Food & Drink

23 Best Restaurants in Lisbon, From Michelin-Starred Dining to Tucked-Away Small Plate Spots

Add these to your bucket list.

November 27, 2023

There’s no denying that some of the best restaurants in Lisbon are the most talked-about in Europe right now. Before the pandemic hit in 2020, the city was on a roll with new openings—Prado opened in late 2017, while 100 Manieras came in 2019—but COVID slowed growth for many eateries. Nearly three years on, recovery is back on track and 2022 saw bigger strides than ever in cementing the city as a food hotspot, helped immensely by new crowds descending upon the cobbled streets once more. The good news is, the openings aren't set to slow down any time soon.

So, where should you eat in Lisbon? Before I visited the city for the first time, I knew very little of Portuguese cuisine—aside from pastel de natas, of course. But now, having been lucky enough to know the city intimately and learn its traditions, I am a keen champion of everything on offer, whether that's traditional dishes or a new twist. Most people visiting Lisbon will want to try some form of traditional food at one of the city’s tascas, casual eateries serving very local dishes such as bacalhau (salted cod) and prego or bifana (beef or pork sandwiches). Those who are more familiar with the city may prefer one of the many modern or Michelin-starred restaurants on offer.

Just like the city itself, Lisbon’s food scene is varied and exciting—and you can go from knocking back ginjinha (cherry liqueur) with locals to sipping wine at a tasting menu within 24 hours. Whatever you’re looking for, these are the Lisbon restaurants I have tried and would recommend to anyone visiting the city (in no particular order).

How we choose the best restaurants in Lisbon

Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing restaurants, our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location, and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials.

Click the link to read our complete Lisbon city guide.

Courtesy Bahr
BAHR
The Bairro Alto Hotel is one of the best hotels in Lisbon, and while hotel restaurants can be hit or miss, BAHR is a triumph. The decor—all curved ceilings, cozy corners, and oversized wooden bar—is immediately welcoming, but some diners may prefer to skip the interiors and instead dine on the terrace, with a view of the city and Tagus River. Either way, your attention will soon be drawn back in by the menu headed up by chef Bruno Rochas which features a twist on classic Portuguese cuisine, resulting in dishes such as garlicky grilled squid with runner beans and turnip, raw beef ‘pica-pau’ taco with just a hint of pineapple, and buttery wild turbot with green kale sauce and chorizo—the latter of which comes highly recommended. For post- or pre-dinner cocktails, head to the hotel's new 18.68 cocktail bar for Art Deco-style interiors and an inventive list from head bartender Tiago Santos, which is inspired by the building's history as a former fire station.
Courtesy O Velho Eurico
O Velho Eurico
Walking into O Velho Eurico almost feels like you’ve stumbled upon a local secret—until you see the line forming. What was once a quiet local tasca hidden in a corner on the way to São Jorge Castle is now filled to the brim every night with locals and tourists keen to enjoy a twist on classic Portuguese dishes. The menu has some mainstays, such as bacalhau (salted cod) and polvo (octopus), but dishes are updated or changed every so often. On my most recent visit, I was particularly taken with the pastel de leitão (suckling pig pastry) and Borrego e castanhas (lamb and chestnuts). Best enjoyed with a group of friends so you can order at least one of everything, settle in for the evening and soak up the fun, relaxed atmosphere alongside the young chefs and owners.

Courtesy Belcanto
Belcanto
Recently awarded number 46 on the annual list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, Belcanto was the first restaurant in Lisbon to earn two Michelin stars. Chef Jose Avillez is practically a celebrity in Lisbon, so expectations are high—and Belcanto doesn't disappoint. Interiors are chic and grand, without feeling stuffy. Meanwhile, service is impeccable; the wait staff are friendly but not overbearing, and share information about each dish without disturbing your evening.
Diners can choose from three tasting menus or a la carte—but the former is the real treat. The Evolution menu combines Portuguese flavors with new textures; expect plump scarlet shrimp served in a curry sauce with apple, delicate minced squid housed in incredibly crunchy roasted chicken skin, and perfectly cooked crispy suckling pig with puffed potatoes, all with the option of being served with impeccable Portuguese wines. If you want to splurge on one of the best meals in Lisbon, this is the place to go.
Luis Ferraz/Courtesy Ofício Tasco Atípico
Ofício Tasco Atípico
Ofício is so popular with locals that it’s booked up weeks in advance, but it’s well worth trying to get hold of a table to sample the inventive cuisine and soak up the fun atmosphere. The menu has more must-try dishes than most in the city. The Alheira sausage croquette—which hides a runny quail’s egg at its center like a Portuguese version of a scotch egg—is impeccable, while crispy crackling and stuffed spider crab from the Algarve shouldn’t be missed. No meal is complete, though, without a slice (or whole, if you can manage it) of the cheese tart; a dense, slightly sweet, and entirely creamy dessert dreamt up during the second lockdown by chef Hugo Candeias.
Despite the fact that they're full to the brim with diners, staff will be only too happy to talk passionately about the flavors and ingredients in the dishes, or share a wine pairing recommendation—make the most of their knowledge and pick their brains as they bring your plates.

Courtesy Trinca
Trinca
There’s something incredibly satisfying about wandering the streets of a new city and finding a great eatery, and this little-known secret is one I’m only too willing to share. Hidden away on a residential street in the Anjos area of Lisbon, Trinca is a modern small plates restaurant in a traditional building. Serving up world dishes heavily inspired by South American, Japanese, and, of course, Portuguese cuisines, diners can expect dishes such as prawn ceviche, birria tacos, and Katsu sandos. The wine selection is also excellent, and the friendly and passionate staff help to make an evening here feel like a night with friends, even if you’re solo dining.
Courtesy SEM
SEM
There’s no shortage of tasting menus available in Lisbon, but few offer the creativity of SEM. Dishes are created specifically to combat food waste and ingredients are chosen from local farmers according to seasonality. Jars of fermented tomatoes, peppers, and artichokes line the walls alongside bottles of natural wine and syrups created for cocktails—from the minute you sit down, you'll be absolutely intrigued.
Fortunately, there's not a single dish that could disappoint; whether it's egg white garum crunch—which somehow manages to transform regular egg white into something of a cross between tempura and a really delicious crisp—or sourdough bread served with leftover sourdough bread miso butter. And while ingredients are undoubtedly sophisticated and dishes are beautifully presented, this is an extremely affordable tasting menu compared with other local offerings. Add the wine pairing to put the cherry on top.

Renato de/Courtesy Casa Reîa
Casa Reîa
Is there a better setting for a restaurant than the beachfront? While the city has endless foodie options, there's something extra special about dining with the sound of the waves, and Casa Reîa has taken that sunshine feeling and enhanced it with rattan furniture, friendly staff, and fresh flavors. Start with oysters (of course), and move on to sharing plates: zucchini baba-ganoush with mint and raspberries; Seabass sashimi with green apple, celery, and fennel; and a green summer salad with nectarines, yellow zucchini, and smoked chickpeas. The seafood rice—with juicy prawns and chunks of octopus—is the stand-out dish on the menu from chefs Dario Costa, Udi Barkan, and Pedro Henrique Lima. Best of all, the restaurant spills onto the sand, so you can head towards the water after your meal with a cocktail in hand.
Paulo Barata/Courtesy Cervejaria Ramiro
Cervejaria Ramiro
When Anthony Bourdain visited Ramiro in 2013 during filming for his show No Reservations, he turned the local cervejaria (beer bar) into a must-visit restaurant for tourists and locals. Despite the name, Ramiro serves up truly incredible seafood, including lobster, prawns, and crab—all served by the kilogram (and therefore best enjoyed with a larger group). Most diners skip dessert and instead opt for a prego—a beef sandwich served with mustard—which is, to this day, the best I’ve ever tasted in Lisbon.
The restaurant covers three floors, but you should expect to hit a line before you manage to score a table.

Rodrigo Simões Cardoso/Courtesy Prado
Prado
Best Lisbon restaurant for: farm-to-table cooking
Prado is the Portuguese word for “meadow”, and the restaurant applies a local focus on everything they serve thanks to partnerships with local farmers, fishermen, and wine producers. This means Prado's menu is proudly 100 percent Portuguese, featuring dishes such as pumpkin with whey and toasted butter, fish with lobster emulsion, and brioche with white port and chocolate. Before joining Prado, Chef António Galapito worked with hometown hero Nuno Mendes and brings a versatile and varied passion for food that's evident in the menu and beautifully presented dishes. Ideally, you'll want to bring a few friends so that you can sample them all and soak the creative, hip, and fun atmosphere as part of a crowd—plus indulge in a bottle of wine or two, with help from the knowledgable sommelier.
Courtesy Magnolia
Magnolia
Set on Praça das Flores, a quietly buzzing part of Lisbon where locals have dinner and spill out into the park with glasses of wine to finish their evenings, Magnolia is the type of place that makes you stop and think about how lucky you are to experience Lisbon and its beauty. Opened in 2022, the restaurant's owners are from Brazil and Belgium and bring their love of travel and world flavors to the menu. Dishes are made to be shared, whether that’s creamy camembert in puff pastry with thyme honey, tuna tartare with avocado and mango, or croquettes de crevette—and there's a wide selection of local natural wines available to pair.
During the day, Magnolia serves up warming tomato soup with cheese toast, endless coffee, and possibly the best pistachio croissant you'll ever have. You might even catch the owners enjoying tea, wine, and chatting with the neighbors if you show up regularly enough.

Courtesy Pica-Pau
Pica-Pau
If you take a local to Pica-Pau, chances are they'll be lost in memories of their childhood as they eat the classic dishes. If you go as a tourist, it's a great place to try Portuguese food in a non-intimidating setting—the restaurant's interiors are modern and minimalistic with friendly staff and a creative cocktail list. The pica pau (small pieces of beef in a gravy made with beer, garlic, oil, chili, and mustard) is, of course, a must-order, but the pasteis de bacalhau (codfish cakes) are wonderfully crunchy and salty, while the polvo à lagareiro (octopus with olive oil, garlic, and potatoes) is cooked to perfection. It's also worth noting that the bread for the table is served with gravy for dipping—perfection if ever we saw it.
Francisco Nogueira/Courtesy BouBou’s
BouBou’s
Opened in 2018 by couple Agnes and Alexis Bourrat, BouBou’s is a family affair—Alexis’ sister Charlie Bourrat hand-picks wines for the restaurant, while his other sister, Louise, heads up the kitchen, bringing her rebellious, experimental style to BouBou’s. The result is a fun, casual fine-dining restaurant in arguably the most food-focused district in Lisbon.
If tasting menus are your thing, this one is truly impeccable. Dishes are varied, fun, and full of flavor with a focus on seasonal produce and zero waste. The restaurant isn’t vegetarian, but there’s a tendency to lean toward veggie-heavy dishes—expect sweet potato served with coconut tiger milk and kaffir lime or a nori taco with kimchi rice and glazed seitan. This is one of the few times checking out the menu beforehand isn’t advised, so you can be pleasantly surprised by each dish. The wine pairing is also highly recommended; our sommelier carefully talked us through every glass (all Portuguese, of course), and each was more delicious than the last. Tip: grab a table overlooking the open kitchen to watch the slick kitchen action—and work up more of an appetite.

Courtesy A Taberna da Rua das Flores
A Taberna da Rua das Flores
Often considered to be one of the best Portuguese restaurants in Lisbon, A Taberna da Rua das Flores is a must-try. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed, and local while the menu is a twist on traditional—order the tuna tataki, sardines on toast, and fried eggplant with Madeira honey. You’ll also want to sample the impressive wine list, full of local whites, reds, and vinho verdes. Be warned, though: this restaurant gets busy, so you’ll almost certainly need to put your name on a list when you arrive and come back at a later time, as bookings are unavailable.
Julien Labrousse/Courtesy Palacio do Grilo
Palacio do Grilo
There’s nothing quite like Palacio do Grilo in Lisbon. If you're the type to gravitate towards new and unexpected experiences when you travel, this 18th-century palace should be top of your must-see list.
Parisian Julien Labrousse bought the palacio in 2020 and knew he wanted to do something different. He set to work creating a restaurant in the middle of a living theatre, which highlights the ethereal, and almost spooky nature of the building. Performers parade (or sometimes crawl, or yell) around you as you eat, and there’s a good chance your dish will become almost forgotten as you watch the show. That's not to say the food isn't memorable; burrata and pumpkin with crispy sage is a stunning way to start the meal, followed by lamb loin with pistachio paloise and goose fat potatoes. Just be sure you leave time after dinner to explore the other rooms in the palace, where you'll find a small discotheque, or a bar serving cocktails to Lisbon's coolest crowds.

Courtesy O Frade
O Frade
Sitting at a counter overlooking the kitchen, it's not hard to understand why O Frade is a local favorite. The small but perfectly-formed restaurant sits just 18 people inside (with an extra 20 now able to dine outside) and its semi-circular seating means that it naturally feels like an intimate experience, where you have the opportunity to talk with the chefs as they serve their plates, or befriend a fellow diner who might just share a fascinating story. In short, it's a restaurant of opportunities and experiences—a sentiment that becomes clearer when you find that the restaurant now has a second outpost in the ever-popular Time Out market.
The main restaurant, though, is located in Belém, just outside of the city. The owners were inspired by their grandparents who had a restaurant by the same name in the Alentejo since the 1960s, and dishes are hearty Portuguese fare with a modern twist; rissols filled with razor clams, flavorsome rabbit with pickled onions and coriander, and memorable mushroom rice, which is creamy and still somehow vegan. Wines are also kept in the family, from their own vineyards in Vila de Frades—be sure to try the excellent white.
Ricardo Santos/Courtesy Davvero
Davvero
Good, classic Italian restaurants are still relatively few and far between in Lisbon, so Davvero was warmly welcomed by locals. Chef Isaac Kumi joined Sublime Lisboa after working for the Cipriani brand, and he brings an obvious passion for ingredients; both local and quality Italian. It's difficult to pick a stand-out dish—starters, mains, and desserts are all wonderfully consistent—but steak is cooked to perfection and the lemon tart is a delicious way to end your meal.

Luis Ferraz/Courtesy Gunpowder Lisboa
Gunpowder Lisboa
Londoners will likely know and love Gunpowder, where the brand already has three restaurants. But rather than move to another British city—Manchester, or Birmingham maybe—the brand decided to expand into a different country entirely. Still, opening a Lisbon restaurant makes total sense when you see the menu, which is similar to the British one but with a Mediterranean twist—think Algarve oysters with pickled kachumber, big juicy wild Madagascar prawns with roasted garlic and tomato dressing, and grilled stone bass with green coorgi sauce—all available for you to select from the window display of fish. Of course, there are the classics available too, such as the delicious, crispy prawn toast and show-stopping spicy lamb and vermicelli doughnut. Served with a selection of stunning local wines, it's a place for you to spend long evenings with friends mopping up sauces and snacking on chaat.
Courtesy Cura
Cura
Housed inside the Four Seasons Ritz hotel, in an intimate space that can technically be accessed via the street (but the more fun entrance takes you through the grandeur of the hotel's lobby) is Cura, a restaurant that takes its name from the expression curadoria (the curators who take care of art). And both the food and interiors live up to the name; the warming gold and blue palette of the restaurant is accented by Madeira wood paneling and beveled mirrors, and the open kitchen is wondrously calm and fascinating to watch.
This, of course, is where chef Pedro Pena Bastos and his team put the finishing touches to their dishes. There are three tasting menus available: Meia Cura, Origens, and Raízes (the latter is vegetarian). All three make the most of Portugal’s wonderful ingredients, resulting in dishes such as freshly caught sea bass garnished with parsley and saffron; melt-in-the-mouth squid with hazelnuts, roasted seaweed butter, and caviar; or flavorful pumpkin with chanterelles, pistachios, and Indian cress. Worthy of mention in itself is the bread dish, which showcases the flavors of Portugal with butter from the Azores, local olive oil, and grains grown nearby, and is truly memorable. The wine pairing is not to be missed; an ideal way to quickly zip around the country's many wine regions, without once having to leave the comfort of your seat.

Courtesy Sala de Corte
Sala de Corte
If you’re hungry for steak, you won’t find better than the impeccable cuts at Sala de Corte, which recently ranked number 34 in the list of the 50 World's Best Steakhouses. There’s an impressive offering available—from Chateaubriand to Japanese Wagyu all selected from from bovine breed producers with certified origin—and each is cooked to perfection on the restaurant's Josper grill.
With steaks as the focus of the restaurant (and no other meat dishes available), it would be easy to neglect starters and side dishes, but Sala de Corte manages to make everything on the menu as memorable as their wonderful steak cuts. The baked rice with smoked sausages is a must-try; rich, warm, and full of flavor, it's the ideal accompaniment alongside the asparagus and mushrooms, for some much-needed veg.
Courtesy Suba
Suba
There's no shortage of impeccable views in Lisbon, but it's difficult to find an almost uninterrupted one of the city. Suba, the restaurant inside Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina, gives exactly that. Open for both lunch and dinner, on a sunny day the rooftop is the perfect place to be.
For a more intimate dinner, the restaurant still offers wonderful views alongside delicious flavors from chef Fábio Alves. The idea is to showcase the best ingredients found locally, and diners can expect dishes such as royal crab, miso, and green curry; Pigeon, quince, and smoked carrot; and Azores pineapple, passion fruit, and yuzu. If you're looking for an escape from the busy streets, Suba offers serenity and a memorable meal.

Courtesy Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
Less of a restaurant, and more café/brunch place, Neighbourhood is a local favorite. Its owners are Australian and come via London, and if you find yourself attached to an oat flat white, you won’t find better coffee in the city. However, it’s the breakfast burritos that keep us coming back for more; wonderfully filling, stuffed with scrambled eggs, beans, guac, and a choice of meat or veggie. Also on the menu are delicious Turkish eggs, served with yogurt, dill, and sourdough for dipping. In the evening the café switches to a menu featuring smashed burgers and local beers and wines.
Courtesy ALMA
ALMA
Executive chef Henrique Sa Pessoa heads up the menu at double Michelin-starred ALMA, and diners can expect an international twist on Portuguese cuisine, making this a favorite of local foodies. The restaurant initially opened in Santos in 2009 and catapulted chef Henrique to stardom via TV and cookbooks—six years later it moved to Chiado, and ALMA is still shining bright seven years on. Dishes are first and foremost inspired by Henrique's life in Lisbon, with flavors from his travels around the world coming into the mix. Diners can choose between fixed menus like “Coast to Coast,” which usies Portuguese fish, or "Soul," inspired by the chef's classics. For those who'd rather choose, there's an a la carte menu. Housed in a former warehouse that was formerly one of the oldest bookshops in the world, this is a restaurant that truly feels like an experience, and certainly one for the bucket list.

Tom Byrom/Unsplash
Lota D'ávila
It's fair to say that there hasn't been a lot of competition for Lisbon's seafood king, Ramiro, until now. Yes, most restaurants serve up some version of oysters and prawns, but finding a place with a pure seafood menu isn't as easy as you'd imagine. So new opening Lota D'ávila is very much welcome in Campo Pequeno, a neighborhood on the outskirts of town where locals live and dine.
From the owners of much-loved Oficio, Lota D'ávila is an unusual juxtaposition of styles; from the interiors, which are styled like a seafood market and beach bar, with chic interior touches including striped sofas and hanging lamps, to the dishes which are a deliberate balance of new and traditional. If you're unsure where to start, order the seafood platter, which is loaded with fresh prawns, oysters, and crab, then follow up with the impeccable squid ink paella, which is perfectly salty and garlicky. And much like Oficio has done with its cheesecake, this place is making a name for itself in the dessert space too—the rabanda (Portuguese french toast) with thyme ice cream shouldn't be missed, no matter how stuffed you feel.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller.