The Ultimate Tinned Fish Trail in Lisbon
If you think you “don’t do” tinned fish, Lisbon is here to change your mind. We tasted our way through the city’s best cans, bites, and wines to prove there’s truly a tin for everyone.
“I would never try tinned fish.” Oh? I dare you to look up ingredients in Caesar dressing. Now that we’ve established you in fact DO consume tinned fish weekly, let’s broaden your horizons, and set sail on a journey—the Ultimate tinned fish trail in Lisbon
We picked out iconic spots and hidden gems to curate a crawl of our favorite fish and wine pairings you can find throughout Lisbon. Let’s dive in:
1. Sol e Pesca—Sardines & Albariño
Just off the iconic Pink Street sits Sol e Pesca, a spot that looks like it was plucked straight from SpongeBob. Think fishing rods for menus, bait-shop décor, and a general vibe that suggests a cartoon crab may be cooking in the back.
We started with the Anthony Bourdain–approved sardines and paired them with a crisp Albariño. The oily, briny fish met its perfect match in a wine with bright acidity and a lightly saline finish—basically the ocean in a glass. It cut the richness and turned the whole thing into a mermaid snack. A strong start.
2. Can the Can—Cuttlefish & Vinho do Reino
Right in the middle of Lisbon’s bustling town square sits Can the Can, ideal for anyone who wants a gentler entry into tinned fish life. Their cuttlefish isn’t straight from the tin—it’s elevated with a crispy fried coating and a spicy side sauce.
At our waiter’s suggestion, we paired it with Vinho do Reino, a wine with tropical fruit and citrus notes that amplified the crunchy, bright cuttlefish. It was one of our favorites of the entire trail, even if it leaned a little less “tinned fish” and a little more “gourmet chicken nugget.”
3. Maria Palato—Mussels & Satiro Clandestino
Next up: Maria Palato, a gorgeous wine bar loaded with Portuguese bottles and a pantry of tinned treasures. Here we grabbed a can of mussels—spicy, briny, full of personality—and paired it with Satiro Clandestino, a wine recommended by the bar itself.
Both reds and whites work with mussels, but this bottle, with its ripe red and black fruit notes, brought a fun contrast to the picante mussels. A fun stop to rest those feet that just walked 10,000 steps uphill.
4. Prada Wine Bar—Tuna Belly & a Light Red
To slow things down a bit, we headed to Prada Wine Bar, a chic corner spot that’s the definition of “effortlessly cool.” Here we ordered their buttery tuna belly and paired it with a light red, though rosé is also a great match.
The tuna belly was smooth and rich, and the wine—soft, slightly eucalyptus-y, and easy to drink—brightened it all up. A palate-cleansing pause before our final splash.
5. Miss Can—Anchovies & Vinho Verde
We ended our trail at Miss Can, a tiny, electric, mermaid-themed tinned fish bar. They’ve got their own line of tins, fun merch, and hilarious mini chairs that are perfect to crowd over and share snacks.
Armed with their handheld spicy sauce (dangerously good), we wrapped the night with anchovies and a house Vinho Verde. Light, zippy, and refreshing—the perfect finale to our tinned trail.
Final thoughts: There is a tinned fish for everyone
Whether you’re a seafood superfan or slightly terrified of food that comes in a can, Portugal's tinned fish culture has a way of converting people. Each stop offered something totally different—from mermaid sardines to cuttlefish crunch to spicy mussels—and every wine pairing made it even better. Sure, it’s true that cats would LOVE this trail, but who knows? You might too.
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