3 Amazing and Cheap restaurants to find in the Bairro Alto
While spending a short city break in Lisbon I found that the city has so much to offer in quality food and affordable prices. There are plenty of high-end restaurants for a fancy night out, but there also some amazing and cheap restaurants in the Bairro Alto, just waiting to be discovered.
I would class myself as quite open when it comes to food. I love my food, not brave enough to call myself a foodie, but confident enough to go on record as saying that I will try about 99% of what is available out there. However, I really wasn’t in the humour for casseroles or fish – some traditional Portuguese dishes, so my girlfriend and I decided to search for what else Lisbon has to offer, but on a strict budget.
Petiscos @ 100 Montaditos
Petiscos are the Portuguese version of tapas. We’ve experienced what Dublin City has to offer in the world of tapas but we wanted to see what Portugal has to offer. As we were students and on a tight budget we wanted to find something different but at an affordable price and an affordable place we found!
100 Montaditos – This cosy tapas bar is perfect for those who either had a big lunch during the day or are planning on spending the early hours of the morning out on the town and wish to get some quick, cheap bites in.
The montaditos are mini baguettes served soft fresh warm and with over 100 options available there is something literally for everyone here, unless you are coeliac, then this place isn’t for you.
There are 35 options available for only €1, with the most expensive “Premium Options” coming in at a staggeringly cheap €2. This place is cheap and I mean it. There are other side options available like nachos to share, fries, crisps, chicken wings, and croquettes from €2-5. Beer is available in tankard size for €2 as is a glass of wine to wash down all the delectable tapas.
Booking.comWhen we went to 100 Montaditos at 10pm there were families, groups of friends, and couples of all ages, this is a really cool place that offers tasty food and drink at cheaper than fast food prices, you can’t beat it.
Pizza @ Simplesmente Pizza Bar
You can’t go wrong with Pizza right? Yes. Yes you can go horribly wrong with Pizza. More often than not ordering pizza at a restaurant can result in you being given a doughy, oily, mess. The only reason I talk so passionately is because I am passionate about Pizza, so much so I even capitalise the word.
Pizza and drinks go hand-in-hand right? If you’re at a friend’s party, or want something to eat after a session out on the town, the main go-to food is Pizza. Well, situated right in the heart of the amazing Bairro Alto nightlife on Rua d’Atalaia is Simplesmente Pizza!
Simplesmente Pizza bar offer a huge range of meat and vegetarian Pizzas that are bound to tickle your taste buds all for around the €10/11 mark.
When this Pizza comes out of the oven and you see how big they are you probably think you’ll never be able to finish it, but they cook with such a thin base you’ll find it disappearing before your eyes, and quickly at that!
I got the Frangomelo Pizza which was: chicken, mushroom, bacon, and oregano. They shredded the meat and the Pizza was cut in a criss-cross manner so each slice was like a small tile of delicious Pizza. The base was so thin, and the ingredients so fresh that it was a pleasure to eat here.
What separates this place from the rest, besides their authentic Pizza is that all you have to do is walk outside and you are into the heart of Lisbon’s amazing nightlife is a big bonus and it is a must-visit place.
Curry @ Tasca do Marinheiro
The final cheap but amazing place to eat in Lisbon is Tasca do Marinheiro; a quaint, local Indian restaurant situated a little bit off the beaten track but still remarkably close to some extremely popular places.
My girlfriend and I went here on our last night in the city and we were so happy we did. We were in the mood for an authentic curry and we found it here. Her chickpea curry, with rice, and a hefty glass of wine came to €6.50 which was unbelievable.
Their curry came out in perfect sized portions that left you at a nice level of full after finishing your meal. The sauce had the perfect mix of spice and was full of fresh ingredients. The restaurant was small and very local, but extremely friendly. The staff were lovely and it was a great place to enjoy a meal.
We couldn’t believe it was so cheap when we saw the bill. I got lamb tikka and while it was slightly more expensive, it was so tasty. Rice is included free of charge in all of their dishes and alcohol is cheap as usual, so this meal is definitely one for all. For two of us the total came to €16.50 and we were just amazed.
My girlfriend and I went to Lisbon as students, on student budgets. We weren’t interested in spending €50 for a meal. We wanted to spend our money on exploring and having new experiences.
Lisbon is a cheap city with wonderful food to offer. There are definitely restaurants that are overpriced and traps for tourists, but if you take the time to do a little research you will find high-quality food for a reasonable price and sometimes, an absolute steal.
If you’re looking for countries that offer excellent culinary experiences for supremely low prices you should definitely check out my blog on Skopje, North Macedonia, and what to do there. The city was stunning and breakfast at a lovely restaurant for two was €6… Six!
