Lisbon Cheap Eats: How to save on eating out
Portugal is one of our favorite budget destinations for food and drink. A multitude of fish and meat dishes, not to mention amazing wines for every palette, are available for very reasonable prices in Portugal’s capital city.
But in Lisbon, just like in any other large metropolis in Europe, it matters when, where, and what you eat. These factors can have a dramatic effect on how much you end up spending.
Related:
• Exploring the top free attractions in Lisbon
• Budget Accommodations in Lisbon: 5 Cheapo picks
• 10 Ways to save on a trip to Portugal
Lisbon Cheap Eats Guide
Are you ready to dine out in Lisbon? Here’s how to eat on the cheap in this beautiful Portuguese city.
1. Feast on fixed-price fare at lunch
If you want to try a variety of local dishes at a fraction of the cost, go out at lunch and order a local restaurant’s fixed price menu, called the prato de dia. Ordering the same dishes a la carte will cost you approximately more than twice as much in the evening.
A typical Lisbon lunch paired with a glass of local beer. Photo: Tim C.
2. Research before you go
Knowing what’s out there, what prices to expect, and what times things are actually open will save you money hand over fist, as you won’t end up stuck in a chain restaurant or a tourist trap because you wandered around aimlessly until well after everywhere shut down for a break between lunch and dinner. That’s right, some of the city’s best budget restaurants close for a couple of hours before dinner after serving up daily menus to the lunch crowd.
3. Get away from the busy main streets
This is especially true in the Old Town of Lisbon. If a restaurant is really prominently located next to a tourist attraction, or even just somewhere very convenient, the fare is likely to be more expensive—after all, they’re paying rent, and the saying goes, “location, location, location.”
If you want to find cheaper eats in Lisbon’s Old Town, head to the seaside of things near the Fado Museum where you’ll find a good selection of reasonably priced places serving up authentic local fare.
4. Go where the locals go
When you see a place full of people speaking Portuguese and free of anyone with a camera around their neck, chances are, it’s a good place to try authentic and inexpensive local fare. Another good clue? Older folks running the kitchen or serving drinks behind the bar.
You’ll find plenty of fresh seafood, like these grilled sardines, around Lisbon. Photo: Theo K
5. Eat on Portuguese time
If you can manage to adapt to the local schedule, you’ll have a much easier time finding good deals on local meals. Look for breakfast offers from early morning until around 10 am. At lunchtime, fixed price feasts on special peak around 1 pm, while dinner starts at around 8 pm on weeknights. However, many locals sit down to dinner much later with some folks having their evening meal at 11 pm.
6. Snack at neighborhood bars
Neighborhood bars around town may not be much to look at, but they’re the perfect choice for a tipple and some stripped down bar food. Think olives, chicken pot pie (torta de frango), and the like paired with lots of local wine and beer.
Related: 5 Lookout points in Lisbon to enjoy a drink with a view
Find a classic neighborhood bar for cheap (and tasty!) eats in Lisbon. Photo: We Love Lisbon
7. Drink house wine
House wine is good enough in Portugal for pretty much anyone except for serious wine connoisseurs. Plus, it’s much cheaper than ordering a specific vintage in a bottle.
Related: 5 Lookout points offering a drink with a view in Lisbon
8. Skip mixed drinks
Mixed drinks may be cheaper in Lisbon than they are in say London or Paris, but they can still dig into your daily dining budget. If you don’t want your bar tab to soar, stick to wine and beer.
9. Don’t leave a big tip
Service workers are paid living wages in Portugal, and they’re not depending on your tip to make it. A tip of a few coins is usually plenty, but if you get exceptional service and want to make a splash, leave something foldable.
10. Skip hotel breakfasts
Hotel breakfasts are usually a bit pricey for what you get. Unless breakfast is included with your room, skip it and head out for a coffee with milk called a galão and fresh-baked pasteis de nata, a custard filling in a flakey pastry shell topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
The cost? €2 or less!
And book a cheap hotel in Lisbon and start dreaming about Portuguese pastries.
11. Leave that plate of olives alone
In Lisbon, when restaurants bring out bread and olives before a meal, it’s generally not a freebie. So unless you’re down on your gluten and olive quota for the trip, skip them. It’s much cheaper to snack on fresh bread from the bakery and olives from the market on a picnic in the park.
12. Order a half-ration
If you’re not very hungry and aren’t keen on begging for a doggy bag (taking your leftovers home is still taboo here), you can always order a half-ration sometimes called mini pratos. Half-rations aren’t available in a lot of European cities, but they are available in Lisbon.
The best part? Mini pratos are dirt cheap, starting at just €3-4 for a generous helping.
Your tips for cheap eats in Lisbon?
Have a tip for ways to save on dining in Lisbon? Share with us in the comments section below!
If you’re ready to visit, check out our full list of budget hotels in Lisbon.
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