What Portuguese People Eat for Breakfast

Breakfast in Portugal is simple and quick. Most locals have a coffee and a pastry or toast at the counter of their local pastelaria on the way to work. Here’s what Portuguese people eat for breakfast, how to order, and where to find a bigger brunch.

Quick answer: a typical Portuguese breakfast is a coffee (a bica or a galão) with a pastry, such as a pastel de nata or a croissant, or torrada (thick buttered toast). A tosta mista (toasted ham and cheese) is a popular savoury choice. Hotels usually serve a buffet, and brunch cafés are now common in Lisbon and Porto.

What to order

• Coffee: a bica (espresso in Lisbon), a galão (milky coffee in a tall glass) or a meia de leite (half coffee, half milk). See the Portuguese coffee guide.
• Torrada: thick slices of toast, generously buttered.
• Tosta mista: a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.
• Pastries: pastel de nata, croissant (often sweet in Portugal), bola de Berlim and queijadas. See Portuguese desserts.
• Fresh juice: fresh orange juice (sumo de laranja natural).
• Pão com manteiga: a simple bread roll with butter.

The pastelaria

Pastry shops are at the heart of Portuguese daily life. Stand at the counter for a quick coffee and pastry, which is cheaper than sitting at a table in some places. It’s a great way to start the day like a local.

Brunch

Lisbon and Porto now have plenty of brunch cafés serving eggs, pancakes and avocado toast, especially in Príncipe Real, Cedofeita and around LX Factory. See Príncipe Real and Cedofeita.

Tips

• Timing: breakfast is early and quick. Lunch is the big meal.
• Prices: a coffee and a pastry at the counter are very cheap.
• Hotels: buffets often include cheese, ham, fruit, eggs and pastries.

More: the best pastel de nata in Lisbon and what to eat in Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.