Lisbon is fortunate. When it comes to food, this city has the best of both worlds: land, and sea.
Itâs hard to get bored of Portuguese cuisine. Starting with the petiscos. These small dishes cover all types of seafood, like salt cod to clams, and a few meat dishes like the pica-pau.
As tourism grows in Lisbon, so does its culinary scene. Some restaurants like Ramiro remain the same as ever, others like Salmoura are reinterpreting traditional Portuguese food. And that seems to be happening more and more.
This list covers the best restaurants in Lisbon, from long-standing establishments to modern tascas, and Michelin-star restaurants. We even added a few options for the vegetarians.
Photo Credit:Â you.me.and.food, Text Overlay:Â Devour Lisbon Food Tours
1. Salmoura: The Best Restaurant in Alfama
You canât help feeling at home at Salmoura!
Amidst the touristy restaurants in Alfama, this one stands out for all the right reasons.
While you wait for a table, the staff will offer you some wine or their own craft beer, just like when youâre visiting a friend.
All the petiscos here are made with love. We really enjoyed their cuttlefish dish, but hereâs the thing, the menu is always changing, so tomorrow you might find something else.
Stay until dessert, and youâll probably end up sipping one of their homemade liquors.
Insiderâs tip: The owners of Salmoura have another restaurant called Taberna Sal Grosso which is just as good.
2. ZĂŠ da Mouraria: To Share With Friends or Family
Unless you have a voracious appetite, donât come to ZĂŠ da Mouraria on your own.
This restaurant is famous for its large food portions, but like many Lisbon restaurants, itâs all about the sharing.
The menu changes daily, and features the best of Portuguese food, from roasted codfish to a delicious steak.
While they have two restaurants in Lisbon, we still prefer the original one in Mouraria.
Insiderâs Tip: Both restaurants are quite popular so make sure to book a table in advance.
3. Cantinho Lusitano: A Hidden Gem in Lisbon
Why choose only one dish, when you can try several at once? Thatâs what petiscos are for.
Cantinho Lusitano is a family-run restaurant that serves some of the best Portuguese petiscos in Lisbon.
Cantinho is a word that means a small cozy space, and Lusitano refers to the Lusitanians, a word that is often used to describe Portuguese people.
The menu features a variety of traditional dishes. We love their Pataniscas de Bacalhau (codfish fritters) and the Gambas ao Alho (garlic shrimp).
Insiderâs tip: The space is small, so we recommend booking ahead.
4. Sala de Corte: For the Best Steak in Lisbon
If youâre after the best steak in Lisbon, look no further than Sala de Corte.
This steakhouse started off as a tiny restaurant behind the Mercado da Ribeira. Back then it was first-come, first served, but now they finally accept reservations. And youâll need it because everyone wants a piece of their meat!
Right by the door, thereâs a refrigerator featuring all kinds of beef cuts, from Sirloin to Chateaubriand. While having quality meat helps, the secret for the delicious steaks is also in the way they cook it. They use a Josper, which is a mix between a grill and an oven.
We suggest starting with the pica-pau, small loin strips with mustard sauce and then order the Chateaubriand.
5. Cervejaria Ramiro: Best Seafood Restaurant in Lisbon
Before Intendente became a trendy Lisbon neighborhood, locals would only go there for one thingâCervejaria Ramiro.
This seafood paradise has been around since 1956, and although the crowds have changed, the quality remains the same.
Put the knife and fork away, this is not a fancy seafood restaurant, so go ahead and eat with your hands.
Our favorite dishes here are the AmeijĂ´as Ă BulhĂŁo Pato (clams with coriander sauce) and the Sapateira Recheada (fresh crab meat served in the shell).
Make sure to leave some room for the prego (steak sandwich)âthatâs how a seafood meal ends in Portugal.
Insiderâs tip: To avoid queues we recommend arriving before 7 p.m. or after 10 p.m. If you have to wait, you can always order a beer at the counter to pass the time.
6. Belcanto: A Michelin-Star Restaurant
In Italian Bel canto, means good singing. But in Lisbon, these two words come together to name one of the cityâs Michelin-star restaurants.
If you feel like splurging on a meal, Belcanto is the place to go. Itâs not easy to get a table here, but itâs worth it for the experience.
The menu features traditional Portuguese dishes with a modern twist, like the Cozido Ă Portuguesa (meat stew) and the Pudim Abade de Priscos, served here with a wasabi sorbet.
Chef JosĂŠ Avillez is behind this high-end restaurant, and you’ll probably hear a lot about him since he has several restaurants around the capital.
Insiderâs tip: If you want to try Belcanto during your visit to Lisbon, we recommend calling a few months in advance to guarantee a table.
7. LOCO: For the Fine Dining Experience
Most restaurants hide their kitchen, but at LOCO, the kitchen is wide open so you can see the team assembling each dish.
Chef Alexandre Silva is the head of this Michelin-star restaurant, which offers one of the best fine dining experiences in Lisbon.
He calls each course a âmomentâ, and youâll experience at least 18 of them during your visit. Weâre not going to highlight one dish, since the menu changes with the seasons, but we guarantee youâre going to love it.
8. Dom Queijo: For Cheese Lovers
If youâre not a cheese fan, you might want to skip this one.
At Dom Queijo, every dish has one thing in commonâcheese. This isnât just a restaurant, itâs also a cheese shop.
The first thing youâll see when youâll walk in Dom Queijo is the display of cheeses. You might be familiar with French and Italian cheeses, but what about Portuguese cheeses? You can try them here!
From the starters to the main dish, thereâs always a bit of cheese involved, but since theyâre all different, youâll never get tired of them.
We love their Mascarpone dessert with the Nannarella lime and mint ice cream. While most of the menu changes every week, this dish seems to be a constant feature.
Insiderâs tip: Thereâs a lunch deal for âŹ13 that includes the couvert, a main dish, and a drink. We recommend booking a table online before heading to the restaurant.
9. Ao 26 Vegan Food Project: A Veggie-Friendly Restaurant
A few years ago, it would be hard to get a vegetarian restaurant on this list, let along a vegan one. But trust us when we say that this is the best vegan restaurant in Lisbon.
Set in the heart of Chiado, 26 Vegan Food Project offers vegan meals that even meat eaters will want to try.
Some say vegan food is bland, but thatâs not the case here. The Bloody Beet burger was the first dish we tried, and itâs still our favorite. Itâs made with beetroot, caramelized onion, and homemade pesto.
The burger comes with bolo do caco, a delicious sweet potato bread typical from the Madeira island.
If thatâs not enough to convince you, they also have an Oreo and peanut tart for dessert.
Insiderâs tip: The restaurant is quite popular, so try to book in advance!
10. Alcântara 50: For Portuguese Petiscos
Whether youâre on your way to LX Factory or visiting the little-known Parque das Necessidades, you should stop by Alcântara 50.
This little restaurant in Alcântara specializes in Portuguese cuisine, specifically the petiscos.
You might be familiar with the AmeijĂ´as Ă BulhĂŁo Pato (clams with coriander sauce) or the Peixinhos da Horta (deep-fried green beans), but there are other petiscos youâll struggle to find anywhere else in Lisbon.
Like the Punheta de Bacalhau, which literally translates as “codfish handjob,” but itâs just a seafood carpaccio made with raw codfish and onion.
A few petiscos should keep you full, but if you want to order a main dish, we suggest the Pataniscas de Bacalhau (codfish fritters) or the Polvinhos Assados (roasted octopus).
Are you coming to Lisbon?
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where to eat in Lisbon!
With so many great restaurants to choose from, navigating the Lisbon food scene can seem a bit overwhelming at first. Let us do the hard work for youâour Tastes & Traditions of Lisbon Tour includes stops at eight handpicked cafes, tascas, shops and more where you’ll start to understand what it really means to eat like a local.