How to Spot a Tourist Trap (Lisbon Edition)
Avoid average meals (and higher prices)
Foodietravellersguide
Lisbon, Portugal
Not every restaurant in Lisbon is worth it – here’s how towuicjky spot the good ones.
🚩 Red flags:
Menus with photos
Staff standing outside trying to pull you in
Large menus with lots of different cuisines and translations
Places right next to major landmarks with generic signs like “Traditional Portuguese Cuisine”
Empty restaurants at peak times (especially around lunch and dinner)
✅ Better signs:
Short, focused menu
Busy with locals (especially Portuguese-speaking tables)
Simple, traditional dishes rather than everything under the sun
A visible prato do dia (dish of the day)
No one trying to convince you to come in
Tip: walk just one or two streets away from the main tourist areas and you’ll usually find better, more authentic food at lower prices.
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