Nuno from Lisbon
Restaurante Tico-Tico Lisbon
Grandma's favourite
Tico Tico or Novo Rio (the restaurant uses both names) is an old Alvalade local favourite as long as I can remember. They probably serve the best meat croquettes in all of Lisbon: crispy and golden, stuffed with minced meat seasoned with cummin and other secrets they're not sharing.
The menu is a long delicious walk through some of the most unknown Portuguese delicacies, including: all sorts of seafood, red snapper head (for real!? oh yeah!), octopus fillets, stuffed squid, monkfish pasta, fish eggs, the famous suckling pig, iscas (pork liver thin steaks), "cabidela" rice (rice cooked in chicken or rabbit blood!), the rich and seasonal lamprey, and last but not least, the Portuguese stew, the strongest of them all! Here you can find traditional anti-hipsterish Portuguese cosy food to warm your soul. I'm happy they haven't changed a thing.
Actually, the old restaurant works like a "cervejaria" all day long, which is the kind of place you go just to eat a bifana (pork steak served in a bun), a prego (the same, but with cow meat instead) or just some beers with lupin beans or some seafood. You could go there anytime and maybe avoid the usual crowd. It's a cool place to hang out with friends and watch a football match.
And back to the meat croquettes. Did you know they make from 500 to 800 croquettes a day? There's only one big discussion going on: with or without mustard?!
About this spot
Our Lisbon City Guide
Find your way with 208 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Join as a Spotter?
Loved this Spot? And love your city? Join your local team. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in Lisbon
LX Factory
Under the bridge
"LX Factory" Lisbon is a creative mini-city that has everything from interesting architecture to music, home to design companies, galleries and studios.
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Jorge D'Amália
A steak with a horseback egg?
"Jorge D'Amália" is a tasca in Lisbon that serves amazing bitoques, steaks with a horseback fried egg. In my opinion it doesn't get more Lisboan than this.
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Marvila & Beato
Digital Nomads paradise
"Marvila & Beato" are two neighborhoods in Lisbon going through beautiful and well-thought out gentrification which when done bad has spoilt other places.
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Miradouro Keil do Amaral
Magical nature
"Miradouro Keil do Amaral" in Lisbon goes completely unnoticed in the middle of Monsanto forest... I think it's a magical place where I go to just relax.
by
Sandra
Lopes
Jardim do Cerco da Graça
The hanging garden
"Jardim do Cerco da Graça" is the biggest green area inside the historical zone in Lisbon. I'm very proud about writing and enjoying this spot!
by
Cláudio
Carneiro
Carmo Archaeological Museum
Heaven to Skies
The "Carmo Archaeological Museum", built at an old church that barely survived the 1755 earthquake, enchants me every time I visit. Open-air concerts, too!
by
Cláudio
Carneiro
Dalí Cozinha Surreal
World cuisine
"Dalí Cozinha Surreal" in Lisbon is a restaurant whose whole concept is serving surreally creative, good food, also inspired by world cuisine!
by
Ana Carolina
Boldrini
Livraria Ler Devagar
Industrial bookstore
"Livraria Ler Devagar" Lisbon is inside a giant factory that was once abandoned. What I love about the bookstore/cafe? The 'Gepeto meets industrial' vibe.
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Museu do Oriente
Lisbon's best brunch
"Museu do Oriente" Lisbon has the best brunch in town. I like to book the 14:30 - 17:00 slot and skip lunch....
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Mercearia do Páteo Alfacinha
Portuguese gourmet
"Mercearia do Páteo Alfacinha" Lisbon is a old restaurant that's been around since 1981 which has a piece of history attached to it and a delicious menu!
by
Nuno
Lopes de Paula
Heading to Lisbon?
208 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 208 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Lisbon
Our team loves Lisbon
Get to know our other Spotters from Lisbon
As featured on:
