Time Out Market Lisbon: Tips and What to Eat

The Time Out Market in Lisbon’s historic Mercado da Ribeira is one of the city’s most popular places to eat. It’s a big food hall where you can try dishes from well-known chefs and classic local names under one roof. Here’s how to make the most of it, and what to order.

Quick answer: the market is at Cais do Sodré, opposite the station. It’s busiest at lunch and dinner, so go at 11:30am or mid-afternoon to get a table. Order from several stalls and share. Try a bifana or prego, seafood, and a pastel de nata. The traditional fresh market in the other half of the building is best in the morning.

Why go

If you only have a day or two in Lisbon, the Time Out Market lets you try a lot of Portuguese food in one meal. The stalls were picked by Time Out Lisboa’s food writers, so the quality is usually good. It’s also easy: no menus to translate, no tables to book, and it’s open all day. It works well for groups who can’t agree on what to eat, because everyone can order from a different stall and still sit together.

About the market

The Mercado da Ribeira has been Lisbon’s main market for over a century. In 2014 the magazine Time Out turned half of the building into a food hall, and the idea has since spread to other cities around the world. It now has dozens of food stalls, bars and shops around long shared tables.

According to the market, there are about 26 restaurants, 8 bars, a handful of kiosks and a few shops. There is also the Time Out Academy, a small kitchen space used for cooking classes and private events. The line-up of stalls changes from time to time, so check the market’s website if you want a particular chef or dish.

How it works

• Stalls around a central hall: order and pay at each stall, then find a seat at the shared tables.
• Food: petiscos, sandwiches, seafood, steak, burgers, sushi, desserts and more.
• Drinks: wine, beer and cocktail bars.
• Payment: cards are taken almost everywhere, and there are ATMs inside if you need cash.
• Prices: higher than a local tasca, but good for trying lots of things.
• Hours: usually open every day from 10am to midnight, and until 2am from Thursday to Saturday. Check the market’s website for current times.
• Dietary needs: several stalls offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. See Portugal for vegetarians.
• Wi-Fi: free Wi-Fi is available in the hall.

What to try

• Prego or bifana: steak or pork sandwiches. See the bifana and prego.
• Seafood: clams in garlic and coriander, prawns or octopus. See Portuguese seafood.
• Croquettes and other petiscos (small plates to share).
• Cured ham and cheese: a plate to share with a glass of wine.
• Pastel de nata for dessert. See the best pastel de nata.
• Portuguese wine by the glass. See Portugal’s wine regions.

How to order as a group

The easiest way is to agree on a budget, then send each person to a different stall for one or two dishes to share. Start with petiscos and a sandwich, add one seafood or meat dish, and finish with something sweet. Many stalls hand you a buzzer or call your number when the food is ready, so you don’t have to wait at the counter.

The traditional market

The fresh produce and fish section still operates in the other half of the building, mainly in the mornings. Go early to see fishmongers, fruit stalls and flower sellers serving locals. It’s a good contrast to the busy food hall next door. It’s usually open from Monday to Saturday, from early morning until about 2pm, and closed on Sundays. See Lisbon food markets.

Getting there

• Metro: Cais do Sodré station on the green line.
• Train: Cais do Sodré is the terminus for trains to Cascais and Estoril, so the market is easy to reach after a beach day.
• Ferry: boats from Cacilhas, across the river, arrive at Cais do Sodré.
• Tram: tram 15E between Praça da Figueira and Belém stops at Cais do Sodré, so you can combine the market with a morning in Belém.
• On foot: about 10 minutes from Praça do Comércio along the river.
• Car: there’s a paid car park under Praça Dom Luís I next door, but public transport is much easier.

See Cais do Sodré.

Make a half day of it

Allow about an hour for a relaxed meal. Go early to see the fresh market first, then eat at the food hall before the lunch crowds. Afterwards, walk along the river to Praça do Comércio, or take the short ferry across to Cacilhas for views back over the city. In the evening, the market makes an easy first stop before a night out in Cais do Sodré or Bairro Alto.

Eating there on a budget

A full meal with wine at the market costs more than a set lunch in a neighbourhood tasca. To keep costs down, share plates rather than ordering a main each, and stick to sandwiches and petiscos. Drinks add up quickly, so a glass of house wine or a local beer is better value than cocktails. If you’re watching your money, see Lisbon on a budget.

Tips

• Avoid peak hours: 1pm and 8pm are packed.
• Split up: one person holds the table while others order.
• Watch your bags: the hall is crowded, so keep your phone and wallet close.
• Want the real thing too? For a cheaper, more local meal, try a tasca in a nearby neighbourhood another night.
• Nearby: Pink Street and the Cais do Sodré bars. See Lisbon nightlife.
• Want a local guide? See Lisbon food tours.

FAQ

Is the Time Out Market worth it?

Yes, if you want to try a lot of Portuguese food in one place without booking. It’s busier and pricier than a local tasca, so treat it as one meal rather than your only food stop in Lisbon.

Is the Time Out Market open on Sundays?

Yes. The food hall is usually open every day from 10am. The traditional fresh market next door is usually closed on Sundays.

Do you need to book a table?

No. Seating is shared and first come, first served. Arrive before noon or in the middle of the afternoon if you want to sit down quickly.

Can you pay by card?

Yes, almost every stall and bar takes cards, and there are ATMs inside if you need cash.

More: food tours in Portugal and what to eat in Portugal.

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