Dine Like a Local in Portugal

“We loved the Fado music, loved the visit and tasting of olive oil, wine, cheese and jams at the family owned olive farm and vineyard... We have so many wonderful memories and highlights from each day of the tour”. 

Wendy and Robin McGregor, who joined our Discover Portugal tour in October 2022. 

Brimming with cosy wine bars, colourfully tiled cafes and cinnamon-scented bakeries, local life in Portugal is punctuated by its rich gastronomic culture.  

Sampling traditional Portuguese food and wine is one of the great pleasures of travelling to this gorgeous country. So this year, Discover Portugal with us as we dine like locals and savour its many culinary delights! 

A glass of green wine to accompany dinner? Why not! Although you may be disappointed by the hue – Vinho Verde is usually white rather than Frankenstein’s monster green. 

This crisp, slightly fizzy Portuguese wine is most likely known as ‘green’ as it’s a young grape variety. Perfect paired with fresh grilled fish or creamy cheeses – we’ll sample a glass in the Vinho Verde winemaking region on Day 8 of our Discover Portugal tour. Saúde! 

Naturally, you’ll need a velvety cheese to pair with your glass of green. Portugal is known for its traditional sheep and goats’ cheeses – which we’ll have the opportunity to try on Day 5 of our adventure.  

Buttery Serra da Estrela (made in the mountainous region of the same name) is probably the most famous. Too gooey to be sliced, instead you'll need to cut off the top and dip in some crusty chunks of warm bread. A warning though: its pungent aroma may not be to everyone’s taste! 

Bolinhos de bacalhau crispy cod cakes. Polvo grelhado grilled octopus. Alheira de Mirandela smoked sausage. And, of course, salty tinned sardines – best spread on a hunk of buttered toast.

Portugal is a treasure trove of flavours, and prized Portuguese recipes are handed down the generations. But to really dine like a local, we need to get stuck in ourselves... That’s why we’ll be polishing our cheffing skills in an authentic Portuguese cooking class on Day 3 of our tour. It’s time to learn from the masters! 

Pastéis de nata, of course! These flaky, creamy egg tarts, sprinkled with cinnamon and slightly charred on top, are a national obsession – and it’s easy to see why. Manteigaria patisserie in Lisbon is famed for producing (arguably!) the best in the city. Pair with an espresso for a sweet-toothed Portuguese breakfast or mid-morning snack. 

It would be rude not to sample a glass or two of port while we’re here, wouldn’t it? Smooth, sweet port wine is made in the picturesque Douro Valley, where we’ll spend two nights admiring the vineyard-sprinkled landscapes.

Craving something refreshing while you soak up the views? Try a white port and tonic, finished off with a wedge of orange. And when our adventure winds down in Porto, why not cross the Douro River and watch the sunset from one of the city’s famed port houses. 

Are you ready to uncover traditional Portuguese cuisine with our expert local Tour Leaders? Discover Portugal in 2023!