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Lisbon has a few great food markets. Do you go to local food markets for your meals when you travel?
Food markets are a great way to get to know a culture and see more locals.
Time Out near Cais do Sodre is a foodie heaven with plenty of options. From traditional Portuguese to Italian, Asian, and fusion, it’s a sensory overload. But have you checked out the other neighborhoods in the city?
You’ll have no reason to go here as a tourist, but you should!
This is a busy residential neigbourhood with a lovely market and lots os small local businesses with a metro and bus access.
I went to Arroios market to check out the fruits and veggies but, most importantly, to eat lunch at Mezze.
The market building structure is typical of the old markets. You will not find many food stalls there but you will find some very interesting restaurants-Mezze, being my favorite.
The word “Mezze” means sharing food, and the NGO Pão a Pão created Mezze restaurant to help refugees and immigrants integrate into their new country by training and employing people in the food industry. The idea is to build a cultural bridge with the language of food.
The restaurant has a long communal table in the center of the room-I love communal tables. They are fantastic for solo travelers like me or anyone looking for a chat during dinner. Some of my best social experiences have been at communal tables.
For those of you who prefer more privacy, there are many small and medium tables inside the restaurant and out side.
I was seated at a small table because the center table was full. As I settled into my corner, the server brought me a little prelude to my meal: a plate of perfectly toasted pita chips, two small but amazing appetizers, and a bowl of olives.
I could not help but notice the person at the table in front of me scrolling through Mezze’s Instagram to choose her lunch.
Their photos are great and really do the food justice but their site also has great images of their food.
It’s August, and it’s hot. I needed something refreshing and went for the cold tomato soup with Labneh. And it was amazing!
The color alone made my taste buds do the happy dance and the exotic spices? I couldn’t name them if I tried, but they turned that soup into a Mediterranean delight!
My main dish was kebab bil Karaz, rice, veggies, and an excellent yogurt sauce. As I tasted each mouthful, I couldn’t help but take in the atmosphere around me—different languages blending into a hum and excitement in the air. I felt at home as a solo diner.
The people at Mezze know how to make you feel special. From the moment I walked in, I knew I was in good hands. They got the balance just right—attentive but not intrusive. Never rushing me but popping by often enough to keep my glass full and my smile in place.
So, fellow solo travelers and solo diners, you’ll fit right in!
As I left the Arroios market I couldn’t help but think of the other restaurants I still need to try at this large market place:
Tasca do Mercado
Pequeno Cafe e Bistro
A Avó Tinha
R. Ângela Pinto 40D, 1900-221 Lisboa, Portugal
Best metro station: Alameda (green line).
The neighborhood market in Campo do Ourique has a very different vibe than the Arroios market. It’s a busy place with many fruit stalls, a fresh fish store, the fabulous Gleba bakery, several small restaurants, bars, and even a flower stall. This market is so lively.
While I don’t have a favorite restaurant here, the variety is impressive. You can find everything from burgers and steaks to Japanese and Portuguese cuisine. It’s a fantastic option if you’re traveling with a group of people with different tastes.
The food market has an excellent seating area in the center of the building, where you can see all the restaurants, stalls, and people walking around. Campo do Ourique market is getting increasingly popular, so arrive early for good seating.
The Campo do Ourique neighborhood has a village-like feel with its residential atmosphere and the many small specialty boutique stores, restaurants, cafes and more – so make sure to go for a walk after your meal.
When I go to the Campo do Ourique market for lunch, I always go on a neighborhood walk to visit the renowned Galeria Miguel Nabinho art gallery. Sometimes, I buy cheese from the French cheese store, Maître Renard. One of my favorite activities is sitting in the plaza to enjoy the shade and the buzz around me.
R. Coelho da Rocha 104, 1350-075 Lisboa, Portugal
No metro station so take a bus or an Uber/ Bolt/ taxi.
The Mercado 31 de Janeiro is near the Picoas metro stop in the Saldanha area. It has a fantastic fruit and veggie area, fishmongers, butchers, and small restaurants.
The fish restaurant at the end of the market is fantastic. Lunch is packed with people who work near the market, so you can get a feel for local life.
The Saldanha area is not a tourist destination, but it does have quite a few hotels, so if you are staying in one of the hotels nearby, I suggest at least one fun market lunch at the 31 de Janeiro market.
Rua Engenheiro Vieira da Silva, Praça Duque de Saldanha.
Two metro stations nearby: Picoas (yellow line) and Saldanha (red line).
My friends at Webiwant and Le Petit Journal, Dublin; a fellow writer and her partner who is an artist and I went back to Mezze for dinner and it was fantastic!
I am sure we will all be back to try all the other dishes!
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More foodie tips.
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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