How to Spot a Tourist Trap (Lisbon Edition)

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.