Portugal (Lisbon and Porto) was my first time back in Europe since 2016 when I went to Spain. This trip was my first time meeting and traveling with my longtime IG friend, Saba. I’ve known Saba (virtually) for years, and worked for her VA business, The In Demand VA, for over a year.
With a total of eight days, we spent three days in Lisbon and five in Porto. While I loved visiting Lisbon and Porto, we could’ve also squeezed in some time to visit the Algarve region.
Below I’m sharing where to eat, play, and stay in Lisbon and Porto.
Lisbon
Where to stay
Where to eat
Where to play
Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal, so there are many neighborhoods to choose from when picking your accommodation. However, if it’s your first time visiting then I’d highly recommend staying around the Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, or Alfama neighborhoods. These areas are in, or close to, Lisbon’s downtown.
Airbnb (Alfama)
We chose an Airbnb Plus listing in the Alfama neighborhood and it was really beautiful and affordable. It had everything we needed, including the beautiful view of the water from the balcony. I loved that the Airbnb had space heaters because it got chilly in the evenings.
Moxy Lisboa Oriente
Since we were taking an early morning train to Porto, we wanted to stay closer to Oriente station. Moxy Lisboa Oriente was literally across the street from the station, and Saba had a Marriott discount. The rooms were basic, but I loved the common areas, which included the gym, workspace, and mini restaurant).
Seventh Brunch Coffee
Breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal of the day, so I was pleasantly surprised by how many spots serve it. It was really difficult picking a spot, but we picked Seventh Brunch based on ratings/reviews and their Instagram.
When we arrived, there was a small line outside the restaurant but the wait was only about 10 minutes. Keep in mind, the restaurant is small so seating is limited, they also don’t take reservations. We were able to snag a high table that provided views of the trams going by.
The food was delicious and everything was cheap. But, in fairness, we didn’t pay for our meals because our server accidentally dropped my friend’s original plate. But I do remember the prices for everything, and it was very cheap for the amount of food we received.
Lumi Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
Located above the Lumiares Hotel, Lumi provides beautiful water views, delicious food, and even yummier drinks. This is a great place to catch the sunset and they have heaters for when it’s chilly. But you can also sit inside.
Tapas 129
This tapas restaurant was only a 5-minute walk from our Airbnb, so we figured why not check it out. So happy we did because the tapas, and sangria, were delicious.
This restaurant is very small inside but offers outdoor seating. We ordered tapas 6, which was an assortment of toppings on 6 slices of bread, sangria, and prawns. The sangria is strong, in a good way 😉 and most of the menu is traditional Portuguese cuisine.
Food Tour (Airbnb Experience)
Would you believe that this was my first food tour, or that this was my first Airbnb experience? Well, both are surprisingly true and I’m glad I chose this tour! We had roughly 18 tastings from different restaurants around Lisbon, paired with alcoholic beverages (specifically wine). Every place we went to, we ate authentic Portuguese cuisine like pastel de feijão, sardines, and bacalhau a braz.
By the Wine
Before I give this review I want to say that I, indeed, loved all the food I ate in Lisbon. However, this restaurant left me in awe — first, the decor is so carefully thought out. From the arched ceiling covered with wine bottles to the wine barrels that also doubled as tables.
The wine selection is incredible given their name, and the food is unforgettable. We tried their fried plantain topped with spicy tuna ceviche, which I inhaled (and I’m not a big ceviche eater). Then we tried their bull sirloin steak, which came with roasted potatoes and was delicious.
While I love history, I’ve honestly never found Portuguese history to be interesting/appealing. Maybe because of Portugal’s role in the colonization of the Americas, or because I’m personally not a very religious person. In either case, I didn’t go to many sites that are popular among tourists.
Downtown Lisbon
Most of the famous sites and shops are around the downtown area, this includes Praça do Comércio. We spent most of our time walking around the downtown area to shop and eat.
Porto
Where to stay
Where to eat
Where to play
Airbnb
One of the best Airbnbs I’ve stayed in, it was stocked with the basics, near everything, and had incredible views. The sunrises and sunsets were truly unreal, but don’t just take my word for it, look at the photos below.
Do Norte Cafe by Hungry Biker
A cute coffee shop that serves food (specifically breakfast/lunch) and drinks, offers free wifi, and outlets to work. The food was delicious, but keep in mind that their portions are very large.
Muro do Bacalhau
Take in the river view while eating delicious Portuguese cuisine. Although we came towards their closing time, the service was impeccable and the food was actually insane. I can’t remember everything we ordered, however, you won’t be disappointed with whatever you decide to get.
Taberna D’Avo
Hands down my favorite dining experience in Porto was here, the service and food were amazing. It’s definitely a hidden gem and a traditional Portuguese restaurant that locals frequent. The entire experience just felt authentic, we ordered different things and loved everything we had (besides the rissoles).
Noshi Coffee & Healthy Food
A coffee shop that was close to our Airbnb, it’s in their name, but they boast about serving healthy food. I loved their chai latte because it had the perfect blend of black tea, spices, and milk.
Downtown Porto
The city center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is fairly small. In fact, you can walk the entire center in just one day. However, there’s no shortage of churches, markets, cafes, and other beautiful buildings to explore in the city center.
Douro Wine Tour
This tour was recommended to me by a friend and was seriously the highlight of my trip. I got to drink so much wine, learn the history of wine and winemaking, and try different Portuguese cuisine. I went on the tour solo since my friend had to work and never felt alone. It was a truly authentic experience hosted by a Portuguese family.
The Dom Luís I Bridge & Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
This a great spot to catch beautiful views of Porto and the Douro River, make sure to come before sunset!
