At a time of year when summer feels so far away and the dreams of exploring warm European cities seems out of reach, I find myself daydreaming of past holidays to pass the dreary month of January. One of my favourite cities in recent years is Lisbon, which is full of culinary delights, sunshine and interesting culture and architecture. What more do you need from a city?

Iā€™m not the only one who recognises Lisbon as a foodie haven; at the end of last year, the World Culinary Awards dished out an award to Lisbon for being Europeā€™s Best Culinary City Destination. If thatā€™s not enough to get you booking flights to the Portuguese capital, Iā€™ve shared a few of my personal favourite places and things to eat when in Lisbon:

Fabric by Fares, Bairro Alto – @fabric_lisboa

Foodies Guide to Lisbon

This Middle Eastern brunch gem offers up hot plates such as shakshuka and falafel pittas as well as delicious handmade baked goods including chocolate babka. I opted for the slow cooked lamb plate with homemade velvety hummus, flatbread, salad and tzatziki which was all so mouthwatering I actually had to come back again 2 days later!

They are also open into the evening serving up cocktails which I will be sure to try next time!

La Fugitive Taco Bar, Bairro Alto – @lafugitivatacobar

Foodies Guide to Lisbon

Soft conchinita pibil pork tacos packed full of flavour, washed down with a margarita whilst dining alfresco watching the streets of Lisbon. Need I say more?

This place really balances the authentic flavours of Mexican food with an up-beat vibe and is always full, so make sure to book ahead of time.

Time Out Market, Bairro Alto – @timeoutmarketlisboa

Foodies Guide to Lisbon

For any foodies looking to get a taste of Lisbonā€™s exciting culinary scene, this food hall is a must-visit spot. Whether youā€™re after a small snack of croquettes with a drink from the bar, or something slightly bigger and different such as a roasted grouper head, this place really offers it all, with options from some of Portugalā€™s most famous chefs.

A Cultura do HambĆŗrguer, Bairro Alto – @aculturadohamburguer

Foodies Guide to Lisbon

Self-declared ā€œthe best burger in Lisbonā€, this restaurant offers artisanal burgers made to order. There is something for everyone when it comes to burgers, including classic options, vegetarian options, more adventurous spicy and crab burger versions, and one even inspired by the chefā€™s own motherā€™s recipe. I went for something more unusual with a black burger bun filled with bacon and pineapple ā€“ absolutely delicious!

PasteĢis de BeleĢm, BeleĢm – @pasteisbelem

Foodies Guide to Lisbon

I couldnā€™t write about food in Lisbon without mentioning the other-worldly sweet treat that is a pastel de nata. Although there are many great places in the main city to grab one (I highly recommend the chain Manteigaria), a visit to Lisbon isnā€™t complete without a trip to the birthplace of the nata in BelĆ©m. With their history dating back to 1837 with a ā€˜secret recipeā€™ from the neighbouring JerĆ³nimos Monastery, many people take the journey out of the city to Belem to try the original recipe of the delicious flaky pastry filled with egg custard.

O Velho Eurico, Alfama – @ovelhoeurico

So, technically I didnā€™t actually go to this restaurant, but I still had to include it in this list after being recommended by so many people who have been. This tiny tasca (a traditional casual Portuguese eatery) consists of only around five tables and serves up traditional Portuguese cuisine including a house speciality of codfish Ć  BrĆ”s.

As you can gather, I highly recommend Lisbon as a city break for foodies and I am sure I am not alone so if you have any recommendations do tag us in @jellybeanagency