Hidden Flavors Of The Hillside: Mouraria & Graça

This was probably the best experience of our time in Lisbon. Our guide André was insightful and friendly, and we felt we made a friend by the end of the tour. His knowledge of the area came from living there and growing up with some of the spots. The restaurants he introduced us to were all local spots that have been serving authentic Portuguese food for decades. Penalva Da Graça was worth the price for the clams alone.

Wow! We were able to sample so many different tastes of Lisbon from sweet to savory from snacks to desert;wines to cafe. All while exploring local neighborhoods and family owned establishments. Completely off the tourist path. I will not eat for a day! The guides was so informative about food preparation and history of dishes plus history of the area we explored. Make this you first tour in Lisbon. We have done food activities all over the world. This is top notch well curated

What an amazing food tour with Gisela. There were only 5 in the group which made it feel very personal. The food was superb, offering a range of delicacies and taking into account dietary requirements. We spent 5 hours learning history, seeing sights we would not have found on our own and sharing delicious food. We had traditional rice dishes, unusual seafood, monastery sweets, wine and beer, modern takes on classic dishes and of course, pastise da nata. I was able to try things I’d never tasted before - who knew how tasty and tender barnacles are! At each eatery, we were made to feel welcome and treated to wonderful delights. Lisbon is a city of steep slopes but the walk was manageable and broken up well. Gisela’s knowledge of the city and the history was excellent. It was great to meet on the steps of the Pantheon, otherwise I might have missed this beautiful landmark. The afternoon was a wonderful experience and will definitely be booking another Culinary Backstreet tour.

I can’t stop raving about this tour. Laura was an awesome guide and the food was delicious plus plentiful. Laura was knowledgeable and friendly. The small tour size made it comfortable for me to make connections with others as a solo traveler. I essentially want to plan my next vacation around the offerings of Culinary Backstreets now!

I read about this tour in a travel article in the Gold Coast (Australia) weekend newspaper and am so glad we did it. There was just 2 couples and our guide Andre. The pace was perfect for the amount of food we had over our 6 stops. There is no way we would have tasted this food or visited the cafes on our own. Andre was both fun and passionate about the food and Lisbon sharing cultural insights. The tour was one of the highlights of our 2 weeks in Portugal.

Highly recommend this tour. Awesome tour guide, Laura, great food, wonderful experience.

We had an amazing experience on our food tour! The food was delicious and the locations were a great reflection of Portuguese cuisine. The best part of the tour was our guide, André. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Lisbon, and more importantly about the food. One critique would be the amount of food, although I do like to eat! Thank you André for a great tour.

We had a relaxed, fun and fascinating tour with our guide Laura who knew the area well. She took us to delicious small places and the food and wine was all interesting and excellent. It was a brilliant afternoon. Couldn’t recommend more highly.

What an amazing experience! Andres was just fantastic!!! The locations he selected were a perfect representation of the local communities and how they dine out. The food was exceptional. It ranged from home cooking to more modern takes on Portuguese classics. We got a sense of the area, the history, and the vibe, all while enjoying the food and wine immensely! It was truly an incredible afternoon! Well worth the cost! Highly recommended!

The best food tour I have ever been on! Hands down, after traveling around the world, this is it. Our guide Laura spent so much time showing us the neighborhoods she grew up in and knows so well. The tour was longer than anticipated, but in the best way- there was always another unique experience awaiting us! It was a small group, which was perfect in the intimate local spots. This tour is best at the beginning of your Lisbon trip, since you’ll take many things you learn and eat to every place you go next in the city!

Patricia was our guide. Her knowledge is vast and in depth and she is extremely articulate. The fact that she is also an archaeologist is really a boon. She was delightful and most willing to take her time answering all questions. She is also well-loved by the restauranteurs and of course that means a really tasty time for us. She loves food and PEOPLE and it shows!!

It is hard to describe just how amazing this tour was ! Just of 4 us wandered the Mouraria and Graça neighborhoods with our phenomenal guide Laura.. Dropping into tiny tascas that you would pass by without a second thought. We learnt history , family stories, and all about the food. Away from the vacuous “Insta” set to the real Lisbon. If you get the opportunity to do one of these tours do not hesitate!!

Loved the area we were shown around. The food was a delight and learnt so much. Thank you

Our guide Gisella was absolutely superb. Fabulous tour and would definitely look up Culinary Backstreets in other cities. Already have in Porto; equally great there!

The tour was informative and delicious. Gisela was wonderful!! We would gladly book another tour with her, anytime!

This is the fourth Cuinary Backstreets tour I have done and they never fail to enchant, educate and enable you to eat food you may otherwise not discover in parts of the city you may also not find unless taken by a local. Thoroughly recommended.

Andre was an outstanding guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly, fun to be with. He went at the right pace and allowed the group to enjoy one another. He was part of the group, but also a great leader and guide. Stops were very good, great food and good variety. It was more than we expected. We recommend Andre and the tour very highly b

Want to try something different and sample some of the food eaten by locals? Try this tour to learn more about the history of the city as well as the story behind the local Toscana scene. Laura the tour guide brings this story to life and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and insights with others. We really enjoyed this tour and would do it again!

We had an incredible time on the Culinary Backstreets tour with Laura! She was extremely knowledgeable and introduced us to several traditional tascas, each offering delicious and unique Portuguese specialties. Along the way, we sampled a wide variety of local dishes and experienced Lisbon from a true local’s perspective. If you’re looking for an authentic food experience and a deeper appreciation of Portuguese culture, this tour is a must-do. HIGHLY recommended!

Amazing places and food we never would have found on our own. 6 guests so time to chat and get to know each other. Stories and history of the food, places.

We were surprised to find we (2 of us) were the only guests on this tour. Very impressed to find out that a tour goes ahead, even with just 2 bookings! It also meant we had lots of opportunity to chat with Andre, our wonderful guide about all sorts of subjects, not just about the intetesting foods we encountered on the tour, though we certainly talked about those. We had a great time.

Our Culinary Backstreets tour with Laura was the highlight of our trip to Lisbon. We learned much about the history of the city, and explored a very interesting workers neighborhood. The tour was really well paced, so we had an appetite for whatever delicious dish we tried at the many stops. Laura was a charming and enthusiastic guide, with deep knowledge about the culture and food. We’ve taken food tours in other cities, but after this one, we’ll always look for a Culinary Backstreets if possible. Well worth the cost.

Great tour and Andre was very knowlegable and charming. It’s a long day, but packed with great information and delicious bites.

This was my 5th experience with Culinary Backstreets and I continue to be impressed with the quality of the tour guides and the experience itself. This tour with Andre of Mouraria and Graça was fabulous for me as a returning visitor and my niece who was visiting Lisbon for the first time. The experience is like joining a local on place they would go with friends, not influencer spots. The restaurants and tascas on the tour have authentic Portuguese meals and provide a real glimpse of Portuguese culture. Andre was knowledgeable, fun and kind. We enjoyed the conversations about food, wine, history and culture and much as we enjoyed the food and drink. The best bite was at Garum- sardine on rice sort of like sushi- delicious. And we loved the sights such as Panteão Nacional, Ladra market, and the Graça Miradour. Highly recommend this tour and guide!

Our group of eight enjoyed a walking tour of local eating establishments in Lisbon with Kiki. We enjoyed specialties and hospitality at every stop. Kiki was above excellent with sharing her knowledge of her country. Her tour and suggestions were the highlight of the trip. Highly recommend this experience.

Kika is a phenomenal guide. She graciously shared a wealth of interesting things about her country and culture and the dynamic foodie scene. Vastly more than a food tour, our lovely yet challenging walk was the introduction to Lisboa from a newly found friend and a neighborhood not simply a check list stop. If you are going to Lisbon, do yourself a favor and book this tour. By the way, the food was stellar as well.

We love trying culinary adventures wherever we travel and Culinary Backstreets is our favorite. Lisbon has so much more to offer than we expected. It definitely helps to have a guide who is passionate about the local cuisine, has excellent communication skills and can give historical context to it all. Kika provided all that and more. This tour covers the full range, from local favorites to inventive cuisine. Highly recommend.

Excellent way to eat like a local. Our guide Patricia arrange ahead for each location and we were welcomed personally at each one. Small group (4) was the best way to fit in without displacing regular customers. We had fun exchanging differences and similarities. Very relaxed afternoon of eating, drinking and sightseeing

Great and enthusiastic guide, knowledgeable of the little stories and the big history of the city and neighbourhood. Great experience of small things, from the everyday comfort food to the modern fusion kitchen... always authentic. An amazing way to discover the city, the culture, the history, the food beyond the official guides and so-called influencers

Kika was well prepared and organized in this wonderful multidimensional tour. The pacing and breadth of experience worked really well.

Our guide Gisela did an amazing job guiding us through old Lisbon’s labyrinthine streets and pointing out incredible hidden gems that we simply never would’ve found on our own during a short trip. She was enthusiastic about her city and curious to learn more about all our experiences. Though our group met for the first time on the tour, it felt like we were friends by the end.

Laura is an amazing guide, and this store stands out as one of the best tours I have participated in for a long time. Her deep knowledge of the neighborhoods based on being raised in the area, coupled with her knowledge of the Portuguese history with a slant to food influence really gave relevant context for the tour. Anyone visiting Lisbon who is a committed foodie and history will cherish the memories invoked by this culinary journey. I believe that Laura should be requested if you choose this tour. This birthday experience for my wife really provided knowledge we never considered and will remember always.

What an incredible experience - to go to all of these amazing Tascas - and to enter and be treated like family! This experience gave us the confidence to enter into this culinary world of Tascas and Cafes with knowledge, appreciation and love. We really enjoyed learning about a “hidden” area of Lisbon with a knowledgeable guide - Laura took us places we would have been too shy to enter, and with her - she taught us that we are welcome no matter who we are with! I chose this experience to celebrate my birthday - and it was the next best thing to celebrating with family. We ate amazing food and wine, and spent an incredible evening learning about the neighborhoods and the food and cultural history.

The Culinary Backstreets food tour we took with Kika far exceeded our expectations. ( we choice the Hidden Flavors of the Hillside Tour) The depth of knowledge of Lisboa Kika shared (both historic and food related ) was informative and heart warming. From the traditional tascas , to traditional restaurants, through to the cervejaria and the modern tasca we were served amazing food by welcoming chefs and owners and we were delighted as well with a few surprises along the journey . We highly recommend taking a culinary backstreets tour. If possible, make a tour booking at the beginning of your visit to to fully appreciate the culinary world of Lisbon for the rest of your visit. We left the tour with full bellies and hearts from many hours shared with Kika and fellow travelers who love food and friendships as we do.

We LOVED our Hidden Flavors of the Hillside tour with Gisela. We learned so much. Gisela was a delight to spend time with. We can’t stop talking about this tour. The tour lasted six hours and we enjoyed all of it. We basically had lunch, dinner and snacks during our tour. We saw a lot of interesting neighborhoods and learned about Portuguese tasca culture. This is a side of Portugal you probably would not see on your own, and you would miss getting to know the cuisine of this region.

Brilliant experience! Highly recommend. Gisela was such a knowledgeable and fun host for the city, the culture and the amazing foods.

The tour exceeded all of our expectations. Our host was knowledgeable, genuine, and a wonderful storyteller. He enriched every tasting by sharing the cultural history behind each dish and the thoughtfully selected restaurants. We left with a deeper understanding of Portugal’s past and present, explored vibrant neighborhoods, and tasted incredible food along the way. It was truly the highlight of our trip.

Our Culinary Backstreets food tour was terrific, thanks to Laura's informative and gracious hospitality. We all appreciated her ability to show us the history of Lisbon and Portugal through delicious foods, and of course wines. The hosts in all of our stops were kind and accommodating of some food restrictions in our group. The tour was a perfect introduction to Portugal on our second day of an 11-day trip. Thank you Laura for making our experience so memorable and fun.

The tour was a wonderful experience. It included traditional and modern innovative culinary experiences as well which we enjoyed very much. Our tour guide, Celiia, was knowledgeable, thoughtful and great company. She knew the history as well of the neighborhoods we visited and brought to life the various traditions as well as the impact of economic changes to the city's culinary spots and owners. It was easy to communicate with the staff and as a mater of fact we had trouble with our Uber driver finding the meeting spot and Celia kindly walked to our location to pick us up. Very kind of her to do that and much appreciated.

My tour with Kika was fantastic! She was very nice and knowledgeable and fun to hang out with for the day. I loved trying all the food and going to places I would not have gone on my own. This food tour was definitely one of the top highlights of my trip!

This experience exceeded our expectations! Our guide (Kika) was fun and informative, every location we visited was welcoming and delicious. We would highly recommend booking this experience while in Lisbon. (Tip - skip the meal before your tour, you'll need the room!)

Our tour of Mouraria and Graca with Andre was wonderful! We went to local places that we would not have gone to on our own. The food was plentiful and tasty and it was fun getting to know other travelers from around the world. As a bonus, Andre entertained and amazed us with his card tricks!

The tour was an absolute joy from start to finish. Gisela was incredibly knowledgeable not only about food, but also about how each dish came to be (relating back to Portugal's maritime past) and the history of each street as well as Lisbon as a whole. This was far more than a gastronomic experience, it was a walk through Portugal's entire history and meant we all looked at the city with new eyes. Naturally the food was also excellent, as were the drinks we tried!

Andre was so informative about the food and the history of Lisbon! Was many more stops than we anticipated and we loved the unique locations.

Our amazing guide, Kika, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her city. Beyond our expectations and would highly recommend to anyone.

Andre was an amazing guide. Was so much fun visiting all the little places that we would not have attempted. Loved all the food and the history behind the area where we toured. Loved that it was a small group since all the restaurants were tiny. Would have been a different and not so much fun tour if more people.

Amazing experience. Laura was so wonderful and knew the history of the area and all the restaurant owners. It was one of the best tours ever and I travel a lot. I thought the price was a bit steep but we all felt it could have been more for the amount of food drink and experience well done!!! I would do it again.

This was our first Culinary Backstreets Tour and it was the perfect way to get our Lisbon vacation started. We happened to be staying in the Graca neighborhood for our week in Lisbon and took the tour the day after we arrived. Our guide, Kika, was fantastic, of course giving us an appreciation of the range of cuisine we could expect, and also so much more about the people, places and history of Lisbon and Portugal. Kika also gave us additional recommendations for restaurants (Taberna Do Mar was a highlight for us), outings and even goodies at the local market! Jump at the chance to tour with her! This tour helped us more deeply appreciate what we encountered in Lisbon the following week. We’d highly recommend this tour and will be trying other Culinary Backstreets tours in the future.

My friends and I had a fantastic tour with Kika. It was a great way to kick off our first day in Lisbon! Lila took us to some hidden gems that we might not have otherwise found. She taught us about the history of Portugal and in particular Lisbon. She tied the food in with the culture very well and gave us wonderful recommendations. She is a wonderful person to spend the afternoon with and I highly recommend this tour to everyone, whether a local or a visitor.