Quick Take
Would I go back just for the food? Absolutely.
Biggest surprise: I fell in love with octopus.
Favorite restaurant: A Cozinha Sr. Lisboa
Don’t leave without trying: Pastéis de nata and Portuguese coffee.
One piece of advice: Come hungry
When people found out I was going to Portugal, they all said the same thing.
“You have to try the octopus.”
My response was always the same.
“I don’t really like seafood. Chewy food isn’t for me.”
Besides a few simple fish dishes, seafood had never really been my thing. So naturally, I assumed octopus would be one more food I’d politely decline.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Restaurant That Changed Everything
I can’t talk about food in Portugal without talking about A Cozinha Sr. Lisboa.
Every single dish left me speechless.
I’m a foodie, so I’ve had plenty of incredible meals before. But this wasn’t just good food—it was an experience.
Each bite felt intentional, like the chef had mastered the science of flavor. Everything was perfectly balanced. I found myself slowing down just to understand what I was tasting.
Before we left, I actually asked if I could meet the chef.
I needed him to know how much his food had moved me. Half-joking, I even tried convincing him to send me home with the recipes before I flew back to America.
The Octopus That Changed My Mind
Eventually, I stopped overthinking it and took my first bite.
Instead of the chewy texture I expected, I tasted something incredibly tender and full of flavor.
I remember sitting there thinking, “Have I been missing out all these years?”
Then my imagination completely took over.
I started wondering what it must feel like to live beneath the ocean, almost as if every bite carried a little piece of where that octopus had been.
Okay… maybe that’s dramatic.
But that’s honestly where my mind went.
A Taste of Home
Another unforgettable meal came from Sofia’s Place, an Afro-Portuguese restaurant.
The spices immediately transported me.
For a moment, I wasn’t sitting in Portugal anymore.
I was back on the coast of Africa.
The flavors reminded me of home, of family, of music, of memories I hadn’t thought about in years. It was one of those meals that reaches beyond your stomach and connects with something much deeper.
That’s what I loved most about Portugal.
Its culture feels layered.
Walking through the city, eating in different neighborhoods, and meeting people from different backgrounds made it clear that Portugal has been shaped by many cultures—and you can taste that history in its food.
More Than Just Food
Portugal itself was beautiful.
I visited during the rainy season, but even then, the city had so much character.
One thing I’ll warn you about though…
Wear comfortable shoes.
Lisbon is not the city for cute, uncomfortable sneakers.
One minute you’re walking on flat ground. The next you’re climbing a steep hill, walking across cobblestone streets, or dragging your suitcase down what feels like fifty stairs because your Airbnb is tucked away in the middle of a tiny alley.
Trust me.
Your feet will remember Portugal long after you leave.
One Final Confession
I ate so many pastéis de nata that I almost became one.
No exaggeration.
Two or three every day, usually with a coffee.
No regrets.
Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Portugal, don’t just plan your itinerary around landmarks.
Plan it around meals.
Some of my favorite memories weren’t created at famous viewpoints—they happened around a table.
And if you have the chance, rent a car and explore beyond the major cities.
The scenery is beautiful, but the food waiting in the smaller towns might just surprise you even more.
What Portugal left me with
Portugal reminded me that food isn’t just something we eat. It’s history, culture, memory, and connection. I arrived thinking I knew what I liked, and I left realizing that sometimes the best experiences begin the moment we’re willing to question our assumptions.
With Love and Graditude,
Assita D.
SheTravelz 