hate the attention and feel incredibly awkward so I give it the fastest sip and thumbs up ever so we could move on.
The waiter opened the bottle, poured a little splash into the glass and had me taste it as if it was some sort of expensive wine. I hate the attention and feel incredibly awkward so I give it the fastest sip and thumbs up ever so we could move on.
Letra D Red Ale Portuguese Beer at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
And move on we did... to this single bottle of beer chilling in a table-side ice bucket like it was champagne or something. Que fancy. This had me cracking up the whole time. I was also like.. does he come back to top off my glass or do I do it? lol. Yeah, he didn't come back for that. I did it. :p
Letra D from Portuguese Microbrewery Served at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
Letra Brewery in Portugal
Side Note: Cerveja Letra is a microbrewery from Vila Verde in northern Portugal. They also have locations in Braga and Porto. If you're in the area, stop by one of their taprooms. High recommendation.
Margherita DOP
As you know, we almost always get a margherita pizza at a new pizzeria as a baseline. You can obviously tell from the pic below that it was not a bad decision. ;)
Margherita Pizza at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
A simple pizza with tomato, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. What more can you ask for?
A drizzle of olive oil you say? It's on the table for you :)
A drizzle of olive oil you say? It's on the table for you :)
Bottom of Margherita Pizza at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
Take a peek at the bottom of the crust. We're looking for texture and some nice coloring from the Gold Oven.
Fichi, Prosciutto e gorgonzola pizza
We have developed another condition where when we see a pizza with fig, prosciutto, and gorgonzola on a menu, we almost cannot pass it up. We have had an incredible fig pizza in Lisbon before and it's just such a journey you go on that you want to keep coming back to experience again and again.
Fig and Prosciutto Pizza at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
I mean just look at this! Quite generous with the prosciutto ham, wouldn't you agree?
A Pizza with Fig, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
Can you see the slices of sweet figs under the prosciutto blanket?
A well baked pizza at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
And of course, a peek underneath!
This is a delicious seasonal pizza. You get the texture and chew of the prosciutto as well as its saltiness, added to the sweet figs, and the savory flavor of gorgonzola cheese - it's soo yummy! The only thing we missed was a touch of heat! (hot honey drizzle anyone!?)
This is a delicious seasonal pizza. You get the texture and chew of the prosciutto as well as its saltiness, added to the sweet figs, and the savory flavor of gorgonzola cheese - it's soo yummy! The only thing we missed was a touch of heat! (hot honey drizzle anyone!?)
A Delicious Seasonal Pizza at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
With two solid pizzas devoured we still had some time left on the clock before we had to vacate our table so we opted for coffee and dessert!
Espresso & Tiramisu
Forno d'Oro in Lisbon serves a lovely Italian Espresso by Illy (1.40). You can order Illy Italian Coffee in the US anytime, by the way, if you'd like to try it.
Illy Espresso at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
They serve a beautiful tiramisu as well. We just shared the one (5.50) and it was a perfect finishing touch to this outstanding meal in Lisbon!
In a traditional show of hospitality a complimentary shot of liquor was offered at the end of the meal, grappa or limoncello.
Grappa at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
This gave us a moment to look around the restaurant and reflect on what we had experienced.
Forno d'Oro, glistening in the corner, churning out fresh and delicious pizzas to a restaurant full of patrons - there were couples on dates, young families with children, larger groups celebrating the high moments of life, and solo diners enjoying every delicious bite. Pizza really brings people together. ❤
Forno d'Oro, glistening in the corner, churning out fresh and delicious pizzas to a restaurant full of patrons - there were couples on dates, young families with children, larger groups celebrating the high moments of life, and solo diners enjoying every delicious bite. Pizza really brings people together. ❤
Glistening Golden Pizza Oven at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
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It's true what they say. The best things are made from the best things - natural, fresh ingredients. The simplest elements often make the most delicious foods. :) Simplicity often makes for the most lasting memories. |
A message from Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
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With that, we left our table at 21:06, phew, 9 minutes to spare.
A Momentarily Empty Table at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
I wonder who sat at this table and ate at the Golden Oreo next?
Outside Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon
Until Next time Forno d'Oro! Because there definitely will be a next time ;)
More from this weekend in lisbon:
Coming soon..
Oh, Hey!
We're Justin and Marissa
We love to travel and eat!
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Traveling Through Food is a place to share adventures in travel + food so you can find inspiration for your next big trip whether it's across the globe or down the freezer aisle ;)
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