172 Best Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal

This charming, sometimes boisterous restaurant is about as old-world Portuguese as it gets, with massive portions of grilled meat, seafood, and fish in a no-nonsense, brightly lit room. It's especially popular with neighborhood families.

A group of young locals took over this traditional tasca in 2019 and gave it a second life, adding O Velho to the name as a nod to the old man who used to run the place. They still specialize in homemade Portuguese dishes but with a contemporary touch. Highlights include the lamb croquette and the duck rice.

A critical darling and a popular favorite, this Portuguese-with-a-twist restaurant had a line out the door almost as soon as it opened; it's the sort of place other chefs go on their days off. A team of young chefs is turning out classic regional dishes to a soundtrack of rock and roll in a resolutely casual dining room. The chalkboard menu changes constantly but often includes "advanced" Portuguese dishes like chicken gizzards and rice flavored with blood. Reservations (far in advance) are mandatory.

This atypical incarnation of a traditional Portuguese tavern scooped a Michelin Bib Gourmand award soon after opening in 2021. The light, bright dining room is a relaxing space for lingering over clever re-imaginings of classic dishes, a selection from the well-chosen wine list, and the signature salty-sweet cheesecake for dessert.

Lisbon’s sizeable Nepalese community means there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy the country’s spicy cuisine, but Oven—named after the traditional high-temperature tandoor oven—raised the bar in 2025 when it became the first Nepalese restaurant in the city to scoop a Michelin star. Chef Hari Chapagain’s signature fusion of authentic flavors brings both Nepalese and Indian classics to life, from tasty snacks like momo and pani-puri to delicate curries. Despite its Michelin recognition, the atmosphere is relaxed and the dishes that won't turn up the heat on your bank balance.

The 18th-century Quintela Palace—once taken over by one of Napoléon's generals—now welcomes diners to a gastronomic experience in a space like no other in the city. Climb the grand staircase to dine in one of four airy elegant rooms, where you can enjoy Portuguese and international cuisine (and where there are well-priced lunch menus). Or stop for drinks and snacks from 6 pm onwards at the buzzy downstairs bar, where a DJ gets the crowd dancing as the night wears on.

Chef Luís Gaspar has created a menu of traditional comfort food dishes that aim to meet the exacting standards of Portuguese grandmothers, all served in a contemporary, light-filled space that encourages lingering over a meal and cocktails or wine. Be sure to try sharing dishes like the creamy bacalhau à Brás and the restaurant's namesake pica-pau (woodpecker)—a tasca dish of sautéed beef strips in a garlicky sauce.

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

Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients are the stars of the show at this chic but relaxed fine-dining restaurant, where plants hang from the ceiling, and contemporary furnishings keep things feeling serene. The presentation is as sophisticated as the flavors, making this one of the city's most acclaimed and awarded restaurants, with top honors from the influential local publication Mesa Marcada and a recommendation in the Michelin guide.

Calm and cool Princesa is one of Caparica's most picturesque beachfront spots. A vast outdoor terrace is filled with sun loungers and comfy chairs where you can relax with a jug of sangria while watching the waves roll in. Browse the menu for a selection of simple-yet-tasty salads, fresh seafood, and grilled fish.

Ceviche restaurants have sprung up in abundance in Lisbon recently, but fans are adamant that this longtime favorite serves the best version in the city. Unusual mains include beef ribs with black beer and chaufa (Peruvian fried rice with chicken). The bartender mixes up excellent pisco sours, too.

This restaurant is a modern spin on Lisbon's traditional fish markets and beer halls, with a dash of Japanese flair in the form of ultra-fresh sushi and sashimi. Take your pick from vast glass display cabinets of fish and crustaceans, and have it prepared on the spot in a variety of ways, whether it's dunked whole into the cooking pot or filleted and tossed onto the grill. There's now a second restaurant, Sea Me Next Door, up the street ( Rua do Loreto 53–59), as well as an offshoot inside the Time Out Market, down the hill in Cais do Sodré.

This highly regarded seafood spot has sea views, speedy service, and a bright modern interior with lots of colorful mosaics. Grab a table on the esplanade to dine with the sea breeze in your hair and magical sunsets over the ocean just steps away. Sushi and grilled fish are the specialties, but there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, too.

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

Framed photographs of celebrities who’ve visited (from singer Adele to soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo) cover every inch of the walls at this bustling eatery. In business since 1947, it's known for the dry-cured ham that gave the place its name, but there are also many meat and seafood dishes on the menu, as well as beanburgers and peixinhos da horta (green beans in tempura) for vegetarians.

This family-run restaurant serves truly traditional Portuguese dishes. The pataniscas (cod fritters) with bean rice, the baked cod, and the pork cheeks are among the specialties, and there's an extensive list of Portuguese wines. Desserts include pêra bêbada (literally, "drunken pear") poached, unusually, with Moscatel dessert wine, and crumble served with their very own ice cream made from ginjinha. A separate space two doors down serves the same menu, but the adega (wine cellar) round the corner at Rua da Vitoria 10 has its own sommelier and is a great place to snack or to sample a glass of wine—all Portuguese, except for a changing selection of organic wines—while waiting for your table.

Run by visual artist Luis Carballo (whose studio is in nearby Marvila), this modern version of the traditional Portuguese tasca is an informal space where everyone seems to start off with a gin and tonic—there's a dedicated gin bar. The kitchen turns out delicious plates like black rice with cuttlefish or braised tuna that are the perfect size to share.

A paper tablecloth stuck to the window detailing the day’s dishes is almost always a good sign. At lunch, this chic tavern and marisqueira fills with a crowd of well-dressed regulars who return for the high-quality food and friendly banter.

The huge queues that form outside this tiny family-run tavern are a testament to the fact that the fish served here is the best in town. There's no menu, but the daily catch is written on a blackboard and cooked to perfection on a charcoal grill out on the flagstones.

This unassuming restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine, from squid sashimi to chashu braised pork belly, plus the odd fusion dish—all at very affordable prices. To drink, there are sakes, beers, and Portuguese wines, plus house-made nonalcoholic drinks, and some fabulous desserts. The set lunch menus are a good value, but for the full experience book well ahead for a tasting menu at €60 (plus optional sake pairing for €55).

Open since 1922, this is one of Lisbon’s surviving grand cafés and arguably its most beautiful. It’s still mostly a place for locals, who often meet here and stay chatting for hours over coffee.

Chef Marlene Vieira is one of the few female chefs at the forefront of Lisbon’s fine dining scene. At Zunzum she has a more relaxed approach, but still with cutting-edge dishes like Portuguese stew gyozas or cockle fritters in bulhão pato, a garlicky white wine and coriander sauce.

A range of authentic Japanese dishes are served at this local branch of an established Tokyo brand, but ramen is the real star. The noodles here—made fresh in-house—are lighter than some other types, thanks to the use of yuzu. As well as the range of flavorful (and generously sized) ramen bowls, there's a range of small plates, from fried soft-shell crab to pork buns, various dumplings, and even gluten-free noodles.

Imaginative small plates are the main attraction at this small seafood-focused spot, which has now expanded to a second branch in the foodie neighborhood of Campo de Ourique. The ceviche is hugely popular at both branches, and for good reason. There's even a fish-free version made with tofu.

In the charmingly old-fashioned dining room at one of Lisbon's oldest restaurants, bottles are displayed like works of art, and courteous staffers serve up Portuguese classics paired with one of the wine list's 600 choices.

Henrique Sá Pessoa is one of Portugal’s leading chefs, known for blending Portuguese tradition with global influences and ultra-modern culinary techniques. At his elegant flagship, Alma—one of the few restaurants in Portugal with two Michelin stars—he showcases precision, creativity, and top-quality produce.

Located on Campo de Ourique’s main street, not far from the route of Trams 25 and 28, Amélia Lisboa is a good choice for a light meal. It attracts not only the people of the neighborhood but also Lisbon’s young and trendy, who love the fun decor and the colorful healthy meals (which include power bowls and plenty of gluten-free and vegan options). Although under a different name, this is essentially the second branch of a popular downtown café called Nicolau Lisboa.

Take a seat beneath twisting grapevines for drinks and snacks at one of the most inviting terraces in Alfama. The menu is strong on fresh ingredients and healthier versions of fast-food favorites, prepared with care. There are vegetarian and gluten-free versions of many of the most popular items on the menu, including hemp fried chicken (the veggie version is made with cauliflower) and a signature burger served in bolo do caco (a sweet-potato bread hailing from Madeira).

This riverfront restaurant draws crowds for its excellent views and refined cuisine. The mint green chairs of Atira-te ao Rio are easy to spot, and the octopus with roasted potatoes is always a winner.