Lisbon, Portugal:  Splurge on the Food       

 Ah, Lisbon. No tourist has ever forgotten the delights of Lisbon.  For the intrepid tourist, all nooks and crannies of the city must be explored and the avid foodie, no food must to be left untasted or the Lisbon trip wouldn't be worth the long haul.

 Lisbon Treats

 "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..."  Elizabeth Barrett Browning summed it up well for food lovers who have enjoyed Lisbon's cuisine.  For a first-timer, chancing on a hole-in-the wall restaurant and given fresh whole shrimp in zesty garlic sauce, hearty morsels of snow-white squid simmering in molten garlic butter, grilled sardines accompanied with tomato sauce soaked rice and a creamy sweet flan for dessert - is food nirvana on the cheap.    

 Lisbon is home to numerous restaurants and tascas or small taverns. Hungry tourists will find everything from international to regional cuisine. Lisbon cuisine is a cornucopia of fresh seafood, succulent meat and venison, and poultry and vegetables and fruits are aplenty.  The meat dishes are boiled, broiled, grilled, or fried.

 The locals love salted codfish (bacalhau) and this Christmas time staple prepared with olive oil, potatoes, and chickpeas. For sweets, Lisboetas are proud of their custard tarts or Pasteis de Belem, which is world famous for its creamy milky taste. The original tart is still being baked and if you want the real thing, follow the line that leads to the bakeshop which serves the tart and nothing else except for a choice of drinks.

 Lisbon Restaurants

 Lisbon has an extensive list of restaurants in the heart of the city and in the suburbs.  The restaurants offer an array of international and local cuisine to suit all tastes and budgets. Some of these restaurants offer a superb hilltop view of the city.  You can have a pick of trendy spots, vintage classic, palatial restaurants fit for royalty, and a convent setting.

 Tourists can choose Lisbon restaurants for the views or opt for good but inexpensive food, or good fast food.  It would pay to try the different restaurants for these reasons to enjoy a wider spectrum of Lisbon fare and restaurant ambience.    

 If you miss the burgers and French fries you can find these in restaurants that serve international cuisine.  If you want to get a good sampling of Lisbon hybrid cuisine, try the classier restaurants.  This will be more expensive - but if food is the soul of your Lisbon trip, it is worth the money you splurge.

 If ambience is your trip, be ready to pay more and get there early to get the best spot for the best view.  These places are favorite hangouts for the younger set that make a beeline for these places to meet and eat.

 Online Booking

 There are several tour Lisbon packages to choose from online offers.  There are daytime tour packages, private tours, day or night tours, and 10 days tour. To complete your booking be ready to provide information such as the date of the tour, number of adults/children, type of hotel or boarding room type, name of hotel, and your budget.   You can also choose an historical inn, charm inn or nature inns and get a good discount for early booking.       

Do not forget to book your Lisbon apartment  in advance!