43 Best Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal

Regularly ranked among the world’s best restaurants and holding two Michelin stars since 2014, Belcanto, the flagship of celebrity chef José Avillez, helped propel modern Portuguese cuisine onto the global stage. The Golden Egg—a slow-cooked yolk wrapped in edible gold leaf and served in mushroom consommé—enjoys star status among the inventive dishes on the ever-evolving tasting menus. The dining room’s high windows and vaulted ceilings set a refined tone, matched by the attentive staff. Vegetarians are better served at Encanto, Avillez’s nearby plant-based restaurant, which earned a Michelin star within its first year and a Green Star in 2025.

A native of Bosnia, Ljubomir Stanisic made his name in Portugal as a young chef full of flair, fronting TV shows, writing books, and, above all, experimenting with food (and wine). When he reopened this industrial-chic foodie haven in Bairro Alto, it made the 50 Best Discovery list within months, and in 2024 it secured a Michelin star. Here, the chef's personal and professional journey from one end of Europe to the other (literally, as it included a spell in the Azores) are reflected in tasting menus (from €140, drink pairing from €70), one of them vegetarian, that alternately coddle and amaze diners, showcasing both tradition and innovation. Prepare to get your hands dirty, tearing and dunking Bosnian bread from the chef's mother in potent sauces, or picking up a salad served in an unusual compact form. Ingredients from Portugal include both fine seafood and insect larvae, and full use is made of fermentation for added flavor. Even drink pairings bend the rules: white wine can follow red, and fortified cider may feature. Stanisic also runs Bistro 100 Maneiras and is an active partner in the newer "Mexican gastrobar" Carnal (€13, no lunch)—both in the Chiado neighborhood.

As the name suggests, the two chefs at the helm of this Michelin-starred restaurant take a playful approach to the fine dining experience. Gastronomic star Vítor Matos and talented resident chef Guilherme Spalk head a team that delivers a tasting menu that is as theatrical as it is technical. Set in the former wine cellar of Torel Palace Lisbon, the intimate space encourages interaction between diners and chefs—expect bold flavors, storytelling, and the occasional trick up the kitchen’s sleeve.

When arkhe opened in 2019, it was one of the first fine-dining vegetarian restaurants in town. With Brazilian and Portuguese roots, Chef João Ricardo Alves has classic Italian and French training, but it was when he lived in Asia that he got a taste for plant-based cuisine. This multicultural background has undoubtedly infiltrated the menu, with dishes featuring the likes of dashi sauce and homemade ravioli. Guests can pick and choose from three to five options or give carte blanche to the chef.

The Michelin-recommended restaurant atop the Bairro Alto Hotel draws a well-dressed crowd for pre-dinner cocktails on its rooftop terrace—arrive early, as it's first come, first served and highly sought after at sunset. Inside, the elegant dining room centers around an open kitchen where you can watch chefs artfully plate seasonal dishes, with fresh seafood often playing a starring role. The sommelier provides excellent pairing advice, frequently highlighting selections from small, independent Portuguese producers. 

Celebrated Sarajevo-born chef Ljubomir Stanisic is known not only for his unorthodox approach but also for the slick design of his venues. Expect to be wowed by both the tasteful redo of a handsome Art Deco building and the ever-changing roster of small plates—and, at weekends, all-in roasts. Always on offer are dishes from the chef's homeland, such as goulash and other paprika-heavy delights, and a twist on Bosnia's traditional tufahije—stewed apples stuffed with nuts.

Lisbon’s beer halls tend to be noisy crowded places, but those looking for a more sophisticated atmosphere should head to this upscale eatery with towering murals and handsome wood paneling tucked inside the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel. You'll find traditional fish or meat dishes on the menu, served with flair by an attentive staff.

The name of the Michelin-starred restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz comes from the Portuguese word curadoria (curatorship), a nod to the thoughtful, detail-driven approach of head chef Rodolfo Lavrador. The restaurant offers two versions of its signature tasting menu, Origens—choose from 5 or 10 “moments,” each a beautifully composed dish built around seasonal ingredients. Vegetarian versions are also available, with optional wine or soft pairings.

Expect culinary precision at this Michelin-starred restaurant headed by André Cruz, who honed his craft in Portugal and South America. There’s no à la carte menu; instead, diners choose from traditional or vegetarian Semente tasting menus offered in two formats—Roots (which lets the ingredients take center stage), and the more elaborate Leaf.

Japan meets the Mediterranean at this Michelin-starred restaurant behind the Four Seasons Hotel. Despite the title, the food is relatively affordable, more so at lunchtime when business folks take over the tables on the top floor. The cocktails at the bar also come with an Asian twist, like the Bloody Mary with teriyaki and wasabi-butter-infused vodka.

One of Bairro Alto’s most successful restaurants since opening in 2003, Lisboa à Noite serves imaginative cuisine that manages to be both traditional and contemporary, mostly following Portuguese recipes but adding a few international touches. The arched interior was once a stable, and you can still see the ring chains used to tie the horses.

This slick Michelin-starred restaurant offers 16-course tasting menus created by chef Alexandre Silva, who adapts them frequently so he can take advantage of the freshest seasonal ingredients. Occasionally, he invites other top chefs from Lisbon and beyond to create special one-night-only menus in the dramatic open kitchen.

Marlene Vieira made history in 2025 as the first female chef in Portugal to earn a Michelin star, and the open kitchen at her eponymous fine-dining restaurant showcases the skills that wowed the judges. Choose from refined 9 and 12-course tasting menus that spotlight fresh seafood (the menu can be adapted for vegetarians, but not vegans, with 48 hours' notice), seasonal produce, and bold, inventive flavors. Next door, Zunzum Gastrobar offers a more informal  opportunity to sample Vieira's culinary creations. It earned a Bib Gourmand for its creative small plates and excellent price-to-quality ratio.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chef Vitor Matos has managed restaurants all over the country, but this is his first venture in the capital to win a Michelin star. Here he is joined by Francisco Quintas, the young chef who welcomes you at the 14-seat counter facing the kitchen. Every dish is assembled right in front of you with the utmost detail, and the menu changes daily.

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.

Known as a wild child among the relentlessly traditional neighborhood dining spots, you'll hear indie rock instead of fado at Boi-Cavalo and experience a menu that features unusual Portuguese products like mackerel with pickles and green beans–rice with pine nuts. The chef uses his kitchen as a lab for experiments with these oddball products, pairing them with Asian and other international influences. The short creative tasting menu changes weekly.

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.

Elected Chef Ambassador of Italian Cuisine by the Italian Embassy in Portugal in 2024, Treviso-born Isaac Kumi creates flavorful, beautifully presented dishes in the small-but-chic restaurant restaurant at the Sublime Lisboa boutique hotel. Tables fill up fast, so book in advance, especially if you want to enjoy a cocktail at the bar or bag one of the outdoor terrace tables during summer.

After many years in the kitchens of some of the top restaurants in Portugal, French chef Vincent Farges opened his own spot in Lisbon, where he presents creative seasonal tasting menus that since 2022 have earned him a Michelin star. His cuisine is inspired by different parts of the world and is accompanied by Portuguese wine. Try to snag a table by a window: the views of the city and river are almost as divine as the food.

This riverfront restaurant successfully experiments with creative takes on traditional Portuguese gastronomy. Innovative vegetarian and vegan concoctions include pumpkin steak with beetroot puree and tomato ceviche with piri-piri and coriander.

In business for almost nine decades, Gambrinus has plenty of historical drama in its decor, including arched wooden ceilings and stained-glass depictions of beer-swilling royals. Prawns, lobster, and crab are always available, and seasonal choices like sea bream, sea bass, and sole are offered grilled or garnished with clam sauce. If you just want to drink in the atmosphere and perhaps a well-chilled imperial (draught beer) feel free to join the locals at the counter to sample the famous meat croquettes or a full meal.

The inspiration for this restaurant's food comes from Argentina, so expect a steak-heavy menu that has long made it a favorite among Lisbon’s carnivores. You’ll also find fish dishes borrowed from traditional Portuguese cuisine and a couple of vegetarian options, too.

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.