Seven Gay Wonders of the World 2018: Lisbon

EDGE returns with our fourth annual "Seven Gay Wonders of the World" - our yearly where-to-go-next guide for all those with serious wanderlust. For 2018, we've ditched calorie-counting and workouts for pure indulgence.

Located in one of the world's most progressive countries for queer rights, Lisbon is getting set to hit its trendiness zenith in 2018 thanks to its affordability, beauty and diverse cultural doings, including some killer cookery. The city is especially appealing for LGBTQ Americans who have already eaten their way through European capitals like Barcelona and Berlin.

Lisbon still feels uber-fresh, even if the word about it is out, and with TAP Air Portugal now flying non-stop out of four U.S. airports, getting there is easy peasy. Once you do, expect the charming capital to get to your heart through your stomach, with a wealth of great restaurants serving everything from the most cutting edge molecular cuisine to long-loved Portuguese favorites.

Bairro do Avillez

The only chef in Lisbon to hold two Michelin stars, Jos� Avillez is front and center of a fast-evolving food scene that's the talk of Europe.

"There are new restaurant openings every week," Avillez says. "Ten years ago that didn't happen. You'd find very good traditional cuisine, but in terms of modern cuisine you wouldn't have the choice you have today. Traditional Portuguese gastronomy is being combined with modern ingredients and techniques with an innovative spirit. The culinary scene is getting very interesting."

Avillez operates nine restaurants in Lisbon, including Bairro do Avillez. Located in the Chiado district, it's four eateries in one. At P�teo, seafood is king and everything is exquisitely prepared, like the lobster and crab rice. Served in a pot, it's spiced with basil, cilantro, lime and red pepper, but nothing overpowers, so the fresh flavor of the shellfish can be fully savored.

Don't miss the exploding olives that burst when bitten, flooding your mouth with delightfully tangy fermented olive juice.

Time Out Market

Lisbon'sTime Out Market, which opened in 2016, is a major hit, netting some three million visitors last year and becoming the biggest tourist draw in town.

Everything is good -- and cheap -- from simple fare like Cafe de Sao Bento's savory steak and shrimp sandwich served on crusty bread, to what could be the world's best marinated octopus at Monte Mar. Leave room for dessert. Custard tarts are a Portuguese passion and the city's tastiest are dished out at Manteigaria.

If you dig rolling up your sleeves, the Time Out Academy dishes up classes for everyone from culinary hopefuls who can't boil water to hobbyist hotshots looking to take their game to the next level. There are events for kids, too.

O Faia

Fado music, a melancholic and deeply expressive form of singing performed in restaurants and pubs, is a 200-year-old tradition in Portugal.

There are tourist joints all over the city dedicated to it; skip them and head to O Faia, where you might be the only patron who isn't Portuguese. Be brave and order the baked octopus. It comes out whole and massive -- no detached tentacles artfully arranged on a plate here. You might wonder if you'll get a prize for finishing it, but this beloved Portuguese dish is no joke.

Martinhal Chiado Lisbon

Martinhal Chiado Lisbon Family Suites offers seriously sleek apartments from studios to two bedrooms in the happening Chiado district. Geared toward families looking for luxury, it includes a Kids Club with dedicated play spaces and staff that will care for children in the evening so their parents can have a romantic night out. The hotel's Baby Concierge gives guests the opportunity to pre-book infant gear like bottle sterilizers, safety gates and cribs.

But thanks to Martinhal Chiado's killer location and luxe accommodations, you don't have to have a family in tow to savor staying there -- it's great for couples, or even friends traveling together. The interiors are a kick, featuring work from Portuguese artists, locally-crafted throw rugs and blankets and even coffee tables made of cork, a Portuguese product.

The hotel's cafe serves a great Bacalhau � br�s, the famous Portuguese dish made from cod, potatoes and eggs.

LGBTQ Intel

Get the lay of the land in Lisbon, hit up clothing-optional gay Beach 19, or take a day trip to lovely Sintra, resplendent with castles straight out of a fairy tale, with lauded LGBTQ tour guides Lisbon Beach.

Party like it's 1976 at one of Lisbon's most popular gay clubs, Finalmente, located in gayborhood Pr�ncipe Real. Beloved for more than four decades, it offers the best drag in the city nightly.

See the finest flicks centered entirely around LGBTQ themes at Queer Lisboa, an acclaimed annual Portuguese film fest returning next year from September 14-22.