5 Best Restaurants in Alcântara, Cais do Sodré, and Santos, Lisbon

This French-accented restaurant brings a big dose of old-school glamour to a neighborhood increasingly populated with Instagrammable brunch spots and sharable small plates. The kitchen occupies the center of the dining room, surrounded by a gleaming bar counter where patrons can dine and watch the show; alternatively, diners can tuck themselves away on red-velvet banquettes to dig into classic dishes like sole meunière and steak à la Marrare, a century-old Lisbon classic brought by a Neapolitan chef.

A city-smart sister to the celebrated Monte Mar restaurant in Cascais, Monte Mar Lisboa offers the same superior seafood with a more relaxed riverfront ambience. Occupying one of the formerly disused warehouses along a lightly revitalized stretch of the waterfront, Monte Mar has a terrific view of the river, the Ponte 25 de Abril, and the Cristo Rei on the other side, while indoors it's all industrial-chic black and chrome.

The name means "in the convent" in Portuguese, because this new date-night spot occupies a 17th-century convent tucked away on a side street in Santos. The food combines Portuguese ingredients with French traditions. The low lighting and seductive soundtrack attract the city's creative set, both in pairs and in larger groups celebrating special events.

This glitzy restaurant is a high-end alternative to the bustling food hall in the Time Out Market downstairs. The menu leans toward fancified versions of Portuguese classics—olive-oil-soaked roasted octopus, grilled cod, and the namesake açorda, Portugal's famous bread-based stew rich in seafood (the luxury version contains lobster) and flavored with garlic and cilantro.

Sala de Corte is all about the meat, notably prime cuts of beef, grilled to perfection and accompanied by a savory dipping sauce, like Stilton, chimichurri, black truffle mayo, or béarnaise. Sip a cocktail at the stylishly lit long bar before taking a table.