Time Out Market

Top chefs under one roof

The Time Out Market occupies the west wing of the Mercado da Ribeira, the historic market hall at Cais do Sodré. In 2014, city magazine Time Out turned this part of the hall into a curated food hall, the first of its kind anywhere, and a model Time Out has since exported to other cities worldwide. The idea: an editorial team picks who gets a stall, so the city's best restaurants and chefs end up gathered in one place.

The scale is considerable as of 2026: 26 restaurants run by top Lisbon chefs, plus 8 bars, 6 kiosks, 5 shops, a cooking school, a concert hall, a disco/bar and a co-working space. You order from whichever stalls you like and eat at long communal tables, a quick cross-section of Portuguese cuisine, from pastéis de nata (custard tarts) to fresh fish and modern tapas, without having to commit to a single restaurant.

What to expect

The stalls cover a wide range: traditional Lisbon dishes, steak and burgers, sushi, desserts and wine. Because several names here also run their own restaurants elsewhere in the city, a table can turn into a mini best-of, one person grabs fish, another a dessert, and everyone sits down together. That's exactly what makes the market such a practical first taste of Lisbon's food scene.

To be fair, its popularity comes at a cost: at peak times it's loud, packed and heavily touristy, and free seats at the communal tables get scarce. If you're after a quiet, proper sit-down restaurant experience, you're better off elsewhere. But for an easy, varied bite between sightseeing stops, the Time Out Market is hard to beat.

Market and meeting point

In the adjoining east half of the Mercado da Ribeira, the traditional fresh produce market still runs, selling fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers, the building's original purpose, dating back to when it served as Lisbon's central market hall in the 19th century. A quick look over there is worth it, especially in the morning, and shows the contrast between the curated food hall and the market as it grew organically.

Sitting right on the Cais do Sodré transport hub, the market makes a natural starting or ending point for a walk around the city. It's only a few minutes on foot to Baixa and Chiado, and not much further up to Bairro Alto, in the evening, a visit pairs well with a fado night.

Visiting: the practicalities

Open daily from 10:00 to 00:00 (official FAQ); some bars stay open later on evenings and weekends, and individual stall hours may vary. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for a meal. The key tip is timing: it's very busy at lunch and dinner, so the most pleasant time to eat is early or in the late afternoon, while tables are still free.

Worth knowing: cash isn't accepted, payment is by credit or debit card only. There are two cash machines on site, and the Time Out shop optionally sells a rechargeable card for €1.50. No booking, you simply take a seat at the communal tables. Vegan and gluten-free options are available; for allergies, it's best to check details directly at the stall.

Address: Mercado da Ribeira, Avenida 24 de Julho, 1200-479 Lisboa. Right next door is Cais do Sodré station (metro, green line; the Cascais line and numerous bus routes); from here you can reach the historic Tram 28 via Baixa. For more on the city's food scene, see the guide Food & Drink in Lisbon.