Experience the best of
Lisbon with Withlocals

"When trying out new things it’s always a bit unknown. The expectations but also not knowing what to fully expect. I can say this was 100% amazing experience. Isabel clearly loves what she does and does it well. We were treated like family instantly. From the moment we met she invited us in and told us to make ourselves comfortable and her place is ours as well. As we sat and talked over a few hours Isabel explained the traditional ingredients in the food. Also where she came from and how that food was cooked. I am generally interested in the food aspects of cultures and how those food items came about. Everything was really amazing, I had a few dishes I’ve not had and can say it was great to try many different things vs just a few dishes. At the finish we had the traditional custard tart with a pinch of cinnamon. It was far better than the ones from the markets/ bakeries. I felt it wasn’t as sweet so it really tasted better. If everyone provides an experience like this then I’ll definitely be using Withlocals a lot more. "

"Four of us dined with Isabel in her beautiful home. Every part of the meal was perfection. How nice to be in a quiet place with local cuisine and wine, with the most interesting host. Dinner with Isabel was the highlight of our time in Lisbon. There are not enough stars to show our appreciation for this evening. Gloabl community, do not miss this opportunity to dine with Isabel!"

"Muitos anos a virar frangos is a Portuguese saying. Literally, it translates to ‘many years turning chickens‘. Figuratively, it is a playful expression that means ‘to have a lot of experience doing something‘. This is so appropriate to our experience with Paulo in so many ways. Paulo has a lot of experience with food and wine, not only as guide and a local, but also as a professional cook and ardent and knowledgeable fan. I would say connoisseur, but I suspect Paulo would shoot that down as being snobby. Paulo is knowledgeable and enthusiastic and his enjoyment and pride in Portugeuse cuisine, wine, and culture/history is evident and approachable. He was always thoughtful to check in on what we were interested in and what we would like to do, and willing to tailor our experience to us, and I am sure he could handle tailoring this tour to anyone (kids, dietary restrictions, etc). One recommendation based on some of the reviews I've read - to better tailor your experience: I've always found withlocals guides to be responsive via email - let the guide know ahead of time (at booking) so they can better prepare. Your time with the guide is limited, preplanning ensures a better experience if you have special interests or special needs. We're easy - no allergies, adventerous, and open to anything but not everyone is like us. So you do you but do your part, too. That aside, I have full trust that Paulo could handle anything thrown at him on the fly. He's a great guide who wants you to love the cuisine and culture of Portugal as much as he does. Experience-wise: We were picked up on time and transported to three wineries in a modern, clean, and safe vehicle. Note: have breakfast before your pickup if you haven't arranged it as part of your tour - only water is allowed to be consumed in the vehicle, so no snacking! Also note: Our guide did not join us in tastings as he was driving, in case anyone was concerned about that. A safe experience is a good experience; and the tour took this all into consideration. Paulo took the transit time to talk to us about food and wine so that in Paulo's own words: " instead of *talking* about wine at the vineyard you can just *drink wine!*" We had a lovely chat about Portugal, the national park where the first winery was located, cork trees, tiles, food, wine, the challenge of preserving traditional meals and folkways in an ever-globalizing world, and the benefits and drawbacks of tourism, among other topics (but mostly focused on food and wine). This was my husband's first time and second time to Portugal, but the last visit I did not really make it much beyond the city center, so it was amazing to exit the city and get to Azeitão and Setúbal. A totally different vibe for sure! The wineries were all lovely, each in their own way, and it was a nice range of size / business model/ product. The pours were generous and the last stop included a really amazing charcuterie board to go with our drinks. Some of the winery visits are by appointment, so while we had a schedule to stick to, Paulo made sure we never felt hurried or rushed and was gentle and respectful about keeping us on track. Midday, we stopped for lunch (optional and self-pay). While the guides will never impose - don't be *that guy* and do treat them to lunch. Having Paulo help us select dishes and wine and learn about cuisine was well worth the (inexpensive) price of his lunch. I also got to eat freshly grilled whole sardine - my last visit I had missed the sardine run so ... Thanks to Paulo for showing me how to navigate a whole sardine like a local (without judgement and without making me feel ignorant)! I love canned sardines, but freshly caught then grilled ones are a revelation. I can now understand why fresh, grilled sardines are both Paulo's and a national favorite. In between winery visits, we also went to a tile studio - this one is legit. It was much, much smaller than I expected - as a consumer most everything I buy is so made by machine and automation and is soulless. As Paulo pointed out, the tiles or azulejos will cost a little more than what you find in the tourist shops (and are likely made in China) but are well-worth the money due to the excellent quality as well as the skills of a talented human being that go into them. They make wonderful gifts . What I loved is that I got to see the tile artists at work: Two very talented ladies doing the inital colorwork/drawings for tiles to be produced, working on giant easels in a compact, sunny, and bright studio area and then around a corner and into the ceramics section where I got to see a gentleman applying the first coat of glazes to a tile. By hand. With a little squirt/applicator-tip bottle. As someone who regularly glues their fingers together when using a bottle of glue, this blew my mind. Overall experience: a complete, interesting, and worthwhile experience with Paulo as charming, knowledgeable, enthusiasti, and caring guide. I highly recommend this experience (and Paulo), so much in fact, if I ever get back, I'd do the tour again. Right now the best I can do is recommend to everyone checking it out on WithLocals. Also, now I want to move to Setúbal, learn how to cut cork and work in a vineyard! Thank you, Paulo! "

"Isabel was the most amazing host! We had the pleasure of enjoying her company and food on our last night in Lisbon. If only we had done this in the beginning of our trip so we could have taken advantage of her suggestions. We will definetly be back. It was an evening filled with laughter, great food and excellent conversation!"

"We had a wonderful evening with Isabel. The evening started with a warm welcome into Isabel’s home. We talked about the art in her home (which she painted) and proceeded to her beautifully set table. At the table we leisurely had a 3 course meal filled with fabulous food and interesting conversation. Every dish she served was carefully prepared and presented. We loved the food and learned so much about Portuguese cuisine and culture. Isabel is absolutely delightful and we enjoyed every minute of our time together. I feel fortunate to have had this experience and I highly recommend having dinner with Isabel!"

"Experiencing a true Portuguese dinner in Isabel’s home was one of the best things we did during our stay in Lisbon. There were 7 of us and Isabel and her dog Chico welcomed us into her home full of beautiful artwork and time flew. Between the conversation and the excellent and very plentiful appetizers, food courses and lots of wine, more than 3 hours flew by. She is a great cook and is very considerate of any food restrictions. We loved our time with her and visiting her home and listening to her stories made us love Lisbon and Portugal even more. "

"Dinner with Isabel was a highlight of our Portugal visit. She provided an excellent table only surpassed by the great conversation. Isabel has a wide range of knowledge, resulting in a very entertaining evening. Her personality can be described as vibrant, making the hours fun and fast paced. Thank you Isabel for making our trip memorable!"

"So much fun to have dinner with Isabel. Her cooking was great (especially liked the hake spinach and mashed potato casserole), and conversation was fun. Book this event if you want an out of the ordinary experience. Although we have been to Lisbon several times, Isabel’s tips for off the beaten path shopping and things to see were great. "

"Dinner with Isabel was so much more than the wonderful meal that she thoughtfully prepared giving us a comprehensive selection of Portuguese cuisine and wine. Her entertaining stories, humor and knowledge of Portuguese history and culture gave us a greater understanding of Portugal and its people. She was so accommodating in answering questions about restaurants and shopping and things to do in Lisbon. Thank you Isabel for your outstanding generosity and hospitality. "

"My boyfriend and I went to the class. Although it is slightly outside of Lisbon, it was worth the time it took to get there! Chef Manuel was an excellent teacher. He explained every part of the process, the history and how to make the deserts at home. He even converted all measurements for me in the US and my boyfriend in the UK. We had so much fun, learned alot and had some incredible Pastel De Natas to take home with us. I would HIGHLY recommend the experience to anyone looking to so something fun and engaging while in Lisbon."