Guide to Lisbon, Portugal
Hilly streets wind past gourmet food spots, cosy wine bars, and terracotta rooftops, while hand-painted azulejo tiles add colour and character around every corner. Rich in history yet effortlessly vibrant, Lisbon is a city best explored one neighbourhood at a time.
We recently sent our team to Portugal’s capital, and they came back with plenty to share. From unforgettable restaurants and boutique stays to life-changing custard tarts, we’ve rounded up the very best so you can spend less time planning and more time falling in love with Lisbon.
What to Pack
Lisbon is a city that rewards colour. The architecture is decorated in terracotta rooftops, hand-painted azulejo tiles in blue and gold, pastel facades stacked up the hillside. Why not lean into it with your wardrobe? Pack your favourite printed sets, your most vibrant dresses, and get playful with bold accessories.
Our travel essentials for the trip:
- Binnie Mini in Forget Me Not: Lisbon is the backdrop you've been waiting for.
- Isla Bag in Biscotti: for market finds, pastries, and anything else you pick up along the way.
- A bikini and co-ord set: Coco Bikini in Pomelo and the Imogen Top and Liss Pants in Papaya.
- Flip flops: for wandering the waterfront in Cascais or Sesimbra.
- A comfortable ballet flat or sandal: Lisbon is famously hilly. You will walk. A lot. Pack something beautiful that won't betray you.
- The Scarf in Ginger Spot: because every winding laneway deserves a moment.
- Jewellery with personality: we love @mimiettoi jewels for pieces that feel effortless and elevated.
- A good book: Beach Read by Emily Henry is our current pick.
- A digital camera: bring a compact and shoot everything. Trust us on this one.
Where to Eat
Dobeco
Start your morning here. Dobeco is a beautiful little bakery where you can watch the bread and pastries being made fresh while you sip your coffee. Order early, find a spot, and take your time.
Heim Cafe
A local favourite for brunch and lunch, Heim draws a cool, creative crowd and earns every bit of the hype. The menu leans into fresh, seasonal ingredients and the space itself is warm and considered. We loved it enough to dedicate a full slide to our review (see the carousel).
Alimentar
For dinner, this is your place. Alimentar is modern Portuguese cuisine at its very best with an ever-changing, unforgettable menu that we'd travel back for alone. Our recommendation: order the tasting experience, half size of five mains, and share across the table. Note, they don't take bookings, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. It is absolutely worth it.
Where to Find the Best Pastel de Nata
Lisbon's famous custard tarts, pastel de nata, are non-negotiable. The original and still the best? Pastéis de Belém in the Belém neighbourhood, where the recipe has been kept secret since 1837. Arrive early, order a plate of three, dust generously with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and eat them warm. This is the whole trip in one bite.
For something closer to the centre, Manteigaria in the Chiado district is a close second and always freshly baked throughout the day.
Where to Stay
Lapa Palace
Set in a 19th-century palace in the quiet, leafy Lapa district, this is Lisbon at its most romantic. The gardens are extraordinary, a lush, secret world of tropical plants and towering trees with the terracotta rooftops of the city visible beyond. The pool, the service, the sense of stepping out of time entirely, Lapa Palace is the kind of stay that becomes the memory you organise the whole trip around.
It sits slightly apart from the busier tourist neighbourhoods, which we consider a feature. Take a taxi or tuk-tuk into the centre and return each evening to something genuinely peaceful.
