Rick Stein’s Takes A Long Weekend in Lisbon

The small print: Portugalist may generate a commission from mentioned products or services. This is at no additional cost to you and it does not affect our editorial standards in any way. All content, including comments, should be treated as informational and not advice of any kind, including legal or financial advice. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors or omissions or damages arising from its display or use. Links to external websites do not constitute an endorsement. [Disclaimer Policy]

Written by: | Last updated on December 21, 2023 | Est. Reading Time: 6 minutes

Recently, Rick Stein visited Lisbon as part of his Long Weekend Series for BBC 2. Knowing that this episode would inspire others to visit Lisbon, I’ve put together a list of the places he visited so that you can create your own long weekend in Lisbon.

If you’re looking to re-create any of the dishes in Rick Steins program, he has a new cookbook out: Rick Stein’s Long Weekends. This book contains recipes for pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) along with a few other Portuguese dishes.

Rick Stein’s Hotel

If you want to copy Rick’s long weekend in Lisbon completely, stay at the Novotel Hotel. It’s about five minutes from the Praça do Comércio. Oh, and they serve baked beans as well.

Pastéis de Belém

The Pastéis de Belém café in Lisbon is probably the most popular café in Lisbon. The pastéis de nata are obviously great, although it’s worth noting they’re not necessarily the best in Lisbon. Several newcomers have popped up over the past few years, and they may even be better than the originals.

Our blog post about the best pastéis de nata in Lisbon features several other cafes that are worth visiting like Manteigaria and Aloma. If you visit Pastéis de Belém, be sure to compare them to some of the others and let us know what you think.

Of course, if you’re already visiting Belém to see Jerónimos Monastery or the Belém Tower you should go to Pastéis de Belém. It’s an institution, a historical landmark, and definitely worth a try.

Cervejaria Ramiro

Cervejaria Ramiro is one of the most popular cervejarias (seafood restaurants) in Lisbon. It used to be a fairly off-the-beaten track place but was made popular when Anthony Bourdain visited it a few years ago when he filmed No Reservations in Lisbon.

Now that it has been featured on two TV programs, it’s become incredibly popular and reservations are definitely recommended. They don’t always take them in which case you’ll need to queue. Getting there early (before 7.30pm and ideally before 7pm) means you’ll have a better chance of getting a table.

A Valenciana

Piri-Piri chicken (frango asado) is more of an Algarve dish. Many people say that if you want good piri-piri chicken, then you need to visit the Algarve. Restaurante Ramires in Guia is probably the most popular Algarvian restaurant, but I tend to go to Churrasqueira Valdemar in Silves or Churrasqueira Guerreiro in Portimão.

If you aren’t venturing towards the Algarve on this trip, then you will have to “make do” with the piri-piri in Lisbon. Rick Stein’s recommendation is A Valenciana, which is near Marquês de Pombal. Tip: It’s also quite close to Mercado 31 de Janeiro (the fish market Rick goes to) so you could cover both of these in a morning.

Águas Livres Aqueduct

The Águas Livres Aqueduct is an incredibly beautiful attraction and definitely worth a visit. You can visit the aqueduct and its museum every day except Sundays. To visit the aqueduct using public transport, get off at Rato metro station on the yellow line.

  • Website:
  • Address: Calçada da Quintinha 6, 1070-225 Lisboa, Portugal

Restaurante D’Adraga

On his way to Sintra, Rick Stein stopped at a beach-side restaurant for prawns and clams in garlic and coriander.

You’ll need a car to get here as it’s away from where the tour buses stop. The Agrada beach is nearby, so if the weather is good you have a good opportunity to combine it with some sunbathing or a walk along the coast.

Mercado 31 de Janeiro

Mercado 31 de Janeiro is one of Lisbon’s many fish markets. If you’re short on time, you can visit the main market in Mercado da Ribeira (the Time Out Market) which was the big food hall that Rick later visited.

If you’re a little more relaxed time-wise, Mercado 31 de Janeiro is worth a visit and you may even bump into the famous Acucena Veloso. The market is near the Picoas metro stop on the yellow line. As mentioned, it’s also close to A Valenciana if you want to try the piri-piri as well (if you’re not visiting the fish restaurant).

  • Website:
  • Address: R. Eng. Vieira da Silva, 1050-094 Lisboa, Portugal

Mercado Da Ribeira

The Mercado Da Ribeira food market (Time Out Market) is one of Lisbon’s most popular markets and attractions. Here, you’ll find a number of food stalls offering everything from traditional Portuguese dishes such as leitão (suckling pig) and octopus salad to international dishes like burgers, sushi, and pizza. Rick tried the pig cheeks, bacalao with fried potatoes, and deep fried beans but you’ll see this is only a fraction of what’s available to try.

  • Website:
  • Address: Av. 24 de Julho, 1200 Lisbon, Portugal

Ponto Final

At the very end of the show, Rick visits Restaurante Ponto Final in Almada. This is on the other side of the river, giving you a good opportunity to visit the Christ the King Statue that you’ll no doubt have seen from the city. To get across to Almada, you will either need to go across the bridge or take the ferry. If you don’t have a car, the ferry is the easiest way to go. Just head to Cais do Sodré metro/train station, conveniently located next to the Time Out Market, and take the ferry from there. The ferry is part of the metro network so you can use your rechargeable metro card (available from any metro station) to pay for the trip.

(Thanks to Clare Keates for spotting this restaurant and letting us know which one it was.) 

  • Website: /
  • Address: Rua do Ginjal 72, 2800 Almada, Portugal
Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

Spotted a mistake? Suggest a correction

There are 30 comments on this article. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts, reviews, and stories of life in Portugal. However, please remember to be civil.

Comments

  1. Have just watched the programme and have been inspired to return to Lisbon. On our first visit we covered most of the sites and monuments shown by Rik on the show. However, our knowledge of the restaurant scene was nil so found this information very helpful. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Hi James – great article. I have a few days in Lisbon, a Friday and Saturday. Could you recommend;
    – area to stay
    – things to do. I like wandering/walking so routes taking in key attractions in the city centre.
    I also have one question – can you actually eat fresh fish at Mercado 31 De Janeiro market? Or is it simply for viewing/buying only?
    Many thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Nick,

      There are two sections to that market: there’s the fresh produce market and there’s also a huge food court area with lots of different stands from local Portuguese restaurants. So, yes, you’ll be able to find a few that do fresh fish.

      As for areas to stay, I often recommend Principe Real. I personally like Campo do Ourique, but it’s maybe not as central as some people visiting for a few days would like.

      The historical attractions are split between Lisbon City Centre and Belem. Lisbon City Centre is quite small so you could easily wander through several neighbourhoods in less than an hour.

      I think a walking tour is a good way to get a feel for a city, so I usually do one when I first arrive somewhere. There are plenty of free (tips-based) tours and paid tours. I really need to do a full writeup on them, but it’s quite difficult as they’re all very good and very similar.

      Reply
  3. Love Rick Stein’s long weekend in Portugal. His shows are very popular here in Oz. My sister and I are heading there next month for 4 weeks. My bag is already packed – Lyn

    Reply
  4. I have just found your blog and want to thanks you for offering such a great public service. My wife and I are going to Lisbon in early November and looking forward to both the food and the culture. Thanks again.

    Reply
  5. We have just returned from a week in Lisbon having been tempted by Ricks show. I wish I had seen your blog before we went, as we couldn’t remember all Ricks highlights. However, we had a brilliant visit and did a lot of what you have listed. We ate three times at the Time Out market, fantastic food choices and a great atmosphere.

    Reply
  6. Thanks for the write up. I can’t wait to view the actual show here in Australia when it airs. Rick visited 3 of my favourite spots in Lisbon: Belem, Mercado de Ribeira and Cervejaria Ramiro which are all worth a visit.

    Reply
  7. This is really helpful, thank you James! I’ve just booked to go to Lisbon and the Algarve with my boyfriend in late April, and came across your website when having a peek at the list of places that Rick Stein went on his Long Weekend (the programme was repeated again the other night). Your thoughts are really helpful and I’m looking forward to seeing what other gems you have on your site, particularly re: the Algarve. Best wishes!

    Reply
  8. Just watched the programme as we are going there later this year. What do you call the large Terrace area early in the programme where he is looking over Lisbon?

    Reply
    • Hi Carol,

      He’s looking over Praça do Comércio (where he’s complaining about his hotel view). I imagine the shots were taken from the arch, which you can climb up. It costs very little – €2.50 I think.

      If you mean the square ten minutes into the show (where he’s getting serenaded), that’s Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara. It’s a fantastic Miradouro (viewing point), with views over Alfama.

      You’ll see signs for Miradouros everywhere in Lisbon. Keep an eye out as you’ll get some great views (and photos!).

      Reply
  9. I just love your blog and I am taking my daughter to Lisbon in March for my 50th so all information is wonderful, although the Rick Stein programme has refuelled my interest in the city, it’s been a dream of mine for a long time! Thinking about air b&b for accommodation so wondered if you had any ideas about that? Thanks, Jude

    Reply
  10. We just caught the intro to Rick Stein’s series and realised that he visited Lisbon. Just managed to catch the episode. We got married on Adraga beach on 1st June. Great blog 🙂

    Reply
  11. What a wonderful roundup, I really did enjoy seeing Rick on the telly the other evening, he really knows his stuff…I will have to go to LISBOA soon, to see all of these wonderful lisbon restaurants and places that he has mentioned.

    greetings from Shropshire!
    Jack

    Reply
  12. Hi James, I would like to thank you so much for your useful blog, my husband and I are here for our thirtieth wedding anniversary and are trying as many of ricks eaterys as possible. We are hoping to move to the algarve in the future but this is the first time to lisbon

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.