Must GRAB Souvenirs/Art/Crafts and MUST eat Foods

Eat:
https://www.timeoutmarket.com/lisboa/en/

Pastel de nata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastel_de_nata

Francesinha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesinha

Sardines

Bacalhau

Buy: cork products

Portuguese pottery is beautiful. We bought from a man who made pottery out in the countryside but there are many shops in Lisbon too.
Food: to eat there- Pasteis de Nata, custard tarts
To take home: tinned sardines.

OMG, visit the Time Out Market only if you wish to chance exposure to Covid, we made the mistake of walking there. Overpacked with people, impossible to actually order and get food without a 30 min or longer wait. Overhyped as a place to go in Lisbon. I tried hard to keep my mask on, but it was hot in there, and there was no way to keep any distance, and I wanted to eat my food. Couldn’t find seats to sit and eat our then cold food. Husband spilled his beer trying to find a place to sit. Overall, the worst experience we had on our 3 week trip.

Yes, I haven’t gone to Time Out in years due to crowds! And that was pre Covid.

However, if you go very early or mid afternoon, it’s a fun place. When I did still go, I went right at noon or 4-5 pm. At those times, we could find a table and it was quite nice.

Bacalhau is likely the most emblematic food. Unfortunately I don’t like it. Of course the Natas, and really any seafood is typical Portugal.

Buy tiles and cork if you want something really Portuguese- or tinned fish. There are two great cork stores in Chiado. Cork & Co. and Forms. Both have lovely pieces that stand up well to wear. The tacky tourist stuff you see on the streets won’t last.
The Lisbon Shop by Praça do Commercio has great souvenirs that are much better quality than the stuff on the streets.

Eat: Pastel de belem - hot, fresh at the large bakery Pastéis de Belém in belem (also known as pastel de nata outside of belem!. but you need to go to belem, sit down at that place and swallow a warm one whole to really enjoy it :) does not taste as good when its cold, you have been warned.

Shop: cork products. my colleague has a cork money purse. super cute. cork products are one thing special to portugal

I'm as COVID-paranoid as anyone else, and granted, it's been 10 months since I've been at Time Out, but wearing a mask and going off-hours was no worse than a train station, bus or busy museum. Back then, the Portuguese were wearing masks, and so were we. Now I don't know. It's all about your comfort level. The good thing about the Time Out is that it's a one-stop shopping place. Fast food lunches that are the typical -- definitely try bolinhos de bacalhau (cod fritters containing mashed potatoes, onion, egg and parsley although there are other variations). There's a good little shop there. You'll pay a bit more for tinned fish, cork products and other made-in-Portugal items, but if you're pressed for time, it certainly is convenient.