Continente Bom Dia Chiado — Supermarket in Chiado, Lisbon

Continente Bom Dia Chiado is a branch of Continente tucked onto Travessa do Carmo in Chiado, and the first thing you notice is how small it is against what it holds. The entry sits around the building rather than square on the street, so look for it before you decide you have passed it.

The own-brand shelf is where to start. The chocolate chip cookies and potato chips are the two things worth carrying back to a hotel room, plain and cheap. Jamón is the other buy: take a mid-priced cut rather than the cheapest, which tastes fuller. Bread from the bakery is another reason to come in, and ready-made meals, salads and sushi let you put together a meal without a kitchen.

The shop packs a variety of items into a small footprint, with fruit, wine, drinks and household goods all on the same short run of shelves. It is chaotic on a first visit, so give yourself a minute to find the layout. Self-checkout machines are there, and lines at busy times can be long but move quickly.

Prices sit at the level of a normal neighbourhood supermarket rather than a tourist shop, which is the point of coming here in Chiado. A bottle deposit costs 10 cents, so factor that in if you are buying drinks.

Stock can be thin on some items. Come earlier in the day for produce and go elsewhere if you want a full cheese or salami counter.