Places to Eat

Lisbon is full of places to eat. You will easily find your own but here are a few to start with. We've eaten at nearly all of them. Most places can be booked on line at The Fork.

Places near the Conference Venue:

• Altis Grand. Of course the hotel has places to eat. There is the up-market restaurant on the 12th floor and the Bistro on the Ground Floor.
• Banca de Pau. No website. A great, quite small Tapas Bar five minutes walk. Limited menu but can make a good meal. Sergio will explain everything, including best wine at very reasonable price. Go out of Hotel and turn right, first right up the hill along the side of the hotel. At the junction go diagonally over to the left up the R. Nova de São Mamede. Just at the top of the hill on the left at number 38A is the bar. Best book first.
• Os Tibetanos. This is part of the School of Tibetan Buddhism. Has quite a wide (all vegetarian) menu of mainly Tibetan food. Turn Right out of the hotel and walk down one block and it is directly in front of you.
• Estorias, Casa da Comida. More expensive end of the market but quirky and good food. Cross the main road at Rato Metro and walk up the hill along Calçada Bento da Rocha Cabra, take first right then first left and its on the left.

Other Places

• The Time-Out market at the Mercado da Ribeira by the Cais do Sodre rail station is a must for food. It is part of it is a large produce market with about 50 kiosks most of which are selling different (cooked) food. The central area has chairs and tables. Don’t miss the 5 or 6 restaurants separately down the west side where you can eat outside. The one we ate at was Balcao da Esquina.
• Zambeze. A bit pricy and although it has mixed reviews it has a terrace overlooking the rooftops of Lisbon. Portugese and Mozambique food. Go to the lower town in Baixa and find Rua da Madelena. Go to the highest point on the Rua and look up towards the castle. The Zambeze is high up on the roof of the multi-storey car park. You can go up the steps or the street – or walk into the supermarket at the bottom of the car park and you will find a pair of lifts to the top. Also the easiest way to get to the castle.
• Este Oeste. This is a pizza place (and other food) at the Cultural Centre of Belem. You can eat outside under cover from the sun with a view over the river. The Cultural Centre is worth a visit anyway if you have time.
• Finally, I haven't tried this but I'm told that if you like the local cherry brandy aperitif Ginja then there is a famous little Ginja bar called A Ginjinha in the North East corner of Rossio Square.