Grab and go

  Coming to Time Out Market when you’re very hungry is almost like going to the supermarket in that state, with the advantage that here there are options to appease the hunger of those who arrive at the market ravenous. Just walk up to the counter, order and have a bite.   1) Croquette from Croqueteria   A croquette (or two or three) is always a good way to start a meal. Always warm, they have been popping up like mushrooms at Croqueteria since 2014, the year they opened here in the Time Out Market. Since then, the number of flavours has also multiplied, with the traditional veal croquette always remaining at the top of the sales chart, but others such as codfish or cozido à portuguesa (a traditional stew) gaining many fans.   2) Speciality pie from O Frade   As a good representative of Alentejo cuisine, O Frade restaurant had to have a good, solid snack. Anyone arriving at the counter here is immediately confronted with a display case full of pies. And right away, it’s hard to refuse to try one. Served in a paper napkin, sprinkled with fleur de sel and dried oregano on top of the crisp pastry, this well-seasoned pie is a must on a quick visit to the market. (€3.80)   3) Pastel de mass tenra from Chef Miguel Castro e Silva   Before venturing out for a bacalhau à brás (cod with eggs and stick fries) or any of the other dishes that chef Miguel Castro e Silva offers at his space in the market, there’s one thing you have to try, and that’s the pastel de massa tenra, (literally ‘tender dough pasty’) – a comfort food that the chef has accustomed us to. Filled with beef, carrots, onions, chouriço sausage and bacon, among other things, this pasty is a good introduction to the Market. €2   4) Cone Viruta from Manteigaria Silva   Everyone in Lisbon knows about this 133-year-old fine foods shop, but it was only when it came to Time Out Market in 2014 that it was given a new lease of life, with a space where its incredible products can not only be taken home but also eaten in the shop. This has opened up a whole range of possibilities, of which the cones de viruta – ham trimmings from the Iberian black pig – are an excellent example. It’s grab and go, but it’s going to be hard to stop there. €7.50€/€12 (small/large cone)   5) Doughnut from Crush Doughnuts   They’re a treat for the eyes, these colourful doughnuts from Crush Doughnuts – a real fatal attraction as soon as they arrive in the market. From the simplest to the most elaborate and exquisite, all their doughnuts are made from a brioche dough that ferments for 24 hours, with various classic and original flavours and combinations such as Lotus or Lime Pie. Prices start at €3.95   6) Pastel de nata from Manteigaria   It doesn’t get any simpler or more appetising than a custard tart. As any good Portuguese will tell you, there’s no particular time for a pastel de nata – you can eat them at any hour, from breakfast to supper time, warm or cold. As soon as you enter the market and hear the bell ringing, you know that a hot batch of pastéis is coming out of the oven. Just follow your nose. €1.30 each   7) Pastel de Bacalhau from Terra do Bacalhau   In the event of sudden, uncontrollable hunger, the Terra do Bacalhau kiosk is the best place to come, firstly because there’s always a cod cake ready to go – either the traditional version or ones with olives or peppers. If you’re still not satisfied, take a look at the display of other cod snacks on toasted bread, or ask for the cod bites (fried cod skin). €1.95 each pastel   8) Pistachio Cookie from Funky Chunky If you find yourself wandering the aisles of the Market chasing the intoxicating aroma of fresh baking, the chances are that you’re following the trail to the Funky Chunky cookie kiosk. They’re not biscuits, they’re cookies and they’re not perfect, but they’re delicious. Crunchy on the outside and with a filling inside, these cookies created by Sofia Pontifex are a delight, and a hit with the various flavours available.  

The Market Counters

  Long shunned by diners, counters with an exclusive view of the kitchen are now among of the most popular places to eat. This is also the case at Time Out Market. Get to know ours. Marisqueira Azul   Some say the best way to sample seafood is ao natural, with as little seasoning as possible and as fresh as can be. That is certainly the rule here at Marisqueira Azul. From the aquarium right by the counter or from the display case packed with fresh seafood to your plate, the journey is a short one. The secret is the quality of the seafood that comes from the seas off Portugal. We suggest the tiger prawns or their famous clams à Bulhão Pato (with coriander and garlic) – a recipe that is said to have originated in the 1930s old Estrela de Oiro restaurant, in Rua da Prata, in the Baixa, as a tribute to the eponymous writer. Libertà Pasta Bar   This is surely set to be one of the busiest counters at Time Out Market – not only because it serves up great food but also because sitting here means having a view of where it all happens, that is, where the fresh pasta is being made. There, right in front of you, ravioli, tagliatelle and many other varieties of the Italian staple are taking shape that then go straight onto the stove and then your plate. A delight to watch and eat. O Frade   With a counter and terrace in the Belém neighbourhood, O Frade opened in the Time Out Market in exactly the same format: a counter and terrace where they serve cuisine with an Alentejo soul and which showcases a lot of the traditional recipes from that region. Sea Me   The original Sea Me restaurant in the Chiado neighbourhood is an ode to the ocean. And sitting at their counter is the best way to dive into their outlet in Time Out Market, because that is where you can see some of their star dishes being prepared, such as the famous nigiri duel, which now features a bacalhau à lagareiro (roast codfish with garlic) nigiri and a grilled sardine nigiri. It’s a surprising and fusion of Portuguese and Japanese cuisine. Café de São Bento   If there is one place where eating a good steak always tastes even better, it is at the counter. And here at Time Out Market, the best steak in town is also served at the counter of Café de São Bento. Whether a Portuguese-style steak or the classic sirloin à Café de São Bento, there are no secrets when it comes to this dish: the best meat, the best cream and the best butter – it’s all there. Here at the market as in the original restaurant on Rua de São Bento, the steak comes with chips to dip in the sauce. Croqueteria   Ordering a croquette and an imperial (draught beer) while sitting at the counter at the Croqueteria has a charm all of its own. The croquette brand, which was born at Time Out Market, has been responsible for expanding the traditional Portuguese family of croquettes by adding a series of siblings, including cuttlefish, chicken and cod varieties. The traditional ground meat one is still the consensus favorite, but at the counter, you can try them all. Monte Mar   Monte Mar at Time Out Market is a smaller version of the original restaurant on the coast beyond Cascais, with almost everything but the ocean breakers. The fish and seafood from off the Portuguese coast are here, of course, but so is their most famous dish, hake fillets with cockle rice. Here at the market, anyone who sits at the Monte Mar counter can try that dish and many others that have made the restaurant’s name. Pinóquio   Anyone who has been a customer of Pinóquio for any length of time (the original opened in 1982) knows that service, as well as good food, is its hallmark. Here at Time Out Market, you have the advantage of being able to try their famous clams or pica-pau (chunks of steak, marinated and grilled) seated at the counter, right in front of the person preparing these delicacies and the person serving them. Good food and good conversation are guaranteed.

10 new things to try in 2024

New year, new food. Nothing like starting the year with something new, and if there’s one place where new things sell like hotcakes, it’s the Time Out Market. See (and taste) our suggestions.
  • Pistachio Cookie and Hot Chocolate – Funky Chunky Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside – these are the Funky Chunky cookies that have become a real phenomenon in Lisbon and, more recently, at Time Out Market in particular. The various flavours such as Nutella, dulce de leche, double chocolate, peanut butter dream and red velvet have now been joined by pistachio. And, since good news never comes alone, Funky Chunky has just launched another novelty to warm you up this season: a delicious hot chocolate.
  • Banh Mì Pork Sandwich – Asian Lab As well as having a great background in Oriental gastronomy, Asian Lab chef Maurício Vale always does his homework when he launches a new dish. In the case of this Banh Mì – an icon of Vietnamese cuisine – the chef travelled across Vietnam from north to south to taste all examples of the dish he could find. On his return, he recreated this French baguette with Char Siu pork belly, Sambal pâté and pickles, with a special lime mayonnaise, which you can now try at Asian Lab. €9.50
  • Pakora Bao – Asian Lab This Pakora Bao is an Indian-Nepalese snack that came about at the request of the Asian Lab team, most of whom are vegetarians. Chef Maurício has created a bao stuffed with crunchy vegetables full of flavour. It comes with a slightly spicy and sweet tamarind sauce and a green tomato salad. As always, an explosion of flavours. €6.50
  • Purple Haze – Time Out Bar You can always count on the classics at Time Out Bar, but every season its signature cocktail menu is updated according to the temperature and seasonal flavours. For this autumn and winter, the Time Out Bar team has prepared a menu full of warm, colourful options, of which this Purple Haze is an excellent representative. It’s made with vodka, pisco, bergamot liqueur, Ginger Falernum, beetroot juice, apple juice, lime and orange juice and ginger syrup. A simple, earthy and citrusy cocktail.
  • Codfish soup with chickpeas and egg – Mercado da Sopa The new kiosk of chef Miguel Castro e Silva is a veritable chameleon. In the summer it has cold soups such as gaspacho (as it is known in Portuguese) and vichyssoise; in the winter, soups on offer are real comfort food, like this one that combines three ingredients that are very popular in Portugal: bacalhau (salt cod), chickpeas and eggs. This is one that will make history this winter, but others such as Sopa Rica do Mar (a hearty seafood soup) or Sopa de Cação (dogfish soup) are also great options for cold days. €7
  • Octopus with black sweet potato purée  – Chef Susana Felicidade There are many octopus dishes, but none like this one. A true painting on the plate, with flavours from the Algarve coast – where chef Susana Felicidade has her roots – this tender octopus is served with roasted vegetables, pepper jam, and the element that makes all the difference, a black sweet potato purée (€16.90).
  • Chef’s salad – Chef Vincent Farges For the past two years, chef Vincent Farges has been treating Time Out Market customers to the benefits of his French origins, marinated for over 20 years in Portugal’s own culinary traditions, and the result is dishes like this chef’s salad made with grilled Algarve prawns, carrots, cherry tomatoes, oranges, lettuce and citrus vinaigrette (€10.50). But there are other novelties on the menu at his recently renovated stall in the Market, such as Filet Mignon au Poivre or Truffled Croque Monsieur.
  • Muxama salad – O Frade In a restaurant of Alentejo origin, a salad can never be just lettuce and tomato: it always has a bit more to it. That is certainly the case with this Algarve-inspired salad, which is much more than a side dish, indeed a complete meal. The lettuce goes well with a very fine muxama (dried tuna) with almonds (€12.50). For a more classic dish, O Frade’s duck rice remains one of its most popular dishes.
  • Partridge and mushroom croquette – Croqueteria There’s no other place in Lisbon like Croqueteria, where the croquette is king and they emerge warm from the oven all the time. While traditional meat croquettes are the most popular, other varieties are not far behind. While we all have a favourite (cuttlefish ink, codfish with chorizo, or goat’s cheese and red onion are among ours), we look forward to special editions such as this one featuring partridge and mushroom, which makes an appearance once a year. It is time, so come and try it (€2.25 each).
  • Roast rib of beef – Chef Marlene Vieira The dish of the day sells like hotcakes at the stall overseen by chef Marlene Vieira, whatever day it is. There are always good options, varying throughout the week, and updated throughout the year. The most recent newcomer is roast rib of beef with potatoes and spring onions, the current dish of the day on Mondays. The set menu with dish of the day, drink and dessert costs €15.50.