Hello lovely travellers. We are wondering what the equivalent of a Greek taverna is in Portugal. Homey comfy hangout for the locals kind of place, on the cheaper end of establishments (with booze and probably food!) I think it exists but we can't figure out what to look for. We will be mostly spending time in Alentejo and the Algarve in shoulder season (October).
In the old days true Taberna did exist, some only served served wine while others also served Petiscos(small plates) and Salgados (fried snacks), this type of Taberna is all but extinct.
The last time I was in one was at Taberna do Brito in Parede (outside of Lisbon), it no longer exists and you're not missing much.
Cerveijarias (beer pub with snacks) was another place the locals used to hang out, now the ones I see are for the tourists ( Cerveijaria Ramiro in Lisbon).
The ones that served beer accompanied with Tremoço (lupini beans) are on their way out.
Cafe's is where most locals hang out today, besides the coffee and pastries many serve beer, wine, sandwiches and meals at lunch time.
You may be able to find an old Taberna in the Alentejo region but if they haven't modernized they are not pleasant places to be IMO.
If it just had to be "lovely travellers," I may be intruding, but I did want to mention a Portuguese establishment called a "tasca," which may be what you were interested in. I admit that on my one trip to Portugal (so far) I mainly gravitated toward the sidewalk cafes and the cervejeiras; I just wanted to call your attention to the tasca as a subject for further research.
Faedus is absolutely right, Tasca is closest to what JoAnne is looking for.
In my mind I classify them as restaurants.
Thank you all! I look forward to another topic to research! (And we are all lovely travellers here!)