Food & Drink

Coffee in Portugal: What to Order, What Not to Order, and Why It Matters

A plate with a sandwich made of ham, cheese, and a croissant sits next to a glass of frothy coffee on a saucer with a spoon, and two packets of sugar on a dark marbled table.

In Portugal, life revolves around coffee. People drink it from first thing in the morning right up until late evening — it’s not uncommon to finish a meal at 10 or 11 pm and still order a coffee afterward. If you’re visiting Portugal from countries like the United States, UK, Australia, Canada, or France, you’ll find that the coffee culture here is quite different from what you’re used to. For Europeans, the main difference is the coffee types. For North …

A sugared pastry on a white plate rests on a marble surface. The pastry has a golden-brown crust and is rectangular in shape, reminiscent of the delectable treats found in Portugal.

When it comes to Portuguese pastries and cakes, most people have heard of the pastel de nata (or Portuguese custard tart as it’s often called outside of Portugal). It’s probably the best Portuguese cake, but it’s far from the only one. There are hundreds of different Portuguese cakes and pastries, and that’s before you take into account regional variations. I’ve tried lots of them (hence all the photos) and I’m here to share some of my favourites. The following is …

A slice of chocolate cake dusted with powdered sugar on top sits on a white plate. The cake appears dense and moist, and a silver fork rests beside it on the plate.

“Would you like to see the dessert menu?” is a question that doesn’t need to be asked in Portugal. Why? Because it’s just assumed you will be having dessert: a meal, and especially a meal out, just wouldn’t be a proper meal if it didn’t have dessert as well. The dessert menu usually has around 5-10 items on it, and the menus don’t tend to differ hugely from one restaurant to another. Desserts like pudim flan and molotov almost always …

A metal serving dish filled with a hearty Portuguese stew of white beans, chunks of meat, and garnished with chopped fresh parsley. A spoon rests inside the dish, and it sits on a blue and white patterned plate.

People moving to Portugal tend to agonize over the same questions: Lisbon or Porto? Coast or city? Affordable or very affordable? Here’s one factor that doesn’t get enough attention: Porto has some of the best traditional Portuguese food in the country, and it’s food you can only really get in Porto. Yes, Porto has pizza, ramen, sushi, burgers, vegan cafés, brunch spots, and all the usual international options. You’ll also find Portuguese classics from across the country, including pastéis de …

A group of fresh broad beans, some in their pods and some removed, displayed on a dark textured surface. One pod is open, revealing three light green beans next to it. The beans and pods have a natural, slightly uneven shape.

Portugal can be a fantastic place to live as a vegan or vegetarian. But you have to do your research. On one hand, somewhere like Lisbon has some of the best vegan and vegetarian food you will find anywhere in Europe. You can find vegan pastéis de nata, vegan versions of Portuguese dishes like alheira, arroz de pato, bitoque, and even arroz de polvo, along with plant-based bakeries, brunch spots, specialty shops, and cafés where oat milk or soy milk …

I’ve eaten a lot of Portuguese food. Some of it I’d fly back for. Some of it I ate once, understood, and never ordered again. This is my honest list. Reality check first: Portuguese food is simple, fresh, and comforting. It is not spicy and it is not sauce-heavy. If you’re expecting Thai or Mexican “boom-pow” flavor at every meal, you’ll think it’s plain, and you won’t be entirely wrong. But if you lean into great ingredients, charcoal grills, stews, …

Coffee in Portugal: What to Order, What Not to Order, and Why It Matters

20+ Portuguese Pastries and Cakes to Try Before You Die (Personally Tested)

25+ Portuguese Desserts To Say Yes To

Porto’s Food Will Make You Want to Move Here. Start With These Dishes

The Best Places to Live in Portugal as a Vegan or Vegetarian

Portuguese Food: What I’d Eat & What I’d Skip (From Someone Who Has Eaten Everything Here)