The 30 best restaurants in Lisbon

Telegraph

a day ago

The Lisbon food scene has undergone an enormous change within the last few years and continues to boom, with restaurants launching fast and furious. An influential wave of young local chefs, such as Pedro Pena Bastos, Henrique Sá Pessoa and, of course, the legendary Jose Avillez, have remained loyal to the culture of the Portuguese table whilst reimagining it afresh, drawing on the endless bounty from the sea and coastline, the mountains, plains and vineyards. International chefs have arrived, too, offering diversity on a previously almost uniquely Portuguese platform.
But dining out here is not merely about fashion or trends – food is held in high regard by Lisboetas and eating out is a necessity rather than a luxury. Just make sure you book a table at these top places to eat.
Read on for our expert's selection of unmissable restaurants, while here we have our guides devoted to the city's best hotels, bars, shopping and attractions, plus how to spend a weekend in Lisbon.
Find a restaurant by type:
Best all-rounders
Best for families
Best for cheap eats
Best for fine dining
Best for walk-ins
Best all-rounders
Canalha
When Chef João Rodrigues left Feitoria, above, he changed his previous Michelin-style cuisine for something more fun. Step up Canalha, a buzzy restaurant with a real neighbourhood vibe. Start with perfectly crisp codfish cakes and then order the scarlet prawn in garlic, with fried egg and chips or the prawn and onion open tortilla and sit back and watch João and resident chef, Brazilian Livia Orofino, dish up the delights in the open kitchen.
Prado
Exquisitely balanced, ingredient-led, farm-to-table food served with beguiling simplicity in a low-key, large and leafy space is what makes Prado unmissable when in Lisbon. The urban restaurant is housed in a former 19th-century factory for candied fruit and biscuits, which Ark Studio have designed to brim with a feel of a pastoral paradise, greenery cascading over white walls. At the stove is the young and very talented António Galapito, who celebrates Portugal's bounty with dazzling dishes.
Santa Joana
The flagship restaurant of the new hotel Locke de Santa Joana comes with Portuguese-born, London-based Nuno Mendes at the helm. Promising 'fun-dining, rather than fine-dining', dishes here celebrate the best of Portugal – shrimp, cockles and mussels from the Algarve, pork from the Alentejo and cheese from the Azores. Try the chickpea fritters, smoked pork chouriço and pickles before a slow-poached hake, with charred fennel and smoky butter sauce, amidst beautiful interiors by Lázaro Rosa Violán.
Area: Avenida da Liberdade
Website: santajoanalisboa.com
Prices: ££
Reservations: Essential
Ramiro Cerveja
This much-loved restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood and has been going strong for more than 70 years. The neighbourhood is named after the Moors who were allowed to live here after the Christian re-conquest of Lisbon in 1147. Choose your fare from the giant aquariums with spider crabs and rock lobster. But start with the house pata negra (smoked ham) or a plate of garlicky clams and finish with the delicious azeitão cheese.
Tapisco
A fun, buzzy atmosphere combined with excellent, tasty bites from the Iberian Peninsula make this a popular option for a quick lunch or dinner. Taking its name from a merging of Spanish Tapas and Portuguese Petisco, Chef Henrique Sa Pessoa highlights the best of both worlds. Try the fried cuttlefish with coriander mayonnaise and lime but start with a drink from the seriously impressive list of Vermouths and red and white wines from either side of the border.
Brilhante
A timeless, French-inspired, brasserie which just ticks all the boxes. Interiors mix wood panelling with brass studded red leather, red velvet, fringed lamps, and curtained windows. Try the oysters or the blinis with salmon to start with, or the veal croquettes with a selection of mustards. Follow it with their signature steak Brilhante, a twist on a century old, popular, Lisbon dish, steak à Marrare, or a just perfect sole Meunierè with truffle mashed potatoes.
JNcQOUI
Every city has a see and be seen restaurant, which delivers glamour in equal measure to good food; JNcQOUI is Lisbon's. This is the first JNcQOUI, a growing empire, but should be your starting point. Designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, the room is dominated by a dinosaur skeleton, with an open plan kitchen at one end. Try the prawn and lobster with truffle mayonnaise on avocado or, if you want to go local, the codfish gratin.
BAHR
Perfect on a sunny day when you can sit on the terrace and soak up the views over Lisbon's red roofs to the River Tagus beyond, BAHR serves classic Portuguese ingredients, beautifully presented, with a contemporary flair. A perfect balance between comfort food (smoked barnacles on toast), modern (prawns, endives and yuzu) and traditional (Portuguese scarlet prawn rice) – every dish delights. Also good for brunch at the weekends when you have time to linger.
Sea Me
Buzzing, crowded, fun and lip-smackingly good, Sea Me is described as a modern fishmonger. At the back they have a sushi bar, where Asia meets Portugal. In the front you can buy fish alongside ordering the catch of the day for your table. Try the seafood selection from the market, which includes oysters and shellfish, or fish soup with coriander, before opting for the shrimp curry or octopus with onion, olive oil and garlic.
Café de São Bento
A Lisbon classic, going strong for more than 40 years, this is one for meat lovers. They are famous for their steak à São Bento, tender sirloin served in a creamy sauce with French fries. But you could start with a Vesper Martini, followed by a steak tartare and finish with a lime pie. Rather club-like in atmosphere, you need to ring the bell for admittance; once in, service is flawless.
Boubou's
You can choose a table at the counter to watch the action in the open kitchen or opt for a table in the plant-filled, private courtyard of this charming, family-run restaurant. Chef Louise Bourrat, winner of French television show Top Chef in 2022, delivers original dishes with an obviously feminine touch. Think asparagus, kumquat, elderflower. Wine, selected by Charlie Bourrat, is equally impressive with many great Portuguese labels, so indulge in a wine-pairing menu.
Best for families
Páteo
Considered one of the best places for young children to be entertained whilst parents enjoy some of Portugal's finest fish and seafood. While adults can indulge in dishes like char-grilled octopus with black rice or oven-baked cod with cornbread and chorizo crust, youngsters can choose a pizza from the kid's menu or a Portuguese classic like chicken piri-piri, loved by all ages alike, and set about creating beautiful art with the crayons and paper provided.
Area: Chiado
Website: bairrodoavillez.pt
Prices: £££
Reservations: Recommended
Seen
A fun spot for older teenagers (only over 13's accepted) with a cool and sophisticated vibe, and sweeping rooftop views over Lisbon. Seen has great cocktails (like the Wasabi Papi – wasabi with gin, lemongrass, ginger and lime) and a wide choice of cuisine. Try the Wagyu burgers with memorable truffle fries or the Portuguese pica-pau (beef tenderloin with beef broth and mustard sauce) or sashimi and miso black cod. Also open for lunch, dinner is accompanied by live DJ's.
Terrace
While in the same district as the Oceanarium and the hugely popular Pavilion of Knowledge, it makes sense to fit in lunch or dinner too. The best places for families to head is the Terrace Restaurant in Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, part of the family-friendly Martinhal group. There is a menu of purees for babies and toddlers as well as favourites like spaghetti bolognese for older children. Parents meanwhile can order off the Asian-inspired menu.
Best for cheap eats
Taberna
The deliciously simple tavern food here is a Lisbon favourite. In the shadow of huge hams hanging from the ceilings and a counter with the best of Portugal's cheeses, delve into favourites such as the Prego (beefsteak) sandwich with mustard butter, made from the typical bolo do caco flatbread. But don't miss the traditional beef croquettes or the octopus with garlic, kimchi sauce and sweet potato. Finish with a glass of port and Taberna's own chocolate cake.
Area: Chiado
Website: bairrodoavillez.pt
Prices: £
Reservations: Recommended
Liberta Kitchen
Liberta Kitchen entices with its affordable Italian cuisine from talented Chef Silvio Armanni, whose product-driven menu draws on the best seasonal ingredients from both Portugal (think beef from the Azores, clams from the Algarve) and his home country (polenta from Rovetto, olives from Sicily, flatbread from Sardinia) to ensure you return and return. Not to be missed are his home-made meat ravioli, casoncelli alla Bergamasca, with pancetta, sage, brown butter and parmesan.
Las dos Manos
Situated right opposite one of Lisbon's scenic points, or miradouros, this Mexican restaurant fused with Japanese touches proves as much of an attraction with its dazzling turquoise tiles and mural of Frida Kalho as the view opposite of the capital's red-roofs. At the helm is acclaimed chef Kiko Martins, who here delivers a fresh and vibrant take on Mexican cuisine, weaving the best of Portuguese ingredients and Japanese techniques through a Mexican base.
Magnolia
Set in Praça das Flores, where much of Lisbon seems to gather in the evenings, a table at tiny Magnolia is hard to come by. Open every evening for dinner and Thursdays to Mondays for brunch, the fare is simple. Brunch offers dishes such as shakshouka, whilst the baked camembert with honey or the tuna tartare are favourites at dinner. Wines here are also a draw, with natural and organic bottles from Portugal and further afield.
SNOB
Open since 1964, this is one of Lisbon's most iconic addresses. Frequented by politicians and presidents, writers such as José Saramago, film makers and intellectuals, this is a place where journalists came to discuss history in the making. With its small wooden tables, brass lamps and dim lighting and its menu, mostly untouched over the decades, this offers a glimpse of a Portugal from yesteryear. Famous for its meat croquettes and steaks, with home-made, crunchy, French fries.
Area: Bairro Alto
Website: snobbar.pt
Prices: £
Reservations: Recommended
Best for fine dining
Feitoria
Feitoria is found right on the banks of the River Tagus in historical Belém, where the great Portuguese explorers set sail. This gourmet restaurant, with a gold Nanban panel at its entrance, pays homage to the spices found on those journeys, weaving them through the menu. Chef Andre Cruz serves two tasting menus based on roots and leaves, each paired with a vegetarian option. Wine pairing is expertly done with little known gems from around the country.
Area: Belém
Website: restaurantefietoria.com
Prices: £££
Reservations: Essential
Cura
Cura raised the gastronomic bar in Lisbon when it opened with Portuguese Chef Pedro Pena Bastos setting the tone with dishes such as turbot paired with black trumpet mushrooms, barnacles and lemon grass or onion with black truffle, buckwheat and lemon-thyme. Best though was the squid; a delectable dish with hazelnuts, bergamot, roasted seaweed butter and caviar. It even outshone the elegant interiors by Miguel Cancio Martins. Now in the hands of previous sous-chef Rodolfo Lavrador.
Alma
This warm and welcoming restaurant has simple interiors of stone floors, wooden tables and vaulted stone arches, all illuminated by bronze lamps. In the open kitchen you will find Henrique Sá Pessoa, who won his first Michelin star here in 2017 and second in 2019. Low ceilings and the intimate atmosphere allow you to concentrate on the plates which lay the foodie heart of Portugal before you. Don't miss the scarlet shrimp with pumpkin, harissa and black garlic.
Sala by João Sá
João Sá displays his passion for the ocean in his sublime tasting menus. Here you find the typical Portuguese flavours of caldo verde soup reimagined into a clear broth, or clams à bulhão pato encased in a bite-sized tartlette. The small and charming restaurant sits near the waterfront, in an area with a rich multcultural history. João also pays homage to his Angolan heritage and the culinary melting pot of his beloved Lisbon.
Belcanto
A must if you want to understand the nuances of Portuguese cuisine, the traditions that the country holds close and the flavours they hold even closer. Here you will feel the Lisbon light that reflects off the Tagus River, the pull of the sea woven through the DNA of the people and you will taste Chef José Avillez's signature dishes over the years from The Garden of the Goose that laid the golden eggs to his suckling pig with orange peel purée.
Area: Chiado
Website: belcanto.pt
Prices: £££
Reservations: Essential
Kabuki
Justly rewarded with a Michelin star for its skilful fusion of Japanese and Spanish cuisine. Opt for the tasting menu with delicacies from Wagyu teriyaki to hamachi with ponzu, or choose from wide variety on the a la carte menu, which includes sushi, nigiri sushi, makis and temaki. Not to be missed are the scallops with foie gras or the Pa Amb Tomaquet where tuna meets the Spanish combination of bread and tomato.
Marlene
In a glass fronted building near Lisbon's cruise terminal, Portugal's only current female Michelin star holder delivers a symphony of flavours. In a tasting menu of either nine or 12 moments, expect dishes such as a choux bun of cured sheep cheese and truffle, stone crab with avocado or a memorable combination of morels and hazlenuts. Sit at the counter surrounding the open kitchen, to watch the team at work, adding the pleasure of anticipation to the experience.
Arkhe
Open for lunch, as well as dinner, during the week, unusual on Lisbon's fine-dining scene, Arkhe is well worth a visit at any time of the day. Awarded with a Michelin star this year, it offers vegetarian and vegan dishes with trademark delicate sauces. A partnership between Chef João Ricardo Alves and sommelier/front of house Alejandro Chávarro. The interior of the restaurant, with its mellow, exposed stone, adds to the pleasure of the whole experience.
Area: Chiado
Website: arkhe.pt
Prices: £££
Reservations: Recommended
Best for walk-ins
A Taberna da Rua das Flores
Taking you back to the Lisbon of old (and be warned it is cash only here), this little tavern, with acclaimed chef, André Magalhães at the helm, serves traditional dishes with a contemporary twist. It might offer sardines one night, clams another, lunch might be cod salad with chickpeas but everything will be full of flavour with wines from all over Portugal that impress just as much. Basically, it is worth joining the inevitable queue at the door.
Area: Chiado
Contact: @tabernadasflores; 00351 21 347 9418
Prices: £
Reservations: Walk-ins only
A Cevicheria
No reservations are taken here, which often means a queue at the door, but they do serve drinks through the hatch while you are waiting. Highly recommended is their Pisco Sour. Once inside, in a small restaurant, dominated by a large (model) octopus suspended from the ceiling, try the shrimp ceviche with sweet potato, the potato causita with Algarvian prawns or anticuchos of black pork belly with roasted octopus. An intoxicating blend of Portugal and Peru.
JNcQUOI Delibar Avenida
The perfect place to drop in when you decide to treat yourself on a whim or want a fun catch up with a friend, this is tucked under their main restaurant. Start with a signature martini (Absolut Elyx, passion fruit and chilli) before ordering oysters or a lobster hot dog, a truffled beef tartare or a selection of Portugal's best cheeses. Save room to indulge in their creamy tiramisu and ice-cream, it is worth it.
Area: Avenida da Liberdade
Website: jncquoi.com/en
Prices: £££
Reservations: Essential
How we choose
Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller's taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Mary Lussiana
I have lived in southern Portugal for over 20 years. When in Lisbon, you can find me chatting with the chef at the latest culinary hotspot, checking out a new rooftop bar or sampling the newest hotel on the block.