Have you ever eaten something so delectable, or enjoyed it next to a view so beautiful, that you randomly catch yourself thinking about it months later?
Yeah, same.
Finding those food spots that make you ask yourself, "how do I order 100 of these and stash them in my suitcase?" or "do you think the waiter is judging me for photographing my appetizer at 6 different angles?" has become one of our favorite parts of traveling.
So, if you are traveling to Portugal in the near future and are looking to fill your itinerary with some good eats, here is a highlight of the top 3 food stops that we quite literally cannot stop thinking about.
#3: Casa Piriquita, Sintra
When spending the day in the fairytale city of Sintra, just one hour outside of Lisbon, we had to stop and try one of the area's most traditional treats: the travesseiro.
Travesseiros are pillow-shaped puff pastries filled with an egg cream and almond filling, along with a secret ingredient known only to those with access to the centuries-old recipe. There was no better spot to try our first travesseiro than Casa Pirquita - a 163 year old pastry shop settled in the middle of the quaint downtown. The inside had a historic charm and was packed wall to wall.
We grabbed our travesserios to go, found a seat on a bench by the National Palace of Sintra, and watched the sunset while sharing in the most perfect, cinnamon-sugary "pillow." They earn an 8.5/10.
#2: Pastéis de Belém & Manteigaria, Belém/Lisbon
Pastries were truly on repeat this trip, but with good reason. One simply cannot visit Lisbon without trying the city's most well known pastry - the Pastel De Nata. This legendary dessert is an egg custard pastry with a crisp, flaky crust and creamy custard filling; or as I liked to describe it, heaven in a bite.
You can find pastel de natas all over the city, but if you want the best, you have to add Pastéis de Belém & Manteigaria to your itinerary.
We took the day trip to Belém to try the famous Pastéis de Belém and it was truly a historical experience. This 188-year old pastry factory (are you sensing a theme here?) is home to the century-old secret recipe that draws tourists in from all over the world. Paired with a warm café in their iconic dining area, these natas get a 9/10 rating and a shared place in our top 3.
While Pastéis de Belém is typically rated the best in the city, Patrick and I actually preferred the flavor of the natas from Manteigaria, which we visited in Lisbon's Time Out Market. Although this stop didn't embody the same cultural heritage and experience as the former, their natas were to die for - flakier and with a perfect touch of cinnamon. Absolute 10/10. Also, absolute chance more were purchased before our flight and tucked away into my carry-on.
#1: Mar d'Fora, Carvoeiro
And this brings us to our #1 food stop from our trip (and no, it's not another pastry shop). When exploring the Algarve region, we came across Mar d'Fora, a cliffside restaurant with an insane view of the water and sunset. The floor to ceiling open windows made it feel like you were truly in the cliffs, as the waves gently crashed and you toasted to another beautiful day with your vinho verde.
We ordered their scallop and ceviche dishes and OH. WOW. Coming from a seafood lover like myself, you can take my word that these were the best scallops I have ever had - and I cannot in fact, as the title of this post implies, stop thinking about them. The food was fresh, the service was impressive, and the views were immaculate - earning this restaurant a 10/10 and the #1 spot on our list. If you find yourself traveling in the Algarve, Mar d'Fora is a must.
Budget tip: Rather than indulging in a full course dinner, we opted for drinks and small plates. This way, we still were able to savor the amazing view, get a taste of their mouthwatering menu, and cheers at sunset without breaking our budget.
Feeling inspired? Reach out to us on Instagram at @the.parttimetourists or send us an email at vistachasing@gmail.com. Happy Travels!
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