In my opinion, every trip should start with a proper breakfast. And if you're thinking of to a typical Portuguese pastry café (what we call a “pastelaria”), it helps to know what locals actually order.
Of course, these days there’s more variety and people are more health-conscious, but these are the classics you’ll still see every morning:
Portuguese croissant with ham and cheese: softer and sweeter than the French version, usually filled with ham and cheese.
Pão de Deus: a sweet coconut-topped bun, often with ham and cheese too.
Simple bread roll: for a more basic ham and cheese sandwich.
Tosta mista: buttered toast with melted cheese and ham. Crispy, warm, and perfect with a coffee.
Torrada: thick slices of toasted bread generously buttered, usually served cut into strips. A breakfast staple, especially with a hot drink.
And when it comes to drinks…
Café (a short espresso)
Galão (served in a tall glass, mostly milk with a shot of coffee)
Meia de leite (half milk, half coffee, in a cup)
Abatanado (a long espresso, similar to an Americano)
Fresh orange juice is also a very typical choice.
And of course... if there’s still space, there’s always a pastel de nata nearby.
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