In addition to historical castles, charming villages, and spectacular cliff beaches, eating out in Portugal is going to be a highlight of your trip to Portugal, for sure.
If it’s your first time visiting Portugal, you may be wondering things:
- How to order food in a restaurant in Portuguese
- How much should you tip?
- Can I use credit cards in Portugal?
I’m going to help you navigate your first restaurant experience with a few insights that should prove helpful!
1. The Bread is Not Free
If you’re an American, you may not realize that you are used to a lot of freebies.
When you go to a restaurant, if there is bread and butter on the table it is complimentary. In fact, you can often get free refills on the free bread and butter at a restaurant.
If that is your background and you arrive at a restaurant in Portugal to see a lovely display of bread, butter, olives, and the like at your table, you will naturally assume it is complimentary.
It isn’t.
This is called the Couvert and it may be on your table when you arrive or presented to you shortly after seating. The idea is to provide you with some little bites right away while you peruse the menu and then wait for your food.
The price for each item will be shown in the menu and you may be surprised at how it is itemized. Literally each pad of butter has a set price. To an American this can be a bit jarring the first time, but it really does promote a more intentional way of eating and less waste.
What if I Don’t Want the Couvert?
If the couvert set is already on your table when you arrive just let the waitstaff know right away you don’t want it and they will take it away and not charge you for it. (But please double check your bill at the end because it can be accidentally added)
If you’ve already taken some bites, I’m sorry to tell you that you will be charged for the entirety even if you thought it was free. Tourist Tax. 🙂
The good news is it’s usually only a few dollars and in a region known for bread and olives you’re more than likely going to love it! Some areas will also include things like sardine pate or algarvian cenouras (carrots).
If you want the olives but not the sardine paste, just let them know and they will remove it and charge you just for the items you want.
2. How to Order a Glass of Water at a Restaurant in Portugal
If you’re not a pop (soda) person, you may be accustomed to just requesting a glass of water in a restaurant. The wait staff will bring you an ice water and regularly refill it. In some cases they will set a pitcher right on your table!
This practice is not common in Portugal. In some cases you may be able to request and receive “Tap water”[in Portuguese: “Um copo de água da torneira, por favor” meaning “a cup of water from the faucet, please”.
However, generally speaking water is served here in bottles. You can order a large bottle for sharing or smaller bottles and you will always be asked “com gás?” In Portugal, sparkling mineral water is very Popular so if you want one you ask for “agua com gás” and if you want regular still water you say “agua sem gás”
Learn Portuguese:
Agua means “water”
Com means “with”
Sem means “without”
3. How to Order a Beer in Portugal
There are craft breweries in Portugal, but the most popular national beers of Portugal are Sagres and Super Bock. Both are refreshing after a day at the beach under the blazing sun or to wash down a hearty francesinha in the cooler months.
There are a few ways to order beer in Portugal.
You can simply ask for a “Sagres” or a “Super Bock”. Think of it like asking for “Coke” or “Pepsi”. You may have a personal preference for Coca-cola, but some establishments only carry Pepsi. If you order a Sagres and the restaurant doesn’t carry it they may just reply “Super Bock?” and you can say “Sim” for “yes” or nod and say, “Está bom“, as if to say “it’s good!”
By the way, a bifana is a simple sandwich of thin slices of pork on a super soft roll. In case you were wondering “what is a bifana?!“
Beer Sizes in Portugal
You may find it helpful to know how to say beer in Portuguese. The Portuguese word for beer is “cerveja“, pronounced, sir-vay-juh. (vay as in va-cation)
If you’re ordering a draft you can get a Caneca (mug) or my favorite, an imperial, which is a 20 cl beer. For me it’s the perfect size to cool down and you can drink it before it gets warm in one of the 300+ days of sun in Portugal. Apparently in Porto this is also known as fino.
How Much is a Small Beer in Portugal?
Often you can order one of these small beers, imperial, in Portugal for a little over a euro. =)
Needless to say if you are at a fancy restaurant or you’re at a cafe on the beach prices will be higher, but still feel like a great value for most Americans.
4. Some Portuguese Food Contains Blood
A number of Portuguese dishes can contain blood. This may not be something you think about before your trip to Portugal, but for those who choose not to eat blood (Genesis 9:4; Acts 15:29) here are some dishes to look out for:
- Portuguese Feijoada is a pork and bean stew that sometimes includes blood sausage
- Morcela is Portuguese Blood Sausage
- Cabidela or arroz de cabidela is typical of Minho in the north of Portugal and is a rice dish made with blood.
These are just a few examples of Portuguese food that contain blood. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list.
If you are unsure, it’s a good idea to ask if a dish has blood in it before ordering. The Portuguese word for blood is “sangue“.
You could ask something like “isso tem sangue?” meaning “does this have blood?”
You can clarify your concern by adding “I do not eat blood” – “eu não como sangue”
Of course in the end you can say thank you with the word “Obrigado” for guys and “Obrigada” for girls.
Side note: We have noticed some other food products containing blood in the grocery. So do take a moment to scan the ingredients of any sausage or chouriço whether whole or sliced and especially if the color is dark, as well as pasta sauce! Yes you read that correctly. We have actually seen sangue, blood, as an ingredient in pre-made tomato sauce. It’s not common, but it happens. So if it’s important to you, just keep your eyes peeled. =)
A blood-free and very Portuguese dish, bacalhau com grão is a dish featuring salted cod and chick peas.
PSA: watch for bones!
5. Prato do Dia Lunch Deals in Portugal
A great way to save money during your trip to Portugal and eat a hearty meal is the take advantage of the Prato do Dia (plate of the day) that many restaurants offer.
Typically these set menus are offered on week days during lunch so the Portuguese can have an economical, well rounded, and “efficient” meal during their work day.
What is Included in Prato do Dia?
At this point it varies wildly based on region and the individual restaurant, but o menu (the menu, as in the set menu for the day) could include all of the following: bread, butter, olives, soup, main dish like grilled piri-piri chicken or sardines (sardinhas), a drink (uma bebida) which can be a jarred drink like water, juice or pop, or it can be beer or a glass (sometimes pitcher) of wine, dessert (sobremesa), coffee (um café) and sometimes even a shot of liquor at the end for anywhere between 10-15 euros per person.
Again it varies a lot. You may still be able to find a place offering all of this for around 10 euros in a smaller town or you may find Prato do dia for closer to 15 euros in more touristic areas that include one main dish, one drink, and a coffee at the end, but no matter how you slice it these are almost always an excellent value and a great way to try Portuguese fare along side locals for an authentic experience.
6. You Don’t Have to Rush in Portugal
In America the dining experience tends to be rushed. There are lines and servers need to turn tables fast because their livelihood depends on the tips they get. More tables = more tips = hurry up, eat fast, leave asap.
This is soooo different in Portugal. The pace of life in many ways is a lot slower than the US and dining out is included. Aside from a few popular restaurants that imply (but idk if they truly enforce) a table limit like this great pizza place in Lisbon, you are welcome to take your time at a restaurant.
This is time to relax and enjoy both the food and the company who you have chosen to be around the table with. In many cases you will need to ask for the bill to signal you are ready to leave.
Relevant side note: Do keep in mind that many restaurants in Portugal will close at 3pm and re-open for dinner anytime between 5 and 7 pm. So be sure to get in to a restaurant before 3 or you will have to wait a few hours and hangry scaries can set in fast…
7. How to Ask for the Bill in Portuguese
There are many ways to ask for the bill after eating a meal at a restaurant in Portugal. One common expression is “A conta, por favor” or “The bill, please”.
You can also say “Queria pagar” for “I would like to pay”
To sound even more Portuguese, and informal, you can simply say “a continha” (con-teen-yah).
If the restaurant is loud and busy you can also gesture in the air as if you’re writing with a pen and they will know you want the check.
On some occasions a bill will be left on your table sooner, but you do not need to take it as a hint to leave. It’s more for convenience and you can then take it to the till to pay when you’re ready.
8. Tipping Culture in Portugal
America is a tipping culture especially in the restaurant industry where workers are barely paid two nickels an hour which is absolutely insane. In Portugal workers in restaurants are paid an actual wage, so tipping here is not necessary by default.
In some cases it could be offensive, I’m told. In most cases a small rounding up to the nearest bill would be welcomed and appreciated. Overall, however, tipping at a restaurant is not expected. If you have the means and someone did something great, go for it! But at the same time, not leaving a tip in Portugal is not seen as rude, cheap, unappreciative, or ripping off the staff. I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, but remember this is a different culture.
9. Can You Use Credit Cards in Portugal?
One final and important tip about eating out in Portugal. You may be wondering if you can use your credit card in Portugal.
It depends.
Portugal overall is a cash culture. but if you are spending time in touristy areas like Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve, for example, it is most likely that many places will accept credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than American Express.
You’ll want to look at the door of the restaurant. If it says “Multibanco” with an X through it, that means they do not accept card. If they accept cards you will usually see on the door which cards they accept (Visa, etc) See the photo above for an example. The arrow points to the “Visa” logo on the door of Pastelaria Versailles in Lisbon. (PS they have one of the best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, and all of Portugal in our opinion so far!)
How to Ask if you Can Pay with a Credit Card in Portuguese?
You can say “Posso pagar com cartão?” for “May I pay with card”
Usually they will bring the card reader right to your seat and you can use tap to pay in Portugal right from your phone.
Be sure to use a card that has no foreign transaction fees.
When the machine asks you if you want the bill to be charged in USD or Euro, always pick Euro!! When you choose Euro (the local currency) your credit card company will do the conversion at a better rate. When you choose USD then the establishment can mark up the conversion and your end bill can be more than expected. This applies in any country, by the way.
-> Our Recommended Travel Credit Cards <-
Enjoy Your Meal!
I hope these tips help you while you eat out in Portugal! Don’t worry, in most major cities where you are likely to visit you will be able to get by in English. If you want to have a more interesting and enriching experience I invite you to try some of the Portuguese phrases in this article!
Book a Cruise to Portugal
Are you ready to come to Portugal and eat all the delicious foods?!
Did you know you can stop in Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve on a cruise?
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