Zero Zero
One of the trendiest spots in town, this restaurant serves pizzas prepared in a rotating oak-wood oven. It has an attractive wood-and-marble interior, but you’ll want to sit outside on the terrace facing the Botanical Garden.
11 Best Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal
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Lisbon's dining scene has evolved dramatically in recent years to include any number of high-end dining opportunities, but amid the international fare, Michelin-starred restaurants, and molecular gastronomy, the city's simplest and most traditional restaurants still do a roaring trade. Meals generally include three courses, a drink, and coffee. Many restaurants have an ementa turistica (tourist menu), a set-price meal, most often served at lunchtime. Note that you'll be charged a couple of euros if you eat any of the couvert items—typically appetizers such as bread and butter, olives, and the like—that are brought to your table without being ordered.
Lisbon's restaurants usually serve lunch from noon or 12:30 until 3 and dinner from 7:30 until 11; many establishments are closed Sunday or Monday. Inexpensive restaurants typically don't accept reservations. In the traditional cervejarias (beer-hall restaurants), which frequently have huge dining rooms, you'll probably have to wait for a table, but usually not more than 10 minutes. In the Bairro Alto, many of the reasonably priced tascas (taverns) are on the small side: if you can't grab a table, you're probably better off moving on to the next place. Throughout Lisbon, dress for meals is usually casual, but exceptions are noted below.
Casanostra
One of the first truly Italian restaurants in Lisbon is still one of the best. On the menu are the Italian owner's favorite dishes, including meat, fish, and pasta options.
Come Prima
Come Prima occupies a low-lit space split into two levels and is always packed with locals who love its distinguished Italian cuisine. If you’re looking for a romantic place off the beaten path, this is a good choice.
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Davvero
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.
Focaccia in Giro
Focaccia sandwiches, made according to traditional Italian recipes but with high-quality Portuguese ingredients, are the draw at this small shop in the Feira da Ladra market.
Il Matriciano
One of Lisbon's most authentic Italian restaurants, Il Matriciano faces the Palácio de São Bento and is owned by a couple from Rome. Diners are greeted like family and presented with a menu made from ingredients brought in twice a month from Italy.
Lucca
This restaurant’s two dining rooms fill up quickly with local families who come for the traditional Italian pizzas. Located way off the beaten tourist path, it’s worth a detour—it truly serves some of the best wood-fired pies in town.
Mercantina
Shortly after opening, this restaurant was distinguished with the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana certificate of authenticity. The ingredients are imported directly from Naples and used not just in the pizzas but in all the Italian specialties.
Olga Gatti
The south of the river is more than just seafood. If you’re craving Italian, Valdo Gatti serves artisanal wood-fired pizza crafted with Italian and Portuguese ingredients. The dough is left to rise slowly for two days before it reaches your plate.
Osteria
This tiny welcoming Italian restaurant serves small plates designed to be shared among friends. There are excellent imported cheeses, sausages, and wines alongside mains and desserts typical of the Sardinia region.
Rocco Gastrobar
You don't need to be a guest at snazzy The Ivens Hotel to snag a table in its glamorous downstairs bar, but it's best to book in advance. Perch on one of the high seats for communal dining, and watch the talented mixologists create the perfect cocktail to accompany light sharing dishes like tuna tartare with wasabi pearls and avocado or heartier Portuguese or Italian-style main dishes. Negroni lovers are in for a treat: there's an entire menu dedicated to the drink, and the Negroni de Cacau is dangerously delicious. For a quieter dining experience, the attached Rocco restaurant offers a more formal setting for Italian food made with flair.
