TLDR: The Time Out Market Lisbon at Avenida 24 de Julho 49 in Cais do Sodré is the city’s best-known food hall. Opened in 2014 in the old Mercado da Ribeira (1892). 26 food stalls picked by Time Out Lisboa’s critics, plus eight full restaurants and a rooftop. Open 10am-midnight, until 1am Friday and Saturday. From Casa Almada it is 18 minutes on foot down to the river or 6 minutes by Bolt.
Insider tip from Casa Almada
Go for an early dinner at 6pm rather than 8pm. The market quietens between 4pm and 6.30pm before the dinner rush, you can walk straight up to most counters, and you actually get to sit at the long communal tables. By 8pm the lines at the popular stalls (Manteigaria, Café de São Bento, Henrique Sá Pessoa) are 15-20 minutes deep.
The Time Out Market is the food hall that taught the rest of the world how to do food halls. 26 hand-picked stalls under one Belle Époque roof, eight full-service restaurants around the perimeter, a rooftop, and on a busy summer Friday around 8,000 visitors moving through. It works because the curation is real — every stall passed the Time Out Lisboa critic’s standard before it got the lease.
Casa Almada sits 18 minutes’ walk from the market in the Old Town. This is the local guide to using the market well — when to go, what to order, where to actually sit, and the back stalls the day-trippers miss.
A short history of the market
The building is the Mercado da Ribeira, opened 1892 as the city’s wholesale fish, fruit and flower market. The iron-and-glass dome was the technological showpiece of its day — Lisbon’s answer to the Paris Halles. The market continued as a working wholesale operation through the 20th century before falling into disuse.
The Time Out Market concept opened in May 2014, with Time Out Lisboa magazine selecting 26 hand-picked food stalls and 8 full-service restaurants and giving them lease in the western half of the building. The eastern half remains a working morning fruit and vegetable market.
The format proved so successful that Time Out has rolled it out internationally — New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Montreal and Dubai now have Time Out Markets, all loosely based on the original Lisbon model. The Lisbon mother-ship is still considered the best of the bunch.
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Best stalls and what to order
For chef-led plates, head to Henrique Sá Pessoa (octopus, sea bass, beef tenderloin), Café de São Bento (the famous steak sandwich), Manteigaria (the best pastel de nata in Lisbon, freshly baked), and Pap’Açorda (the relocated Bairro Alto classic — bacalhau, açorda).
For seafood and Portuguese classics, try Marisqueira Azul (clams, prawns, octopus by the kilo), Ground Burger (the chef-curated burger stall, much better than it sounds), and Conservas Lisboa (Portuguese tinned fish on bread, an unexpected highlight).
For desserts, the Manteigaria queue moves fast — €1.40 for a fresh pastel de nata. Add a galão (€2) and you have the perfect mid-afternoon stop. Or try Sou Mais Doce for queijadas and travesseiros if you cannot make it to Sintra.
Practical visit tips
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10am to midnight, Friday-Saturday 10am to 1am. Stalls accept card and contactless. Tables are first-come-first-served, no reservations. Bags rest under your stool.
Best times to visit: Tuesday-Thursday lunch (12-1pm) for a calmer feel, or weekday early dinner (6-7pm) before the rush. Avoid Friday-Saturday 8-11pm unless you genuinely enjoy a Lisbon nightclub atmosphere — at peak it is loud and packed.
Getting there from Casa Almada: 18 minutes on foot down through Baixa to Cais do Sodré along Rua da Prata or Rua Augusta, then west along the river. Or 6 minutes Bolt for €5-€7. The Cais do Sodré metro stop is right next door.
What to skip: the chain cocktail stalls and the international chef showcases that come and go. Stick to the Portuguese stalls — they are the reason the market exists.
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- Address: Avenida 24 de Julho 49, Cais do Sodré, Lisbon.
- Hours: Sun-Thu 10am-midnight. Fri-Sat 10am-1am.
- Stalls: 26 hand-picked food stalls plus 8 full-service restaurants.
- Best chef stalls: Henrique Sá Pessoa, Café de São Bento, Pap’Açorda, Manteigaria.
- Best seafood: Marisqueira Azul.
- Best dessert: Manteigaria pastel de nata, €1.40 each.
- Quietest: Tue-Thu lunch 12-1pm or weekday early dinner 6-7pm.
- Avoid: Fri-Sat 8-11pm unless you want the nightclub atmosphere.
- From Casa Almada: 18 min walk or 6 min Bolt (€5-€7).
- Payment: Card and contactless at every stall. Tap your bank card or Apple/Google Pay.
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Frequently asked questions
When did Time Out Market Lisbon open?
May 2014. The market is housed in the historic Mercado da Ribeira building (1892) on Avenida 24 de Julho in Cais do Sodré. The eastern half of the building still operates as a working morning fruit and vegetable market.
How many stalls are at Time Out Market Lisbon?
26 hand-picked food stalls plus 8 full-service restaurants. The stalls are selected and rotated by Time Out Lisboa’s food critics. The roster typically refreshes around 4-6 stalls per year.
What are the Time Out Market opening hours?
Sunday to Thursday 10am to midnight. Friday and Saturday 10am to 1am. The market is open every day of the year with reduced hours on 25 December and 1 January.
Is Time Out Market Lisbon worth visiting?
Yes, especially on a quiet weekday at lunch or 6pm on a weekday evening. The chef-led stalls (Henrique Sá Pessoa, Café de São Bento, Pap’Açorda) serve genuinely strong Portuguese cooking at €10-€18 per plate. Avoid Friday-Saturday 8pm to 11pm if you want a relaxed meal.
How do I get from Casa Almada to Time Out Market?
18 minutes on foot from the Old Town down through Baixa to Cais do Sodré, mostly downhill. Or 6 minutes by Bolt for around €5-€7. The Cais do Sodré metro stop is right next door if you are coming from elsewhere in the city.
If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.