This is a promise, and a given: Anyone who loves to eat will love Lisbon. The Portuguese love food, they love going out and their bustling capital city offers an irresistible restaurant scene to explore. There are the famous ones that everyone mentions, like Cervejaria Ramiro (featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations visit to Lisbon). But there are a million and one other possibilities, at every price point, that you may not have heard as much about. As a jumping off point, and in no particular order, here are ten of our personal favorites:
- Celebrity chef José Avillez has multiple restaurants to choose from besides his fancy, Michelin-starred flagship Belcanto, but the one we keep going back to is Cantinho do Avillez – Chiado. Informal, cozy, delicious. Just a great place to eat.
- Prado Restaurant in Lisbon’s Baixa neighborhood is a casual, hip, farm-to-table restaurant with an emphasis on seasonal, locally grown produce and ingredients.
- Taberna da Esperança rocks a hole-in-the-wall vibe and plays with traditional Portuguese ingredients. The tuna steak sandwich is a family favorite.
- Cervejaria Trindade, in the party neighbourhood Bairro Alto, is an atmospheric, classic Lisbon beer hall. The food is not fancy but it’s a fun place to try some traditional Portuguese dishes in a historic building that has been a popular night spot for generations of Lisboetas.
- Sala de Corte near Cais do Sodré train station specializes in grilled dry-aged meat. Renowned chef Luís Gaspar’s place has a reputation as the best steak house in the city.
- O Velho Eurico in Alfama is a traditional “tasca.” Tiny and popular, this is an authentic Portuguese experience. Definitely book ahead of time on Instagram.
- A Nini, in the area at the top of Parque Eduardo VII, is also cheap and cheerful, boasting fado on Thursday nights with a set menu for 30€ (not including drinks).
- On the fancier end of the spectrum, Palácio Chiado is touristy but so incredibly beautiful. The upscale food is a draw, but the luxurious ambience makes it really memorable.
- Also on the higher end is Sea Me in Chiado, a modern take on a traditional Portuguese peixaria (fresh fish restaurant) with a little sushi for good measure. It is always hopping.
- No list of Portuguese restaurant recommendations would be complete without a special seafood place, so we pick Nunes Real Marisqueira in Belém. High-end seafood does not come cheap, but this spot, with its Art Deco décor, is an excellent place to splurge.
This does not begin to scratch the surface of restaurants in Lisbon, but it’s a start. Whether you are a gourmand who will book far in advance for the Michelin experience, a street food aficionado in search of the world’s best bifana, or have just worked up an appetite climbing cobblestoned hills and are looking for good food and good times, Lisbon’s got you covered. To learn more about the food and culture of Portugal and Spain, join us on a Terracotta Journeys hiking or cycling trip!
By Holly Blades