36 Best Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal

Dating from 1905, Lisbon’s most famous café maintains its dazzling art deco interior, though you'll probably prefer to take a quick peek and then settle in at one of the handful of tables outside to watch the lively street scenes unfold. The coffee no longer comes exclusively from the former colony that gave the place its name, but it still serves some of the best in town, alongside tasty cakes, pastries, and artfully-presented fish and seafood dishes.

When you eat at this restaurant—situated in the luxurious Palácio do Governador and named for the Roman amphorae uncovered beneath the site—you'll feel as if you're dining in the vaulted halls of a castle. There's nothing old-fashioned about the food though: Chef Vera Silva has created a spectacular menu of dishes that combine traditional ingredients with modern techniques.

José Avillez, one of the city's most distinguished chefs, has created his own foodie "neighborhood" incorporating a range of dining styles. For formal meals, there's the spectacular Páteo (a wrought-iron balcony encircles the room, which is illuminated by an enormous skylight) and a more casual tavern called Taberna (the kind of place where haunches of ham hang over the bar). Then there's Pizzaria Lisboa, where the thin-crust pies are prepared with great care; and Mini Bar, a secluded and dimly-lit spot for intimate drinks and small plates for sharing. 

With two Michelin stars, Belcanto is another jewel in the crown of celebrity chef José Avillez and is one of Lisbon's most celebrated restaurants. Widely credited with putting Avillez (and Portuguese cuisine) on the culinary world stage, the restaurant uses the latest gastronomic techniques to update traditional dishes. The dining room is just as refined, with every course placed before you with a flourish by an expert staff.

Originally a social club for the people hailing from the region of Alentejo, this hidden restaurant is found on the upper floor of a Moorish-style building from the 1800s. There's a formal dining room serving classic northern Portuguese dishes like carne de porco à alentejana (pork with clams), and a relaxed terrace specializing in petiscos and very affordable jugs of house wine.

The name for the upscale restaurant at Lisbon’s Four Seasons Hotel Ritz comes from the Portuguese word curadoria (curatorship), and head chef Pedro Pena Bastos does indeed apply a curator's attention to detail in choosing the ingredients for his three tasting menus. Whether you pick the Meia Cura (eight courses), Origins (12 courses) or the vegetarian Raízes menu (eight courses), expect beautifully presented small dishes that turn super-fresh seasonal ingredients into edible works of art. There are a-la-carte options Tuesday through Thursday, but the tasting menus are where the magic really lies. The restaurant has earned a Michelin star, as well as glowing reviews in Portuguese press.

Occupying a corner of one of downtown’s grandest squares, Delfina Cantina Portuguesa bills itself as an upscale Portuguese deli. It's the house restaurant at the chic AlmaLusa boutique hotel, but all are welcome to enjoy the tapas-style small plates throughout the day and night, as well as more substantial meals like bacalhau à brás (rich shredded cod).

A long-time foodie favorite with a cool, contemporary design, this restaurant has undergone many changes over the decades but continues to impress with its food, drink, and attentive service. Alongside the fish and meat dishes that dominate the menu, there are sophisticated petiscos (appetizers) available from 3 pm. Diners can choose to eat in the handsome dining room or outside on the pretty, tiled terrace. 

This slick, Michelin-starred restaurant offers tantalizing tasting menus by chef Alexandre Silva, who changes them frequently so he can take advantage of the freshest seasonal ingredients. Occasionally, he invites other top chefs from Lisbon and beyond to create special one-night-only menus in the dramatic open kitchen.

The terrace at the chic Memmo Alfama Hotel has some of the neighborhood's best views, with tables and chairs arranged around a small infinity pool overlooking the city and the river. The menu centers around tapas-style small plates—the selection of Portuguese cheeses and meats, served with a basket of fresh-baked bread, is a good place to start.

Bringing along the famously glitzy chandelier from its much-missed location in Bairro Alto, this cutting-edge restaurant is now located within the cool confines of the Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré. The menu still lists cutting-edge versions of Portuguese classics—tuna with allspice, and a famous açorda, that bread-based stew rich in seafood (the luxury version contains lobster) and flavored with garlic and cilantro.

Although it’s quite spacious and comfortable inside, most people choose to sit at one of the many tables outside facing Restauradores Square. Waiters rush from table to table, mostly serving super fresh seafood and grilled fish and meats.

This restaurant facing the courtyard of the Hotel Valverde focuses on contemporary Portuguese cuisine reinterpreted by the chef. Its brunch and afternoon tea is popular among locals who work nearby and those looking for a more intimate spot.

In business for nearly a century, "The House of the Little Birds" is a lunchtime favorite for workers in the nearby office complex, and at night it draws mainly locals from the neighborhood in search of a home-cooked meal. Come for the house specialties, which include the famous naco na pedra (steak cooked on a hot stone), vitela barrosã (tender veal from the north), and açorda de gambas (shrimp and bread stew).

A tourist attraction in its own right, this tiny bar facing beautiful Rossio is the best place in the Baixa to sample Lisbon's famous ginja (cherry liqueur). Open since 1840, when the Galician Francisco Espinheira became the first purveyor of the spirit in Lisbon, the bar serves the sweet drink with or without cherries (opt for the version with fruit if you want to convince yourself you're getting some vitamins).

In this traditional restaurant, one of the oldest in Lisbon, the courteous staff serve up Portuguese classics and pair them with one of the 600 choices on the wine list. In the charmingly old-fashioned dining room, bottles are on display like works of art.

Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa’s fine-dining restaurant moved from its original location in Santos to Chiado in 2015, but the name was the only thing that was inherited from the previous space. The decor became darker and minimalist, and the entire menu was changed, adding a slight Asian touch to the contemporary Portuguese cuisine. His hard work paid off—the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in just a few months, and by 2022 had gained a second of the coveted stars. 

The intimate, dimly lit space and musical backdrop of tinkling jazz make a memorable setting for sampling delicious versions of traditional Portuguese food and drink. Standouts on the menu include possibly the creamiest bacalhau à brás (codfish mixed with egg and matchstick potatoes) in Lisbon, and a photo-worthy flaming choriço. The wine list is good, with a crowd-pleasing vinho verde and notable whites from the Alentejo. Bring cash, as international cards are not accepted.

In an alley between Praça dos Restauradores and Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, this eatery known locally as Rei dos Frangos (King of Chickens) specializes in spit-roasted chicken served with a home-made peri-peri sauce that locals swear is the best in the city. One chicken easily serves two hungry diners, but leave room for the famously crispy fries.

The largest of Cacilhas's many marisqueiras (traditional seafood restaurants), Cabrinha has been doing a roaring business among locals and out-of-towners since 1978. Crustaceans of all shapes and sizes are priced by weight, while steaks, grilled fish, and the famous seafood stew will satisfy a hearty appetite without blowing the budget.

This place hasn’t changed a bit over the years, from the beams across the ceiling to the harnesses and wagon wheels that serve as decor. It's a favorite among locals, who come here to enjoy friendly service and a hearty taste of food from the Alentejo region among the bustle of the Bairro Alto.

Today it's a lively spot for petiscos and cocktails, but Casa Faz Frio was once the location for secret political meetings (and romantic trysts) thanks to its secluded gabinetes (booths). It's been given a top-to-toe overhaul, but retains its paneled booths, tiled floors, and other details from its more than 150 years of history. Light dishes such as chilled tomato soup and tapas-style plates for sharing make for sociable dining in a cozy bar-restaurant. 

There’s an enormous array of top-quality Portuguese cheeses, wines, and petiscos on the menu at Grapes & Bites. Nightly live sets from talented local and international solo artists add an extra dash of panache to the proceedings. 

For cod dishes prepared with great pride, come to this restaurant that's been specializing in all things bacalhau since 1976. Chef and owner António Pereira learned to cook in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, so expect a few Mozambican dishes alongside excellent renderings of Portuguese favorites like bacalhau à brás (creamy shredded cod with egg and potatoes).

On a street lined with tourist traps, O Churrasco is the local favorite and deservedly so. The paneled dining room serves top-notch peri peri chicken, sizzling steaks, and perfectly grilled fish.

The oldest cervejaria (relaxed dining and drinking spot) in the region, O Farol has been serving cold beer, rich seafood stews, and delicious shellfish since 1890. The brightly lit space feels more functional than fashionable, but the crowds eating here are a testament to the outstanding seafood, and the sunset views over the river to Lisbon are magical.

The food at this wood-paneled restaurant around the corner from the Feira da Ladra flea market is expertly prepared and comes in portions big enough for two or three people to share. The brothers who run the place are from the northern Beiras region, and many of the dishes are meat-focused examples of its culinary traditions, but there are plenty of seafood options as well.

Huge stone arches and a beautiful mural made of azulejo tiles grace this charming restaurant, which offers upscale cuisine at very reasonable prices. Light Portuguese dishes are prepared with love and beautifully presented, and the cocktail list is impressive, too.