Evora or Sintra for three nights
Jan 21st, 2011, 12:23 PM
#21
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Thanks all!
Sergio, you make a good point about the similarities between Sintra area and Madeira. The hotel in Estremoz looks very nice - Now I'm really confused but I like the fact that Sintra is so close to Lisbon so there won't be much travelling except for daytrips. Driving 1 1/2 to Estremoz, then driving around the area for daytrips and then driving 1 1/2 hours back to Lisbon might be a bit much. But I will do some reading on Estremoz.
Sergio - can you recommend some restaurants for fish in Sintra? Whole sardines would make us happy.
Aduchamp1 - just fine? should we pass on espada?
Sergio, you make a good point about the similarities between Sintra area and Madeira. The hotel in Estremoz looks very nice - Now I'm really confused but I like the fact that Sintra is so close to Lisbon so there won't be much travelling except for daytrips. Driving 1 1/2 to Estremoz, then driving around the area for daytrips and then driving 1 1/2 hours back to Lisbon might be a bit much. But I will do some reading on Estremoz.
Sergio - can you recommend some restaurants for fish in Sintra? Whole sardines would make us happy.
Aduchamp1 - just fine? should we pass on espada?
Jan 24th, 2011, 04:44 AM
#23
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Hi,
People in Portugal say that the best months to eat sardines are those that doesn't have an "r". So May, June, July and August are the sardines months. In my opinion the very best are on June.
This is to say that you'll have sardines anywhere in May. I don't really have a favorite place, because, although it's important to have an experienced guy on the grill, what's most important is Sardines. If they're good we are happy.
Regards,
Sergio
People in Portugal say that the best months to eat sardines are those that doesn't have an "r". So May, June, July and August are the sardines months. In my opinion the very best are on June.
This is to say that you'll have sardines anywhere in May. I don't really have a favorite place, because, although it's important to have an experienced guy on the grill, what's most important is Sardines. If they're good we are happy.
Regards,
Sergio
Jan 24th, 2011, 06:33 AM
#24
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Sashie
IF you will be in Lisbon...a good sardine resto (a small one at that) is on the way walking up the hill to the Castelo...right hand side...it's the first resto you will see.
<b>Comidas de Santiago</b>, with an outdoor wooden deck. I'm not a tin can sardine fan..but these large grilled sardinhas are superb..along with the restos specialty, shrimp in a garlic sauce. Very reasonable even though in a very heavily touristed location. Hope you get there.
stu
IF you will be in Lisbon...a good sardine resto (a small one at that) is on the way walking up the hill to the Castelo...right hand side...it's the first resto you will see.
<b>Comidas de Santiago</b>, with an outdoor wooden deck. I'm not a tin can sardine fan..but these large grilled sardinhas are superb..along with the restos specialty, shrimp in a garlic sauce. Very reasonable even though in a very heavily touristed location. Hope you get there.
stu
Jan 24th, 2011, 08:15 AM
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We just did Portugal in October, and were in both Sintra and Evora. We visited Sintra as a day trip out of Lisbon. One day wasn't quite enough but it was still a good day. I liked Sintra, but overall it was a bit "Disney" for my tastes. If you enjoy a good hike and are in decent shape visit the Moorish Castle as the views are incomparable and it's a lovely old ruin.
We rented a car the day we left Lisbon, and drove out to Evora. Evora is a very cute little UNESCO city, and worth a day walking, but the ride there and then the surrounding area was lovely. I thought driving through the cork orchards was really beautiful. If you happen to decide to go to Evora and stay there, I can recommend both the place we stayed (Albergario do Calvario, within the city walls and with it's own free parking) and the place we ate (Taberna Tipica Quarta-Feira, if you want to taste the famous Black Pig cooked to perfection).
Good luck with your planning. We loved Portugal and you will have delicious food no matter where you go.
We rented a car the day we left Lisbon, and drove out to Evora. Evora is a very cute little UNESCO city, and worth a day walking, but the ride there and then the surrounding area was lovely. I thought driving through the cork orchards was really beautiful. If you happen to decide to go to Evora and stay there, I can recommend both the place we stayed (Albergario do Calvario, within the city walls and with it's own free parking) and the place we ate (Taberna Tipica Quarta-Feira, if you want to taste the famous Black Pig cooked to perfection).
Good luck with your planning. We loved Portugal and you will have delicious food no matter where you go.
Jan 24th, 2011, 01:08 PM
#26
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I've read about the Moorish castle and it is on our list.
I think we will skip Evora (oh I hope I go there one day) and do Sintra and the surrounding areas. So 4 nights Funchal, Madeira, three nights Sintra and two nights Lisbon.
Sergio - we will be going in April but that won't stop us from having sardines.
Thanks stu for the restaurant recommendation. This will be a fish eating holiday for us.
I think we will skip Evora (oh I hope I go there one day) and do Sintra and the surrounding areas. So 4 nights Funchal, Madeira, three nights Sintra and two nights Lisbon.
Sergio - we will be going in April but that won't stop us from having sardines.
Thanks stu for the restaurant recommendation. This will be a fish eating holiday for us.
Jan 25th, 2011, 04:54 AM
#27
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Hi, SashieZ,
If you're interested in a fish eating holiday, you are going to the right place. I've never had such great grilled fish. Here are a few more places where the fresh fish is outstanding:
O Mercado – Rua Leao de Oliveira, Alcantara (tel. 21 364 91 13). This is in an old market, and it sits directly under one of the huge pylons of the 25th of April bridge
Adega das Gravatas http://www.adegadasgravatas.com/ – excellent grilled fish and meat. We had an “emperador” there that was outstanding. I’m not much of a meat eater, but friends have ordered their meat specialty, some beef that you cook yourself on a hot stone they bring you, and it was very good too. This place is in a little old neighborhood of Carnide (near the Colombo shopping center) tucked in between high rises. There are lots of restaurants and cafes there, some very nice for sitting outside eating grilled sardines in the summer, it’s a great little neighborhood.
For a great seafood stew (called cataplana): Adega Sao Roque, Rua da Misericordia, 120 (tel. 213 432 167). Very lively place right in the midst of all the action in the Bairro Alto
And as far as Adraga's restaurant, I've been there in many winter months, and it's always very lively, usually completely filled (I'm always there at lunch, have never eaten an evening meal there so I can't comment on that). A great family atmosphere. I've eaten at many places on the coast near Lisbon with excellent grilled fresh fish, but there's something about the setting, the service, the isolation and the rocks that is very special. I've taken about 6 different groups of visiting friends there and everyone has always raved about it. Bottom line -- you have way too many choices for your 5 nights on mainland Portugal!
If you're interested in a fish eating holiday, you are going to the right place. I've never had such great grilled fish. Here are a few more places where the fresh fish is outstanding:
O Mercado – Rua Leao de Oliveira, Alcantara (tel. 21 364 91 13). This is in an old market, and it sits directly under one of the huge pylons of the 25th of April bridge
Adega das Gravatas http://www.adegadasgravatas.com/ – excellent grilled fish and meat. We had an “emperador” there that was outstanding. I’m not much of a meat eater, but friends have ordered their meat specialty, some beef that you cook yourself on a hot stone they bring you, and it was very good too. This place is in a little old neighborhood of Carnide (near the Colombo shopping center) tucked in between high rises. There are lots of restaurants and cafes there, some very nice for sitting outside eating grilled sardines in the summer, it’s a great little neighborhood.
For a great seafood stew (called cataplana): Adega Sao Roque, Rua da Misericordia, 120 (tel. 213 432 167). Very lively place right in the midst of all the action in the Bairro Alto
And as far as Adraga's restaurant, I've been there in many winter months, and it's always very lively, usually completely filled (I'm always there at lunch, have never eaten an evening meal there so I can't comment on that). A great family atmosphere. I've eaten at many places on the coast near Lisbon with excellent grilled fresh fish, but there's something about the setting, the service, the isolation and the rocks that is very special. I've taken about 6 different groups of visiting friends there and everyone has always raved about it. Bottom line -- you have way too many choices for your 5 nights on mainland Portugal!
Jan 25th, 2011, 05:30 AM
#28
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lreynold- thanks so much for the restaurant recommendations. I'm definitely going to Adraga - the setting sounds incredible and a nice grilled fish is what we love.
I have to learn how to say "Crispy skin please" in Portuguese.
thank you all....
I have to learn how to say "Crispy skin please" in Portuguese.
thank you all....
