Bairro Alto bars shut down around 2am but finding decent late-night food after midnight is a total nightmare unless you know the secret spots. Most tourists end up at overpriced tourist traps or sad McDonald's, but there are actually solid options if you know where to look.

Pap'açorda on Rua da Atalaia 57 is the absolute legend for post-bar munchies — Proper Portuguese comfort food until 3am Thursday through Saturday (2am other nights, call ahead). Their signature açorda (bread soup with garlic, herbs, and egg) hits completely different at 2am after a night of drinking. Portions are massive at €8-12 and actually fill you up, unlike those tiny tapas that cost twice as much.

For true desperation mode after 3am, there's Padaria Real on Rua do Carmo 32 — 24-hour bakery with fresh pastéis de nata (€1.10 each), basic sandwiches (€2.50-4), and strong coffee that'll save your life. Not glamorous but way better than chain fast food and the pastéis are legitimately good even at 4am.

Pro budget move: Hit Pingo Doce supermarket on Rua 1º de Dezembro before bars close. Grab bread rolls (€0.60), cheese (€2-3), and Portuguese ham (€3-4) for DIY late-night sandwiches. Total cost under €7 for food that'll last two days, and you can eat it walking back through Chiado without paying restaurant markup.