Grilled Sardines (Sardinhas Assadas)

Fresh Atlantic sardines grilled over charcoal and eaten whole with coarse salt, olive oil, and crusty bread — a summer ritual that reaches its peak during Lisbon's Festas de Santo António in June. The smell of grilling sardines drifting through the alleyways of Alfama is one of Portugal's most evocative experiences. Best paired with a cold glass of Vinho Verde.