Category: Lisbon Travel Blog

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..

See Full Hygge Lisboa Menu Here!

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.

Real Maple Syrup

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!

Lisbon Hotel Review - Turim Saldanha

More from this weekend trip to lisbon in june

Cool Lisbon Restaurant - Ararate Armenian Restaurant

Best Pizza in Lisbon?

Coming soon:

A weekend trip to Lisbon in June

You're in the right place if you are searching for Lisbon hygge cafe menu, Lisbon hygge cafe prices, Lisbon hygge cafe reviews, Lisbon bloggers, weekend in lisbon for couples, Lisbon travel blog, Breakfast in Lisbon, Brunch in Lisbon, Hygge menu, Hygge Kaffe Reviews, Restaurante hygge kaffe photos, Lisbon food blogger, outdoor brunch lisbon, trendy brunch lisbon or even smorrebrod in portugal!

You're in the right place if you are searching for:

*this post contains affiliate links

0 Comments

A day trip from lisbon to the algarve

8/4/2024

If you're staying in Lisboa (oh, hi! did you know the Portuguese version of Lisbon is Lisboa?) and wondering if it's possible to make a day trip to the Algarve from Lisbon, let me tell you it is absolutely possible!

Chances are high you will wish you had more time in the southern coast of Portugal and a one-day visit is going to make for a long day, but it IS definitely possible and oh so worth it.

A seagull soars over the cliffs of Carvoeiro | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

In this post:

Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:

Benagil Cave Boat Tour
- By Speedboat
- By Pirate Ship
- By Kayak
Mel & Canela Review
Sorbetto Gelateria Review
Algarve Beaches
- Praia dos Tres Castelos
- Praia Grande Ferragudo
- Praia de Carvoeiro
Forno do Fraser Carvoeiro Pizzeria Review
How to get to Algarve From Lisbon
Best Travel Credit Cards

Benagil Cave Boat Tour

A top activity when you come to the southern coast of Portugal is to a Benagil Cave tour by boat. I really do recommend this as you get spectacular views of the unique cliffs all along the Algarvian coastline. The guides are great and intertwine facts with humor and explain all the little beach towns and secret beaches you see along the way. On occasion you may even see wild dolphins, though this is not guaranteed.

Benagil Cave by speedboat

A Benagil Cave Speedboat Tour | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

The most popular way to see the caves is by speedboat. There are tons of companies offering these tours from all over Algarve. This is the boat tour we did recently and we had a good experience! It's likely that your boat will be pretty full in-season and you really are packed like sardinhas (sardines). On our boat each row sat 3 people. If you're in the middle seat you will find it a bit more difficult to see at times. You really want to be on the ends if you're the photographer/videographer of the group.

Tips: Try to get in the front of the boat and a seat on either end for the best views.

The boats can only pull so far into the caves so the people toward the front will have the best view. As the boats are usually traveling roundtrip from the same town if you start out on the side of the boat facing the ocean, on the way back you will face the shore. Typically the return trip is faster, though. You've already seen what they want to show you and now you are turning back. So if you really want the best photo ops go for the left side of the boat (when inside the boat) if you are departing from Portimao Marina Boat Tours.

Book a Speedboat Tour

Benagil Cave by Pirate Ship

See the Algarvian Coast from a Pirate Ship | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Another option is to take the pirate ship cave cruise. As you can see right away this is a much larger vessel. You may find this more comfortable if your body structure is not compatible with the sardine situation, if you have bad knees and it would be hard to sit in a low seat, or if you're nervous about feeling the waves too much in a speedboat.

The pirate ship is equipped with a bar selling beverages and snacks, but many bring their own snacks on board. The ship has two smaller boats at the back that you can board to actually get a closer look at the caves as the main pirate ship is too large.

Book the pirate ship

Benagil cave by Kayak Tour

The most immersive Benagil Cave experience is by Kayak | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

If you are more adventurous and truly want to get inside the caves, in the water and on the beaches, you must do a Benagil caves kayak tour.

Book a Kayak Tour

Ocean Kayakers touring Benagil Caves in Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Pre-cruise snack at mel & Canela

If you've taken an early morning bus from Lisbon to Algarve you are probably going to be pretty hungry. I recommend grabbing a little something to eat.

As our boat trip was leaving from Portimao Marina, we stopped at this spacious cafe called Mel & Canela, meaning Honey & Cinnamon in Portuguese. We just got some classics like a bifana com ovo (pork sandwich with an egg) and a pork bitoque which came with a side of French fries, a simple salad, and an egg on top.

Post-cruise snack at Sorbetto Gelateria

It only feels like vacation when you have an ice cream, right? A Gelato was a perfect treat after the benagil cave speedboat tour and we opted for a place called Sorbetto Gelateria at Praia Da Rocha in Portimao.

The gelato was unbelievably delicious and we got two very European flavors - Améndoa e Figo (Almond and Fig) and Pistachio. Prices here ranged from 2.50-6 euros for small, medium, large, or extra large cones. And do note that even if you get a small (pequeno) you can have two flavors ;)

The girls working in this Gelateria were especially simpatico (friendly) and actually made this sweet treat an even sweeter experience!

We definitely recommend this gelato in Portugal - Sorbetto Gelateria. They use fresh, natural ingredients and make everything in small batches and that is totally our style.

Algarve Beaches

Of course while you are on your day trip to the Algarve you should see the beaches. Maybe you already did a boat tour or maybe you aren't into water activities. Either way you should see the beaches, whether you sunbathe and eat Bolas de Berlim (a portuguese pastry that's sort of like a sugared donut cut in half and filled with cream that is traditionally egg and sugar based, although plain and other flavors like Nutella can be had) or you enjoy a sangria at a beach cafe or you walk some cliff trails - you really cannot go wrong!

Praia dos Três Castelos

This is from the miradouro dos Três Castlos (Viewpoint of the 3 Castles) an observation deck in Portimao, Portugal. You can walk down to the beach from here if you'd like!

By the way praia is the Portuguese word for beach. =)

Praia dos Trés Castelos as seen from the Miradouro | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Praia Grande Ferragudo

Praia Grande in Ferragudo is just across the river from Portimão. It's another beautiful and spacious Portuguese beach on which you can find a medieval castle, the Forte de São João do Arade, which I think is so cool. The initial watchtower is thought to have been built around 1520, while the actual castle was constructed around 1640, after the Portuguese Restoration War. Forte de São João is privately owned, so do be respectful when you are near the property. =)

Medieval Castle on Praia Grande, a beach in Ferragudo Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

The fishing village of Ferragudo is also not to be missed. It's a great village to walk around in as it is filled with cute and funky shops, great restaurants, and quaint cafes.

Charming street in the Fishing Village Ferragudo Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

If you're into unique, artsy souvenirs check out deja vu art shop in Ferragudo.

Praia de Carvoeiro

Heading a short distance to the east of Ferragudo you will find Praia de Carvoeiro.

Famous Praia de Carvoeiro | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

It is a small sandy beach with a hilly, but walkable and lively town. While you are here you should try and walk along the Carvoeiro Boardwalk, Algar Seco, for stunning views and you can climb down into some of the cliffs which is very cool.

Algar Seco Cliffs and Beautiful Views in Algarve Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

You can go decently far where there are stairs built in to the rock, and wooden posts with rope hand rails. For the adventurous and well coordinated you can safely continue to explore further if you wish.

Before you catch a bus home, if you're around long enough, I can't recommend highly enough getting a pizza at Forno do Fraser. This is the best pizza place in Carvoeiro we've had to date and it's a short walk up the hill from the beach.

Fig Pizza on Carvoeiro Beach from Forno do Fraser | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Current hours at time of this article are Monday - Saturday 17:30-22:00 (5:30pm - 10pm)

If you want to dine in, I recommend you make a reservation. Depending on the day the dining room may be packed and unable to accommodate walk-ins. Although we have picked pizza up to eat at the beach as seen above.

Forno do Fraser deserves a full review for our Pizza in Portugal series, so stay tuned for that.

one day in the algarve is simply not enough

There are so many ways to spend one day in Algarve. Boat trips, beach days, shopping for local handicrafts, day trips to monchique or Silves castle, trying the many Portuguese Pastries, hiking, summer concerts, waterparks, spas, golfing... there is so much to do here I'm sure you will be convinced after one day that you simply must come back again soon! ;)

How to get to algarve from lisbon

Of course you can rent a car and drive (check car rental prices), but if you're not interested in messing with that I can recommend the train or the bus.

BuyPortugal train tickets at the Comboios de Portugal (Trains of Portugal) website: cp.pt
Buy Portugal bus tickets through the Rede Expressos website rede-expressos.pt/pt
Buy Portugal bus tickets through FlixBus website flixbus.com/bus/portugal

While it depends where exactly you get on and off, the bus takes around 3 hours between Lisbon and Algarve.

Which stop should you get off at?

Albufeira is popular with tourists, but you can also take the bus to Armação de Pêra, Portimão, or Lagoa if you'd like to visit Carvoeiro beach town.

How much is the bus from Lisbon to Algarve?
The bus is incredibly affordable with seats starting at $5 euros. An incredible value!

Do note that the cheapest seats will be at the back of the bus and the ticket price increases as the travel date nears. My best tip for you is that as soon as you know when you want to make your trip from Lisbon to Algarve, if the dates are available for purchase, buy your tickets! This way you get the best price and you're guaranteed to see some of the amazing this shared in this post! ;)

FYI: In some cases the tickets will only be available approximately 1 month before a travel date.

You'll also like:

0 Comments

Portugal Travel tips: 9 things to know when eating at a restaurant in Portugal

8/4/2024

Portuguese Steak with Fried Egg, Rice, and French Fries | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

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:

How to order food in a restaurant in Portuguese
How much should you tip?
Can I use credit cards in Portugal?

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:

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.

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.

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"

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!"

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.

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.

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:

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.

These are just a few examples of Portuguese food that contain blood. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

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!

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

-> 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!

Belem Tower, Lisbon Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Are you ready to come to Portugal and eat all the delicious foods?!

Did you know you can stop in Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve on a cruise?

Tap below and ask for Portugal Cruise Deals!

More info please!

eating out in portugal
Portugal restaurant etiquette
Portugal restaurant tipping
Portugal restaurant menu
Portugal restaurant reservations
how to order food in portuguese
how to order a beer in portuguese

0 Comments

Forno d'Oro Pizzeria di Tanka Sapkota Lisbon Pizzeria Review

7/23/2024

More Like This:Pizza in Portugal • Lisbon Restaurants

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!

In this post:

Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:

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!

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?!

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.

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.

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.

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 :)

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!?)

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. ❤

Glistening Golden Pizza Oven at Forno d'Oro Pizzeria in Lisbon

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

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 ;)

TURIM SALDANHA LISBON PORTUGAL HOTEL REVIEW

More from this weekend in lisbon:

ARARATE ARMENIAN RESTAURANT IN LISBON REVIEW

AN INSTAGRAMMABLE BRUNCH JOINT IN LISBON - HYGGE REVIEW

Coming soon..

A JUNE WEEKEND IN LISBON

0 Comments

Turim Saldanha Lisbon Portugal Hotel Review

7/23/2024

See More: Lisbon Hotel Reviews • Lisbon Restaurant Reviews

When we go to Lisbon for a conference we try to stay in a different hotel each time, where possible.

This allows us the opportunity to explore different neighborhoods in Lisbon, experience a variety of restaurants, and ultimately enables us to share more information with you to help you plan your trip to Lisbon.

For this weekend in Lisbon we stayed in the Saldanha (Sal-don-yah) neighborhood at the Turim Saldanha Hotel.

In this post:

Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:

Turim Saldanha Hotel

We grabbed an Uber from the Sete Rios Bus Station to Turim Saldanha Hotel.
The main entrance is to the left of the man standing in the photo below, sort of tucked in from the street.

Turim Saldanha Hotel in Lisbon Portugal

Upon entering the hotel lobby you'll see some seating and the bar area. To the right you can see the elevators and just out of view is the reception desk. Checking in was smooth.

Lobby of Turim Saldanha Hotel

About checking in to hotels in Lisbon

Language - Throughout Lisbon if you are staying in a traditional Hotel there is almost certainly going to be someone at the front desk who can speak English. Nevertheless, we do like to use these opportunities to practice our Portuguese and if we don't understand then staff is gracious enough to switch to English.

Identification - It is common for all guests to be asked for their IDs whether that be a local residence card or a passport from your country.

City Tax - A city tax of 2 euros per person per night may be due upon check in. This is capped out at 14 euros per person. So if you stay at one hotel for longer than 7 nights at 2 euros per night, you will not have any further city tax charges.

Lisbon City Tax Increase - An increase to the Lisbon tourist tax has been approved and is to be in effect beginning September 1, 2024. The tax will go from 2 euros per person per night to 4 euros - doubling. source

standard room turim saldanha

Here is a view of the standard room from the entry way, just passed the bathroom door.

Standard Room at Turim Saldanha Hotel in Lisboa

It's very common in Europe to have two smaller beds next to each other instead of one Queen or King like Americans may be used to.

Room for 2 at Turim Saldanha Portugal Hotel

To the right of the bed a sliding full length mirror (see photo above) opened to the closet which housed a small safe, and a few hangers (see photo below). A phone was available at the side of the bed.

Closet Space Turim Saldanha Hotel

Have a look at the room from the head of the bed. A TV is mounted to the wall and below it is a floating shelf perfect for your keys, sunglasses, and whatever bits and bobs are in your pockets.

To the right is a desk area with mini fridge and hot beverage set up.

Turim Saldanha Television

For some reason the garbage can is right beneath the chair. It's always good to have a little garbage can in your hotel room outside of the bathroom.

Space to work and eat at Turim Saldanha

Some hotels we have stayed at recently do not have space to really eat a meal or work on your computer or even charge your devices. While not a ton of space, you do definitely have some options in this room between this desk and the small round table in the corner of the room.

Turim Saldanha Work Space

Shop European Plug Adapters

Free beverages at Turim Saldanha

Taking a look at the beverage set up above the desk, you can see there is a glass bottle labeled "Courtesy Water". It was great to have this free water in the hotel room! The housekeeping staff will replace it.

As you can see, the outlets are European style. So you will need to bring an adapter.

In-room Complimentary Beverages Turim Saldanha

The coffee situation, on the other hand was rather sad. The coffee was instant, to be used with the electric kettle, and upon arrival there was one package of black tea, one package of caffeinated coffee and one of decaf. I found it really strange that there wouldn't be two of each given that there were two guests booked into this room.

1 each - instant coffee, decaf, black tea

Each day of our stay I had to ask the front desk for more coffee packets. The staff down there was great and it was no trouble at all, but it would certainly be better for the guests if they just put a couple more in the room.

And let's be clear - no one is trying to take this coffee as a "freebie". It's not good. Like... at all. You only drink it out of pure necessity to fuel you until you can get a proper cafezinho. ❤

That's coming from a girlie who is not a fan of an instant coffee, though. Nothing personal. :)

Mini fridge prices in lisbon

Taking a peek into the mini fridge we found water, juice, coca-cola, sagres beer, a Toblerone Swiss candy bar, mixed nuts, some liquor and a tiny can of Pringles.

Mini Fridge Turim Saldanha Hotel

Curious how much mini fridge items cost in Lisbon?

Mini Fridge Price List in Portugal, stains not ours

This grubby little price list was in the room and no, we were not the ones who soiled it. lol. Kind of gross, but still informative. I never use stuff out of a mini fridge, and here's a great example why. One can of Coke 4.50 euro? that's almost $5. come on... I always bring my own snackies and this weekend was no exception.

Would you like to see the view from our room?

View from Hotel Room Turim Saldanha

Turim Saldanha Restaurant Menu and Prices

At the small round table near the window we found a menu for the room service from the restaurant in the hotel.

Turim Saldanha Standard Bathroom

Now let's check out the bathroom.

Turim Saldanha Bathroom Sink Area

You've got your standard toiletries along with wall-mounted tissues, hair dryer, and mirror.

Turim Saldanha Bathroom Toilet Area

Shower with bathtub with a glass door that doesn't slide enough to keep water from splashing out...

Turim Saldanha Bathroom Shower Area

Overall a nice bathroom! Until I washed my hands and realized there was a design flaw - where do you put the bar of hand soap when you're done?!

The sink ledge is curved, so you can't set it on the sink.
The toiletry stand has openings cut out to fit each toiletry in packaging. No where to set the soap.

Until I realized... that roll of toilet paper in the corner. It's not just the back up... it doubles as a soap rest! 8)

Turim Saldanha Bathroom Design Missing One Thing...

Let's get a close up of this design genius... It's like a little crown for the TP! :)

Makeshift Soap Holder :p

Oh wait.. our door lock doesn't work

It's about this time when we came to the realization that our door did not lock properly. You know how when you turn a deadbolt lock the deadbolt comes out of the door? Well in this case, the part you turn just turned 360 degrees and the deadbolt didn't ever emerge.

After a quick ring to the front desk, someone from housekeeping came by. The dear lady did not speak any English at all. While front desk staff will often speak English, as noted above, other staff may not as you can see here. Another great opportunity to practice Portuguese presents itself!

We explained and demonstrated the issue and while she didn't seem too fussed about it, she did get on the walkie talkie to her colleague. Her colleague laughed and said in Portuguese "Oh room # _____. It's just like that." And then the lady parroted that back to us as though it was a solution. So we asked if we could just switch rooms. She had to walkie talkie her colleague again, but conveniently turned the volume down this time. And a few minutes later someone from reception came up to meet us with a new room key and escort us to the new room - next door. The lock functioned normally there. :) He said he would put a maintenance request in for the other room.

So after all, these pictures are of the room we did not stay in. The room next door was almost identical though, don't worry. :)

Overall Review of turim saldanha

Turim Saldanha Hotel is a nice place to stay in a great area of Lisbon. The rooms were nice, simple and clean with modern touches and had everything you would need. You're in close walking distance to a lot of great restaurants and you're a quick uber away from anything you'd want to see. This hotel does not offer free breakfast and we did not try their paid offering. The staff was very nice and I would not hesitate to stay here again.

Lobby of Turim Saldanha Hotel

There are lots of other hotels for us to review, though. ;)