Magpie
5.0(38 reviews)

Lisbon Awakens: A Culinary Crossroads, Reborn

From$135
5.5 hours
Max 7 people
Lisbon, Portugal

About this activity

On this food tour in Lisbon, we’ll experience a cultural feast, tasting some of the most diverse bites of the city’s gastronomy and meeting the people behind them.

Highlights

  • Culinary walking tour
  • Tour of Campo de Ourique neighbohood and Market
  • Learning about the Portuguese spice trade
  • Tasting an award winning pastel de nata
  • Tasting food from Goa at a social club

Full description

On this food tour in Lisbon, which includes about a dozen different stops, we will explore the  backstreets of this enchanting city in a delicious attempt to unravel its identity. We’ll start with the simple offerings of a classic pastry shop beside the 18th-century Estrela Basilica. From there we’ll make our way up to the out-of-the-way Campo de Ourique market, where we’ll have a shot of ginjinha, a traditional local eye-opener, and meet the old artisans working alongside more modern, boutique offerings. We will start our lunch with a variety of traditional seasonal specialties. We’ll then head to a hidden-gem neighborhood restaurant.  We’ll visit a private club with a very unique story and that serves a mean vindalho (the ancestor of Goan vindaloo). We will also have a tasting of signature Portuguese cheeses and wines. We’ll sample savory pastries at a historic bakery and finish up with one of the city's best pastel de nata, the famous local custard tart.
The oldest city in Western Europe, once the hub of a trading empire that connected Macau in the east to Rio de Janeiro in the west, Lisbon today feels staunchly Old World European, a sleepy town of nostalgic storefronts and scenic churches. But that’s only its façade. Take a closer look and you’ll discover a city that still maintains deep-rooted links around the world – just consider the local obsession with African piri piri sauce – and that is a vital and cutting-edge place, with packed restaurants and bar-lined streets. 
We’ll start our tour by traveling back in time for a taste of the “Age of Exploration,” a golden period when Lisbon became the center of a global empire, awash in power and holding the keys to the spice trade. We’ll search for a taste of those distant roots in the simple offerings of  classic pastry shops, a local market, a favorite neighborhood restaurants. By hearing the stories of the food makers we meet along the way, we’ll locate that sweet spot where past and present, near and far, meet and become deliciously entwined.

Included / Excluded

  • Guided tour through Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods
  • Tastings of traditional Greek dishes and local specialties
  • Wine tasting featuring small Greek producers
  • Transportation to and from the meeting point

Meeting point

Start Location

Praça da Estrela, Lisbon, Portugal

Important information

Know before you book

  • The tour is conducted in English; proficiency is recommended.
  • Some stops may not be suitable for individuals with mobility impairments due to stairs and uneven terrain.
  • The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets.
  • Bring a light jacket or sweater as evenings can be cool.
  • Ensure you have a valid ID if you plan to participate in wine tasting.

Food & drinks

  • Food: almost a dozen different edible specialties
  • Drinks: Selected wine tasting

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

More than one week before the beginning of the activity: 90% Refund Less than one week before the beginning of the activity: 50% Refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: No Refund

Reviews

5.0(38 reviews)
Google
Laura Dalrymple
Oct 2026
5.0

Thanks for an excellent day full of delicious and very varied food experiences, from onigiri all the way to sake. Our host, Diana, was lovely and knowledgeable.

Google
Tony Egan
Sep 2026
5.0

We did the Yanesen tour with Michelle and had a wonderful time exploring corners of Tokyo we were unlikely to find ourselves. The food and venues were very well curated with cultural and historic locations well spaced between eating and drinking. Michelle provided excellent background and context at all times and the pacing was great. Finishing with a drink on a makeshift street bar was perfect. Thank you Michelle for one of the best experiences of our trip.

Google
oliver sands
Sep 2026
5.0

We recently did the food tour of Kichijoji and had the best time. Our guide, Michelle, was incredible. She was the perfect blend of knowledge, fun and passion, and she introduced us to a diverse range of food offerings and venues. I would highly recommend jumping on one of Michelle's tours with Culinary Backstreets as it was the highlight of our 5 day stay in Tokyo. Cheers, Oliver & Ged

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