One of my favorite places in Lisbon is the Time Out Market. Time Out is both a traditional market where locals shop for fresh food, and a food hall with food and beverage booths. I guarantee you will want to have multiple meals in the food hall! And even if you don’t plan to cook on your own, the traditional market is fascinating. Visit early in the day to see it all, as only the food hall is open in the evening.
The Traditional Market
The fish market has the daily catch, fresh off the fishing boats. I saw lots of things I recognized, such as prawns and pulvo (octopus), and a lot I couldn’t identify. The colors and eyes of the fish are so bright–they really highlight how different seafood is when it’s truly fresh.
The vegetables also look different from those that we get in the supermarkets in the U.S. Look at those colors! I’m looking forward to spending some more time in Lisbon to actually cook with this produce and figure out what all these things are!
Artisan Goods
A narrow hall separates the traditional market from the food hall. In this hall, you can find wine, flowers, and tables where local artists are selling very inexpensive handcrafted goods. I purchased a cork necklace and earrings with designs inspired by the bright Portuguese tiles. I love buying local jewelry to remind me of a trip!
The Food Hall
The food hall itself is worth repeated visits! It’s huge, with dozens of food booths, a full bar, and even a cooking school. You can either stand in line to order before finding yourself a seat in the main hall, or you can get counter seating and service on the backside of many of the booths. If you want more variety and to be in the thick of things, go the line option. I was able to find a single spot at a table fairly easily, even though it was crowded. If you are tired and want to relax with faster service, choose a counter.
The selection is mind-blowing–every type of seafood you could want, along with beef, chicken, and desserts.
Personal recommendations: The Grilled sardines from Monte Mar were huge and meaty with perfectly crispy skin. The Ceviche of the day from Sea Me reminded me of a Peruvian ceviche with Leche de Tigre and a potato puree. Sea Me’s Octopus Hot Dog …hey, when will you ever again have the chance to order an Octopus Hot Dog??? And to wrap it all up, a Pastel De Nata, which is a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart.
There is more to see (sea?) and taste at Time Out Market than you can possibly do in a couple of visits! Please put this as a must-do on your itinerary for a trip to Lisbon. Drop a comment below if you’ve experienced Time Out or other great markets on your travels!