When visiting the newly renovated and fabulous Mercado do Balhão, you must stop by this beautiful…read morestorefront of incredible cheeses, charcuterie, nuts, oils, wines, jams, chocolate...etc. It's half a block away! Your eyes lure you in; upon entering, you nose stimulates the curious and happy neurons in your brain; your ears are filled with Portuguese chatter on what to get and how much; you start feeling around at the old-world packaging all around you; and you salivate at the tastes that will overwhelm you when you take your sizable packages back to your place - it's a sensory wonderland!

This small-sized grocery store is perfectly fine for stocking up your apartment, or as it was for…read moreme, picking up a few candies, some bread, cheese and a bottle of wine for a late night snack. The store is a little cluttered but they have all the things you'll need for food and drink. Produce, dry goods, spices, personal care items, baby food and baby care, frozen, bakery and beer/wine/spirits. Shelves are stocked and the prices are clearly marked. I don't believe that the young lady who rang me up speaks English but a number on a screen is easy enough to understand when you have cash. [Review 9898 overall, 1476 of 2018.]

So, these guys are open late. They carry a smattering if basics and convenience items. The produce…read moresection is wilted and sad, though. But, you know, there soda and wine and snacks and frozen foods available. They stock a selection of staple items like milk and bread and eggs but don't expect to find specialty or organic items. On my most recent visit, the checkout process was turned into a test of patience when some random woman started yammering at the store staff. Two of them were just standing around, anyway. The woman completing my transaction kept almost handing me my change as she was interrupted by this crazy person. So, it took about four minutes to actually complete the transaction. The point is, it's convenient except when it isn't.