Eat Here: Bairro Alto in Lisbon

There are a million things to love about Lisbon and Portugal in general. But a recent visit introduced me to the city’s interesting and largely unheralded status as a jewel in the crown of the food and wine culture. Sure, Spain in general gets the nod but Lisbon deserves to be singled out for special distinction. I love this capital city and I’d call it a major player in the culture surrounding “tapas” or as the Portuguese call them “petiscos”.

For the uninitiated, according to those in the know, it all started in the 13th century with King Alfonso X of Castile.

Tapas and Petiscos

The word “tapa” comes from the Spanish word tapar which means “to cover”. One popular story is that King Alfonso XIII traveled to Cádiz and stopped at a tavern on a windy day. In order to keep the dust and sand out of the King’s drink, the bartender put a slice of ham on top. The King loved this so much he ordered another drink. Some people will also say tapas were created to hide the bad smell of a cheap wine or to keep out pesky flies. No matter which story you believe, we can all agree that tapas are delicious!”

We do. When you can’t choose one thing to eat, tapas come in handy. And Lisbon’s bohemian neighborhood Bairro Alto has streets full of charming bars and clubs where you can select from a menu with many appetizer-like dishes. But don’t get confused while ordering – Portuguese-style tapas called “petiscos” are usually what you’ll find, although some spots do provide Spanish-style tapas, too.

What’s good?

Typically selections center around fish and seafood, including octopus, sardines, and cod.But vegetables, bean stews, meats including pork sausages, as well as a variety of cheeses, are also specialties to be enjoyed.

Remember that while shops are closed in the afternoons from noon until 2 or 3pm, the day resumes in the afternoon. Typically dinners are later in the evening, beginning around 7pm and lasting until midnight or so, depending on the day of the week.