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TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE BREAKFAST: WHAT TO EAT IN LISBON

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When you’re in Lisbon, skip the big coffee chains and cafés and eat breakfast like the locals do. A traditional Portuguese breakfast is quite simple compared to other countries, but it hits the spot and energizes you for the day. So what do residents in Lisbon eat to fuel up in the morning? Here are some of the staples they can’t get enough of.

Portuguese Coffee

No breakfast in Lisbon is complete without a coffee (or two, or three!). There are several alternatives to ordering it, just like when ordering coffee in Spain, but any option you choose serves as the perfect way to start your breakfast. Like many European countries, the Portuguese love espresso and drink it black or with varying amounts of milk. One cup has enough kick to get you moving in the morning, but Lisbon’s residents love to drink it all day long. Mid-morning coffee around 11 AM keeps you going until lunchtime coffee, another way to get through the day.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Southern Portugal grows an abundance of citrus fruits, so the Portuguese incorporate them into their daily breakfast routine. Forget orange juice from a box because you can get the real thing, squeezed to order, for just a few euros. Fresh orange juice is an important and tasty part of the traditional Portuguese breakfast as a source of vitamins and nutrients. One glass is a wonderful dose of the necessary Vitamin C!

READ MORE: Petiscos: All the Best in Lisbon to Eat Like a Local

Different Types of Breads

Lisboners love carbs, so there’s a large variety of bread, despite the meal being light in general. Most commonly, the Portuguese will have something simple, like toast with butter and fruit jelly. But other options are:

  • Croissants, either plain or with ham and cheese for more sustenance.
  • The popular papo seco is a small roll that can be eaten as is or stuffed, like a small sandwich.
  • Sandwiches. Usually, a small breakfast sandwich includes ham, cheese, or both.

Pastries

Pasteis de Nata, typical pastry from Portugal.

If you fancy something sweet rather than savory, there are a plethora of pastries at your disposal in Lisbon. Some of the most popular are:

  • Pastéis de nata: Portugal’s most famous sweet treat. These custard tarts are delicious as part of a traditional Portuguese breakfast, or at any time of the day, really!
  • Pão de ló: a simple sponge cake perfect for dipping in coffee. It only contains 3 ingredients: flour, sugar and eggs. Light, fluffy, and oh so tasty!
  • Bola de Berlim: what’s better for breakfast than a mouth-watering doughnut? This one is fried to perfection, filled with a rich egg yolk filling, and dusted in sugar. It’s quite satisfying, so you’ll be good to go for a while after eating one.

Want to Know More What Lisbon Locals Eat All Day? 

Breakfast is of course just a starter… Join Food Lover Tour on an exciting culinary adventure and find out what Portuguese cuisine has to offer!

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