From juicy steaks and grilled fish at Portuguese family tascas to affordable dining at a Michelin-star restaurant, here are the best spots for lunch in Lisbon.
A typical Portuguese lunch begins at noon and stretches for as long as your schedule allows. During the week, restaurants put up signs announcing cheap lunch deals, and locals convene outside to see what’s in store for the day.
If you’ve just landed in Lisbon, these offers serve as the perfect intro to traditional Portuguese cuisine, since they cover many local delicacies, from meat to seafood. The deal usually includes the prato do dia (daily dish), soup, dessert, and a coffee. Even Michelin-star restaurants can offer an affordable lunch choice!
Another suggestion is to grab one of Lisbon’s signature sandwiches, like the bifana, and head to the nearest viewpoint with a glass of wine.
Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy sit-down meal or a quick takeaway option, we’ve got you covered with this list of the best lunch spots in Lisbon.
1. Eleven: Michelin-star Restaurant
If you’re traveling on a budget, Michelin-star restaurants are usually off the cards. In Lisbon, however, it’s possible to sample high-end cuisine without paying a hefty sum. Just head to Eleven, a restaurant run by Chef Joachim Koerper that serves dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.
From Monday to Saturday, the restaurant offers an executive lunch menu for around €35. It includes a starter, a main dish and dessert, plus, you get to enjoy the view over Parque Eduardo VII while you eat. Drinks are not part of the deal, but you can always ask the sommelier for an affordable wine recommendation.
Insider’s tip: You have to go a little out of the city center to try this place, but you can always combine your trip with a visit to Gulbenkian or the Estufa Fria, Lisbon’s greenhouse.
2. Taberna Sal Grosso: Best Petiscos in Lisbon
Taberna Sal Grosso is a cozy tavern located in Alfama, just a few steps away from the Pantheon. It has some of the best petiscos in Lisbon (you know, those small homemade dishes that you can share with friends).
Every day the staff writes down the menu on a chalkboard outside, so you can see what’s on offer. Oxtail stew, smoked pork belly, and codfish are a few things that we’ve had a chance to try there. Ask them about the catch of the week, and they’ll give you a delicious fresh fish.
As for drinks, you can try the house wine or a glass of craft beer produced by the owners. The restaurant is quite small, so it’s worth booking in advance if you want to make it for lunch.
Insider’s tip: If you’re heading here on Tuesdays or Saturdays, make sure to check out Lisbon’s flea market on the way.
3. A Provinciana: Best Cheap Lunch in Lisbon
To experience Lisbon’s culinary scene, head to a Portuguese tasca for lunch. Open since 1988, A Provinciana ticks all the boxes—the shared tables, the generous food portions, and a family running the show on all fronts.
Father and daughter welcome the customers, while mom prepares classic Portuguese dishes in the back. Grilled codfish, octopus, and bitoque (steak with egg) are some of the house favorites, and there’s always a daily special for lunch.
You can get a traditional meal here for less than €10, so it’s the perfect place to go if you’re eating on a budget and want to try the local cuisine at the same time.
Insider’s tip: The restaurant gets quite busy at lunchtime, so make sure to arrive early to get a seat.
4. O Trevo: For Lunch On The Go
If you really want to save up or prefer to get lunch on the go, you can always try some of Lisbon’s street food. You won’t find many street food vans in the city, but there are plenty of cafés and snack bars that offer quick traditional bites.
Long before Anthony Bourdain visited O Trevo (Praça Luís de Camões, 48), this café was already serving delicious bifanas (pork steak sandwiches) to locals. Granted, it’s gotten a bit more famous since then, but you can still grab one for less than €2. Add a beer to it, and you’ve got yourself a bargain lunch!
Insider’s tip: Ask for takeaway and enjoy your lunch by the river or at one of Lisbon’s viewpoints.
5. Ao 26 Vegan Food Project: Veggie-Friendly Lunch
Vegans and vegetarians have plenty to choose from at the 26 Vegan Food Project. This Lisbon restaurant has transformed some of Portugal’s staple meat and seafood dishes into veggie-friendly meals.
Remember the bifana? Well, here there’s the Supreme Bifana, a seitan burger marinated with thyme and served with mustard, mushrooms, and plenty of vegan cheddar cheese. To make it even better, they use bolo do caco, a soft bread made with sweet potato that is typical from the Madeira island.
There’s also a vegan version of the francesinha, Portugal’s twist on the croque monsieur, and the cogumelos à bulhão pato, an homage to a traditional Portuguese petisco, which uses mushrooms instead of clams but keeps the same delicious cilantro and garlic sauce.
6. Último Porto: Fish and Seafood Lunch
Fish lovers can’t get enough of this hidden restaurant in Alcântara. Tucked between shipping containers, Último Porto is a little hard to find at first, but once you do, you’ll be coming back for more.
Grouper and sea bass is usually our fish of choice, but when summer arrives, sardines and mackerel take over. Grab a seat outside and watch the staff grill your fish over the coal, giving it that crispy texture that we love.
The restaurant only opens for lunch, but if there’s a table available, they can serve you as late as 3 p.m. Still, it’s a popular choice with locals, so it’s best to arrive early.
Insider’s tip: Since you’re heading to Alcântara, you might as well visit some nearby museums like the Museu do Oriente or Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.
7. Sala de Corte: Best Steak in Lisbon
If you’re looking for the best steak in Lisbon, Sala de Corte is the place to go. It all started with a tiny steakhouse behind Mercado da Ribeira, but as more people tasted their meat, the more customers they gained, and soon enough, they needed a bigger space.
The new venue is still pretty close to the market, but they can now welcome up to 100 people. Take it from us, though, and book a table in advance if you don’t want to wait outside.
Chateaubriand, sirloin, entrecôte, and t-bone are some of the cuts you’ll find on the menu. There are also small starters like the pica-pau do lombo, loin strips served with mustard sauce and matchstick potatoes.
Besides using quality ingredients, they say the secret for their delicious meat is the Josper, a cooking device that is a mix between an oven and a grill. We’ll let you figure that one out!
Want to enjoy lunch in Lisbon across several of our favorite spots in town? Our Tastes & Traditions of Lisbon Tour is calling your name!
