Discover the flavors of Portugal

When you visit Portugal you can enjoy a wide variety of delicacies, wines, and local drinks to please every palate. However, to truly experience Portuguese food culture, don’t just stick to restaurants — follow the locals to cafés, tascas, pastelarias, wine bars, markets, and, during festivals and outdoor events, food trucks known as roulottes.

At these places favored by locals you can taste traditional sandwiches like the bifana (pork sandwich), prego (beef sandwich), pão com chouriço (chorizo bread), Porto’s famous Francesinha, or Leitão (roasted suckling pig) paired with sparkling wine from Bairrada. You can also try salgados (savory treats) found in all Portuguese cafés, such as pastéis de bacalhau (codfish cakes), rissóis de camarão (Portuguese shrimp turnovers), and croquets. During the Popular Saints’ Festivals, especially in Lisbon and Porto, don’t miss grilled sardines on bread with caldo verde soup, paired with wine or beer — a true must!

Summer in Portugal calls for “petiscos” — small dishes to share — like salada de polvo (octopus salad), ameijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams), pica-pau (garlic-marinated meat bites), choco frito (fried cuttlefish), and the quirky caracóis. These small snails, served in a flavorful herby broth, are often enjoyed with buttered, toasted bread.

At the beach during the summer, you’ll hear vendors shouting “olhá a bolinha”; they’re selling bolas de Berlim — Berliner doughnuts filled with doce de ovos, simply delicious! At traditional town festivities, you’ll also find roulottes selling tasty farturas, similar to doughnuts and well worth trying.

Of course, Portugal’s most iconic sweet treat is the pastel de nata (custard tart), found on almost every corner and usually enjoyed with a strong espresso.

Another tradition, especially in the fall months and during the São Martinho Festival, is the unmistakable smell of roasted chestnuts on the streets. Look out for the street vendors and grab a bag, they’re delicious.

Explore traditional city markets such as Lisbon’s Mercado da Ribeira, Porto’s Mercado do Bolhão, Loulé’s Municipal Market in the Algarve, or Funchal’s Mercado dos Lavradores. These vibrant spots have reinvented themselves, offering not only fresh produce, fish, and flowers but also food stalls with Portuguese dishes, sweets, and drinks like Ginjinha (best in a chocolate cup) or Madeira’s Poncha, made from sugarcane brandy with honey and lemon.

For the Portuguese, pairing each dish with the right wine is essential. As a renowned wine-producing country, Portugal offers plenty of perfect matches. While Port and Madeira are the most famous, regions such as the Douro Valley and Alentejo also produce outstanding table wines.

The next time you visit Portugal, enjoy warm hospitality and the pleasure locals take in sharing wines and a cuisine full of character. The Portuguese are deeply proud of their products, traditions, and the joy of welcoming you to the table — so come and savor Portugal.