Melissa Haun

Melissa first moved to Madrid to explore her interests in linguistics and communication, and quickly fell in love with the city's culture and cuisine. She's particularly passionate about Spanish vermouth and canned seafood, and makes it a point to drench absolutely everything in olive oil.

Latest Articles

Rossio Square

The Ultimate Guide to Enjoying Lisbon on a Budget

We’ll let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy Lisbon’s world-class cuisine, history, and culture without breaking the bank. These days, it’s a well-known fact that Lisbon is the place to be. With iconic architecture, panoramic views, world-famous food, and never-ending nightlife, this city really does have it all. But if you’re traveling […]

Point out which conservas you want at Conserveira de Lisboa, as pictured.

A Love Letter to Conservas: How Lisbon’s Canned Fish Captured My Heart

This post is part of our Love Letter series: first-person accounts of what we love about Lisbon. At first glance, the words “canned fish” may not exactly make your mouth water. But one of Lisbon’s most delectable secrets is its stinky, salty, shelf-stable seafood. This is the story of how conservas captured my curiosity—and my […]

Tascantiga is one of the best restaurants in Sintra for fabulous petiscos.

Behind the Bite: Salt Cod

This post is part of our Behind the Bite series, deep dives into the dishes that we can’t stop thinking about. Portugal may be known for delicacies that come straight from the sea, but its most famous seafood is far from fresh. If you’ve spent any time in Lisbon, you’ve probably encountered a common menu […]

A love letter to Lisbon, city of the sea, where the Praça do Comércio (pictured) sits right at sea level.

A Love Letter to Lisbon: City of the Sea

This post is part of our Love Letter series: first-person accounts of what we love about Lisbon. In Lisbon, the sea suffuses every aspect of local life—especially when it comes to cuisine.  When I first caught sight of Lisbon, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was fresh off an overnight transatlantic flight, and […]

Looking for the best petiscos in Lisbon? Try Ameijôas à Bulhão Pato, clams with a delicious coriander sauce, as pictured here

10 Best Petiscos in Lisbon (Yes, We Explain What Petiscos Are!)

Ready to discover the best petiscos in Lisbon? From fresh octopus salad to garlicky clams, we can’t get enough of Portuguese petiscos!  Before we get into the details, what exactly are petiscos? For starters (pun intended), they’re not quite the same as Spanish tapas. Both words describe small dishes that are often shared, but each one […]