Having satisfied my sugar cravings, it was time for something more savoury. By this point my friends had managed to navigate their way up through the crisis-crossing sun-baked streets to meet me in time for lunch. The main problem when you come to Lisbon is choosing what to eat! Turn any corner and you're guaranteed to find something to tempt you, from traditional Portuguese food to more international flavours. This was exactly our experience as we dodged the trams in search of something to fuel the busy day of sightseeing ahead of us. After a brief moment of indecision we opted for La Bottega Piadina, drawn in by the promise of fresh Italian flatbreads full to bursting with Parma ham, mozzarella, Parmesan, pesto and olives. In next to no time we had devoured our gigantic piadinas, leaving behind only a few rocket leaves as evidence of our gluttony. Now we were ready to explore.

Clamber up Lisbon’s dizzying hillside streets and you'll find numerous miradouros (or viewpoints) from which to admire the stunning cityscape. Feeling particularly adventurous we decided to make straight for the highest viewpoint in town – Castelo de São Jorge. Our leisurely pace perfectly matched the relaxed atmosphere of the city and we soon stumbled across a hole-in-the-wall bar tucked away beneath a stone stairway. We promptly joined the locals who stood outside Ginginha do Carmo, sipping their small cups of ginjinha (cherry liqueur) and nattering over glasses of ice-cold beer. At only €1.35 a shot it seemed a shame not to!

Thirst quenched, we continued onwards in the direction of Castelo de São Jorge. We did, however, make another small detour to nose around the farmers’ market in Praça da Figueira. You can buy anything here, from fresh fruit and vegetables and local cheeses to cured meats, sangria and the Portuguese speciality of tinned fish. The proprietor of the canned fish stall instantly ushered us over and started to ply us with samples of bacalhau (cod), atum (tuna) and sardinhas (sardines). We did eventually make it to the Moorish castle and spent the rest of the afternoon taking in the 360-degree views perched atop the fortified stone walls.

Our very successful day seeking out the finest food and drink Lisbon had to offer continued well into the evening. Indeed, we didn't have to venture far from our accommodation to find specialist wine bar By The Wine and were spoilt for choice with the extensive range of Portuguese wines from Douro Valley dry reds to semi-sweet rosé wines and fresh Vinho Verde. The food also showcased Portugal’s high-quality local produce; oysters sourced from the Sado river, jamón Ibérico de Bellota ham and semi-soft Azeitão cheese to name just a few. Embracing the celebratory atmosphere of Portugal’s post-Euro 2016 win we joined the crowds of local revellers at quirky Pensao Amor (a former Lisbon brothel!) for some after-dinner cocktails.

Day two began at a more leisurely pace with a wander around the ruins of Convento do Carmo and a brief stop at Manteigaria to satisfy our growing pastéis de nata addiction. Eager to get a different perspective of the city, we took the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas and admired Lisbon’s historic architectural beauty, the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge and the towering Christ the Redeemer statue. All of this sightseeing had, however, left us gasping for some ice-cold refreshment. As the ferry came into dock our eyes were immediately drawn to the sight of Mercado da Ribeira. This old market has undergone a dramatic transformation and is now a buzzing hub of small street food stalls owned by some of Portugal’s most renowned restaurateurs and specialist producers. Standing out amongst this feast of gastronomic plenty was Santini – a shining red and white beacon of ice cream excellence. According to Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes, Santini makes the best ice cream in the world – and I would definitely agree!

That night we left earlier than usual to put our names down for a table at rustic Taberna da Rua das Flores. There was a queue as expected, but considering its tiny size and big reputation this wasn’t a surprise. Our patience was dutifully rewarded with an array of creative tapas dishes including succulent octopus and sweet potato, crispy lamb cutlets, marinated mackerel tartare and delicately cooked stingray. Although we were all now extremely full, we still had just enough room to share a velvety dark chocolate mousse and traditional Portuguese rice pudding.

If you have enough time, make the trip to Sintra. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and less than an hour away from Lisbon by train. We escaped the tourists by hiking through the serene forests and gardens up to the multi-coloured Palácio Nacional da Pena and the ruins of Castelo dos Mouros. The imperial grandeur and elegance of Palácio Nacional da Pena are made even more strikingly beautiful by the unique blue and white azulejos (Portuguese tiles) that decorate the exterior and interior walls – really worth the hike. After our day of physical excursion cocktails were most certainly on the menu! Fortunately we had just enough energy to climb the several flights of stairs up to Park – a rooftop bar situated on top of a multi-storey car park. Sundown was the perfect time to arrive and the city became even more stunning in the starlight.

And so came our final day in Lisbon, but there was still one more foodie challenge left to fulfill – the epic francesinha. Although literally translating as ‘Little Frenchie’, there really isn't anything little about this sandwich. I shamelessly shied away, but my companion heroically tackled the humongous meat-filled monstrosity, which came smothered in cheese, tomato sauce and topped with a fried egg. After a long slog he emerged triumphant, but the side portion of chips were unfortunately one step too far! Maybe not the wisest meal choice for the plane ride home?