Indagare’s favorite hot spot restaurants change all the time, but there are some staples in each of the destinations we love that never go out of style. Here is our current short list for the best restaurants in Lisbon.
Courtesy A Cevicheria
The Quick List
Best Lunch Options
- Near Belem Tower and Monument of Discoveries: À Margem
- Near Bairro Alto: A Cevicheria, Palacio Chiado or Aprazível
- Near Rossio Square and the Lisbon Botanical Garden: JNcQUOI
- Near Castelo de São Jorge and Sé de Lisboa: Chapito
- Quick Break: Pizzaria Lisboa or Time Out Market
- Something Sweet: Gelato Davvero or Manteigaria
Best Dinner Options
- Big Night Out: Belcanto
- Hot Spot: A Cevicheria; Cervejaria Ramiro; JNcQUOI
- Classic: Cantinho do Avillez
- Newcomer: Davvero
- Foodie Favorite: Prado
- Great Views: SUBA or Feitoria
- Cocktails: Verride Palacio Santa Catarina
Day Trips
- Near Sintra: Restaurante Piscina Azenhas do Mar
- Near Cascais: Marisco na Praça or Guincho Fortress
- Near Comporta: Mar d’Arrozal
The Restaurants: Lunch
A MARGEM
Near: Belem Tower
A sleek riverfront café with Tagus River views and a minimalist aesthetic, this spot is perfect for a quick bite while touring the Belem District. Doca do Bom Sucesso
A CEVICHERIA
Near: Bairro Alto
A trendy, no-reservations spot serving seafood specialties like the namesake ceviche. R. Dom Pedro V 129
PALACIO CHIADO
Near: Bairro Alto
This 18th-century palace in the Chiado neighborhood is now a hip food court. R. do Alecrim 70
APRAZIVEL
Near: Bairro Alto
This Mediterranean favorite draws families for long weekend meals on the alfresco terrace and inside the modern dining room. The Italian salads and pastas are highlights, but save room for the indulgent chocolate cake. R. Garrett 19
JNcQUOI
Near: Rossio Square
JNcQUOI is an uber-chic restaurant (with an attached bar, boutique and Assouline and Ladurée outposts) that serves incredible tapas-style cuisine (but has a bit of a see-and-be-seen vibe). Av. da Liberdade 182-184
CHAPITO A MESA
Near: Castelo de São Jorge
With great views Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood, Chapito serves authentic Portuguese cuisine that keeps guests coming back. Costa do Castelo 1
PIZZARIA LISBOA
Near: Chiado
Quick Break
This Italian pizzeria from José Avillez is the perfect spot for a casual meal. R. Duques de Bragança 5H
TIME OUT MARKET
Near: Chiado
Quick Break
This food hall at the Mercado da Ribeira has a number of stalls where you can sample Portuguese foods. Don’t miss Manteigaria to try Lisbon’s famous pasteis de nata (a sweet Portuguese egg tart). Av. 24 de Julho 49
GELATO DAVVERO
Near: Bairro Alto
Something Sweet
Artisanal gelateria with 35 ever-changing flavors, which are best when topped with Davvero’s homemade whipped cream. Praça São Paulo 1
MANTEIGARIA
Near: Multiple Locations
A tiny counter-service spot that serves just one item: pastel de nata. This iconic egg tart pastry has been a cornerstone of Portuguese cuisine since Catholic monks began making them in the 1800s.
The Restaurants: Dinner
BELCANTO
Neighborhood: Chiado
Big Night Out
A Michelin-starred restaurant from famous Portuguese chef José Avillez, Belcanto is elegant and known for its serious foodie-friendly cuisine. Largo de São Carlos 10
A CEVICHERIA
Neighborhood: Bairro Alto
Hot Spot
A trendy, no-reservations spot serving seafood specialties like the namesake ceviche. R. Dom Pedro V 129
CERVEJARIA RAMIRO
Neighborhood: Off the Beaten Path
Hot Spot
Founded in 1956, this historic Lisbon institution has a boisterous and authentic environment and serves simple, fresh seafood dishes. Alvenida Almirante Reis 1
JNcQUOI
Neighborhood: Príncipe Real
Hot Spot
JNcQUOI is an uber-chic restaurant (with an attached bar, boutique and Assouline and Ladurée outposts) that serves incredible tapas-style cuisine (but has a bit of a see-and-be-seen vibe). Av. da Liberdade 182-184
CANTINHO DO AVILLEZ
Neighborhood: Chiado
Classic
This casual restaurant from José Avillez is located in the buzzy Chiado neighborhood and has a menu that is both appealing and accessible. Rua Duques de Bragança 7
DAVVERO
Neighborhood: Amoreiras
Newcomer
This classy seaside-inspired restaurant in the Sublime Lisboa is helmed by a Venetian chef who effortlessly blends Portuguese ingredients into Italian dishes. Rue Marquês Subserra 10
PRADO
Neighborhood: Baixa
Foodie Favorite
Prado is housed in a greenhouse-inspired space and serves seasonal, farm-to-table fare like Iberico pork tenderloin or Barrosã beef tartar. Travessa das Pedras Negras 2
SUBA
Neighborhood: Bairro Alto
Great Views
Perched at the top of Verride Palacio in a sleek white dining room, SUBA offers fine dining with beautiful views of Lisbon. Rua de Santa Catarina 1
FEITORIA
Neighborhood: Belem
Great Views
This Michelin-starred restaurant is a local favorite since for its streamlined interiors and some of the most inventive dishes in Lisbon. Altis Belem Hotel & Spa, Doca do Bom Sucesso
VERRICE PALACIO SANTA CATARINA
Neighborhood: Bairro Alto
Drinks
A hot spot for drinks in central Lisbon, this hotel has a rooftop with 360-degree views. R. de Santa Catarina 1
Restaurants: Day Trips
RESTAURANT PISCINA AZENHAS DO MAR
Location: Sintra
This homey restaurant located on a cliffside combines friendly service with simple seafood, like lobster risotto and grilled octopus. Azenhas do Mar 2705-104
MARISCO NA PRAÇA
Location: Cascais
A seafood-lovers dream, this restaurant serves heaps of locally caught clams, oysters, prawns at more, served at picnic tables in a large dining hall. Rua Padre Moisés da Silva 34
GUINCHO FORTRESS
Location: Cascais
This Michelin-starred restaurant is the spot to eat during a day trip to Cascais. It has excellent food and sweeping views over the sea and sand dunes. Rua Figueira do Guincho
MAR D’ARROZAL
Location: Comporta
Located at stylish new wellness resort, Quinta da Comporta, this restaurant serves seasonal, local cuisine, with ingredients sourced from the on-property bio garden, and there is also an excellent bar and wine cellar. Rua Alto de Pina, 2, Carvalhal
