Where to Find the Best Caldo Verde in Lisbon


 

Experiencing Portugal is about a lot more than just age old cities, beautiful tiled architecture and sipping Port wines while overlooking the rolling hillsides. Portuguese cuisine is a culture shock of its own, with veery few dishes holding any similarities to other European foods you may have previously tried.

The Portuguese cook with a lot of seafood, and a lot of meats. Contrary to popular belief they don’t actually throw peri-peri sauce on top of everything, which I learned on my first visit.

A side of caldo verde – by Yusuke Kawasaki – Wikimedia Commons

One of their most most loved dishes is one called caldo verde. It is a traditional soup that is usually served in local homes. The base of the soup is made with potatoes and kale. It is then flavored with heavy doses of olive oil, salt and sliced chorizo sausage (although other meats can be used too).

Despite being a hearty, homemade dish, there are a few restaurants in Lisbon that have opted to include caldo verde on the menu.

Restaurante O Caldo Verde in Lisbon

Restaurante O Caldo is the most unpretentious of Portuguese eateries this close to the city center. It is just west of Cais do Sodre, tucked in a quiet alley way where mostly only Portuguese families come to eat.

The menu is simple, as are the dishes. Everything is made in a traditional fashion and you’ll enjoy all the classics like grilled octopus, sardines and Portuguese steaks.

Restaurante O Caldo Verde in Lisbon – by Restaurante O Caldo Verde – Sourced from their Facebook

They make a fresh pot of caldo verde every evening. The dish is served with Portuguese bread and contains chorizo as the meat of choice.

The prices at Restaurante O Caldo will be the real catch of the day. You and your entire family can eat here for next to nothing. It is a very small restaurant and a booking for dinner service is imperative.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 11:30am to 3:30pm // 7:30pm to 12am
ADDRESS: Rua da Esperança 91, 1200-656 Lisboa, Portugal
Metro STATION: Santos

Tasca Do Chico in Lisbon

Tasca do Chico comes highly rates as one of the best dining experiences available in Lisbon, and for good reason.

Eating here won’t cost you a lot, and each evening is accompanied by fado performances. The restaurant can be found in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto district, the new home of fado performances venues and premium Portuguese dining .

It can be absolute havoc to try and get a table, particularly after 7:30pm. My recommendation is to come early, even if you just sit and drink for a while before beginning your dining experience.

Tasca Do Chico in Lisbon – by Tasca Do Chico – Sourced from their Facebook

The caldo verde at Tasca do Chiado is something travelers from all over come to try. It is served in the traditional way accompanied by bread, as well as with a giblet sauce for dipping.

Note that the restaurant closes its doors during the fado performances so be patient if you are asked to wait outside for a few minutes while this happens.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7pm to 2am
ADDRESS: R. do Diário de Notícias 39, 1200-141 Lisboa, Portugal
Metro STATION: Rossio Lisboa

Páteo de Alfama in Lisbon

Its seems that good caldo verde and fado performances go hand in hand. The Páteo de Alfama is another Portuguese eatery offering both experiences simultaneously.

The restaurant is in the southern area of the historic Alfama; fado is not common in these parts so to find a restaurant offering both the show and the soup is quite rare.

Their caldo verde is phenomenal. It’s light and traditionally made; I manage this as a starter, whereas most caldo verdes in Lisbon tend to fill me up before the bottom of the bowl.

Páteo de Alfama in Lisbon – by Páteo de Alfama – Sourced from their website

There is a €15 additional charge if you would like to dine during the fado performances. This may seem steep, but you need to keep in mind that the Alfama is over 2000 years old, and now considered prime real estate for businesses in Lisbon. Thousands of tourists flock here each day to ride tuk-tuks, take free guided walking tours and see the history for themselves.

Restaurants in the Alfama offering fado need to be able to cover the costs of bringing in the singers each evening and still turning profit on reasonably priced Portuguese food. It’s worth every cent, I assure you.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – Various Times
ADDRESS: R. de São João da Praça 18, 1100-520 Lisboa, Portugal
Metro STATION: Terreiro do Paço

1300 Taberna in Lisbon

Lisbon’s Lx Factory is a complex of trendy, industrial style restaurants, concept stores, bars and galleries. You can find a range of cuisines to enjoy here, from traditional Portuguese to Mexican, Japanese, Thai and even a gourmet hotdog eatery.

1200 Taberna is a giant food hall in a rustic, old greenhouse feeling building. It feels more like a banquet hall than a regular Lisbon restaurant, and would probably make a great wedding venue for anyone looking…

1300 Taberna does a range of fusion foods that incorporate traditional Portuguese dishes and modern cooking. They do a caldo verde with chorizo that tastes like a home you didn’t know you needed.

1300 Taberna in Lisbon – by 1300 Taberna – Uploaded by them

Since the menu at 1300 Taberna is so diverse and delicious, I would recommend sharing just one bowl of the caldo verde with whomever you are dining with so that you can move on to mains and not be too full.

Chocolate cake for dessert, if you can manage…

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 12:30pm to 3:30pm // 7:30pm to 12am
ADDRESS: Lx Factory, R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-472 Lisboa, Portugal
Metro STATION: Alcantara-Mar

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