Eating out is one of the most fun ways of exploring a city or just getting to know it better. In Lisbon the only hard part is making a choice. If you have money to blow you can go traditional/palatial with Tavares (going since 1784) or über-trendy with Bica do Sapato (co-owned by John Malkovich and Catherine Deneuve). I haven't been to either of these, but I've had the best time lately investigating a variety of eateries with great food at reasonable prices ...
Some things I've noticed ... Although Lisbonites are hugely sociable, they also completely get the value of reading while you eat ...
... not to mention appreciating the necessity of good ice-cream to life. At Santini (the creation of an Italian immigrant to Portugal) in the Chiado, the queues snake out the door most days, but the gelato is absolutely worth the wait ...
An eye for style is always evident, whether one is eating inside ...
Envy, Rua do Carmo
or out - perhaps with an ancient ruin thrown in for free ...
Pharmacia is located in the same lovely old building that houses a Pharmacy Museum, and takes inspiration from that, with an interior and decor inspired by classic old pharmacies ...
Sound gimmicky? I thought it might be until the thought perished as I tasted their food - modern Portuguese cuisine served in five small courses, including two surprise dishes, all of which were ruinously delicious.
And altogether different again, at 'Lost In' you make yourself comfortable on a wide, sprawling terrace with incredible views over the city, on sofas and day-beds strewn with colourful, comfy cushions ...
You can spend all day reading here if you like ...
Lost in Lisbon is what I'm loving to be right now.