Supermarkets in Lisbon: Where Locals Actually Shop

Visiting supermarkets in Lisbon is always fun, because you get to experience a supermarket in a different city from your home.

What do they have on the shelves, what are the prices, and where should you even go? I cover all these points and more.

I love grocery shopping in Lisbon because you can get anything you can imagine, from incredible wine and amazing bread and produce to fresh fish.

There are some chains that are great for daily grocery shopping and others for bigger grocery hauls.

I’ve been in so many around Lisbon, so I thought I’d make this guide for you.

If you’re planning meals beyond groceries, my Lisbon food guide covers what to eat, where to eat, and how locals actually eat in Lisbon.

How Locals Actually Shop for Food in Lisbon

One thing I absolutely love about Portugal is that many supermarkets stay open until 10-11 pm, so even late at night, you can still satisfy your cravings or get what you need.

The locals mainly go to stores like Pingo Doce, Continente, and Auchan to get their daily groceries, usually after work, from 4-5 pm until 8 pm.

Most locals shop little and often, rather than doing one big weekly grocery run.

There are also fresh markets, such as Mercado de Campo de Ourique and Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira), but most people go to the stores mentioned above.

Many locals combine supermarkets with small neighborhood bakeries and frutarias for produce.

The Best Supermarkets in Lisbon (My Picks)

Pingo Doce: Best for everyday shopping

Pingo Doce has everything that you need, from milk, bread, eggs, to fresh fish, and all at good prices.

They also have a selection of incredible pastries, easy-to-go meals, and so much more. I can’t recommend Pingo Doce enough.

This is a local staple because it’s reliable, offers the best value, and has the biggest selection. Pingo Doce is also everywhere, so you don’t have to walk far to find one.

My go-to order for a quick bite is a tosta mista with a Kombucha.

Continente: Best for big grocery hauls

Continente has two types of stores: the ones called “Bom dia” (Good morning) are like Pingo Doce, but a bit more expensive.

They also have huge stores where you can get anything; my go-to is the one in Colombo shopping mall.

It’s perfect if you need special items, need a lot of stuff, or just don’t want to go to multiple stores to get everything.

Their snack department is massive, and you can get any cookies, chips, or chocolate you can imagine at very good prices.

The only letdown is that there aren’t that many of these massive Continente stores.

Auchan: Best balance of price & variety

When I lived in Amoreiras near Campo de Ourique, Auchan was my go-to store because it was a 5-minute walk from my apartment to Amoreiras Shopping Mall, which has an Auchan.

Auchan is a store between El Corte Inglés and Continente. They have a huge selection, but a mix of cheap and more premium things.

You can get incredible bread, ready-made meals, produce, and so much more here. In general, it’s a bit more expensive than Pingo Doce.

It’s smaller than Continente, and you can quickly get around and find what you need. They also have a deli inside the store.

El Corte Inglés: Premium & specialty

I only discovered El Corte Inglés in the last year, and it really surprised me. It has two grocery stores: one in the basement and one at the very top level.

At the very top level, you can get incredibly premium wines, caviar, salmon, and similar items.

In the basement, you’ll find more generic items, but there’s still produce, and the overall selection is higher quality and therefore more expensive; just be aware of this.

It’s the perfect place if you need something very unique and specific, or you just feel like spoiling yourself a bit.

Budget Supermarkets

Other than Pingo Doce, there are also Lidl and Aldi. When I lived in Alfama, I went to Lidl a lot. I really like their bakery department.

The stores are a lot like Pingo Doce, but they have more German items than Portuguese ones, and they’re still very good prices.

It’s perfect if you just need basic items like flour, eggs, milk, and bread.

When Supermarkets Aren’t Enough

If you’re looking for hard-to-find ingredients from Asia, the Middle East, and Brazil, there are many specialty stores at Martim Moniz. It’s best explored during the day if you’re unfamiliar with the area

Continente often also has these special ingredients, so you could start there.

Wine: Supermarket vs Wine Shop

I’m passionate about wine, and in Portugal, you can get incredible wine cheaper than water, quite funny.

You can buy wine in any grocery store, and often quite good wine, but if you want premium wine or better guidance, I can recommend Garrafeira Nacional.

I’ve been to almost all of Garrafeira Nacional’s stores, and they’re very knowledgeable and capable about Portuguese wine.

I’ve also made a guide on Portuguese wine in general, their grapes, and what to look for.

What to Buy at Portuguese Supermarkets (Local Tips)

If you’re wondering what to buy when you’re in the supermarket, here are some ideas:

• Ready-made meals (Tosta Mista, general sandwiches, or pao com chorizo)
• Grilled chicken (Piri-piri)
• Cheese & charcuterie
• Fresh bread (All Portuguese bread is amazing)
• Yogurt & dairy (Notice how they have ailes just with yoghurt)
• Wine & beer

If you need more ideas, here is a full food guide to Lisbon.

Practical Shopping Tips

There are some things to be aware of when shopping, and what I recommend you:

• Always bring reusable bags
• Avoid grocery shopping between 4 pm and 7 pm if you can; it’s peak hours
• Self-checkout is the norm, also when you pay with cash
• Not all stores are open on sundays and there are a lot of public holidays in Portugal
• You can pay with a card in all supermarkets, but if you go to local markets, bring cash to be sure.
• If you bring your own water or snacks in, talk to security; they’ll add a sticker to show it’s yours. Security is at the entrance.

If food is a big part of your trip to Lisbon, my Lisbon food guide pulls everything together: supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, pastries, and wine.

Shopping at local supermarkets is one of the easiest ways to save money. For more tips on stretching your euros, check out my full Lisbon on a budget guide.

Frequently Asked Questions