About Us
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About Us .
Savoring Togetherness
We believe the best things in life are better shared. At FoodiesLX, food sparks curiosity, opens doors to new cultures and brings people together in unexpected ways.
Through shared meals, new discoveries and experiences that take us beyond the familiar, we find our people, create meaningful connections and make Lisbon feel a little more like home.
Eat. Connect. Explore.
Bringing together 600+ locals.
A vibrant mix of Portuguese locals and people from around the world who have made Portugal home, united by a love of food, a spirit of adventure and a desire for meaningful connections.
FoodiesLX began with a simple idea: make friends and share a love for food. Founded by Lisbon native and designer Ana Romero Monteiro, together with Janet, an American expat who made Lisbon her home, a small WhatsApp group grew into a community of 600+ people.
Ana, with her eye for creativity and deep connection to Lisbon’s culture, joined forces with Janet’s passion for exploring the city through food and creating community in a new country. Together, they created a space where locals and expats could gather, discover new spots, and forge friendships over shared meals and unique experiences.
Today, we bring together Portuguese locals and people from all over the world, united by curiosity, a love for discovery and the joy of connecting. What started around dinner tables has grown into community-led initiatives, curated experiences and so much more, creating new ways to explore Lisbon, build friendships and feel at home.
Our Story
Our Hosting Team
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Pedro Rosa
NATURE & STORYTELLING
With a background in tourism, communication, cultural projects and human development, Pedro has worked with diverse communities — always guided by listening, connection and meaningful encounters.Through walking experiences and sensory storytelling, he invites us to slow down and rediscover how food, landscape and human stories are deeply connected.
For Pedro, every experience begins with a simple idea:
communication is not just spoken… it is lived. -
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Ana Romero Monteiro
FOUNDER & COMMUNITY MANAGER
Ana Romero Monteiro is an artist, designer and the founder of FoodiesLX. Her namesake brand brought her original artwork to home décor, fashion and lifestyle objects, earning a place in major luxury department stores worldwide and recognition in renowned international press.Today, she brings the same creative spirit to community building, blending her love for food, design and hospitality to bring people together. FoodiesLX’s most prolific host and biggest cheerleader, Ana creates welcoming experiences where curiosity sparks connection, strangers become friends and everyone feels they belong.
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Defne Kayacik
FOOD & CULTURE
Defne Kyacik has always been a globe wanderer, and through her travels, she’s learned how important connection, community, and empathy are.
She loves exploring and discovering new things, and then finding ways to bring them all together. She sees herself as a cultural alchemist, blending different experiences and ideas to create something special that brings people closer and builds meaningful relationships.
Defne grew up around long tables where people shared not just food, but all of their emotions. She curates gatherings, dinners, and experiences that bring this idea to life. -
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Barbara Veiga
ART, CULTURE & NATURE
Barbara Veiga is a Brazilian multimedia artist, photographer, filmmaker and storyteller whose work brings together art, nature and human connection. A former TV Globo journalist, she spent seven years sailing across more than 85 countries, documenting people and ecosystems while collaborating with environmental organisations and co-founding the Women’s League for the Ocean.
Author of Seven Years in Seven Seas, Barbara now works across photography, film and immersive experiences, using creativity and storytelling to inspire curiosity, environmental awareness and collective change.
