45 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.

This pastry shop opened in 1957 in the city of Alcobaça, and six decades later it expanded to the capital. You can now try the tarts together with “monastic pastries” that follow age-old recipes by Cistercian monks, all in this small shop on Chiado’s busiest street. Its rise to fame in Lisbon happened in 2014, when it took the top prize for best custard tart in an annual contest. 

This restaurant's name translates to "There's Fish Here," and indeed it's one of the top places in town to savor the catch of the day, served fried, grilled, or roasted. Dinner attracts a youngish crowd, who enjoy options like cuttlefish with black rice and saffron mayonnaise. For diehard carnivores, there's Brazilian picanha. The dining room is also a classic, set beneath wide arches.

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. 

Renowned chef José Avillez has created his own foodie "neighborhood" incorporating two restaurants, a pizzeria, and a bar that serves snacks. The airy, more formal Páteo serves classic Portuguese dishes, while the more casual Taberna offers a wide range of fine local cheeses as well as intensely flavored small plates presented with flair. Then there's Pizzaria Lisboa for great thin-crust pies, and Mini Bar, a hidden and dimly lit night spot in an atmospheric former chapel, for fancy drinks and snacks, with live music and DJs Wednesdays through Saturdays.

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.

Dating from 1905, Lisbon’s most famous café maintains its dazzling Art Deco interior, though you'll probably prefer to take a quick peek and then settle in at one of the tables outside to watch the lively street scenes unfold. The coffee no longer comes exclusively from the former colony that gave the place its name, but it's some of the best in town (it even features in the sauce on the house steak) alongside tasty cakes, pastries, and artfully presented seafood dishes. A few doors down, Pastelaria Bénard is an even longer-established example of Chiado's old-world cafés.

Vegans in the know head to this little place off Rua Garrett, which has a well-priced varied buffet of salads, hot entrées, sides, and sauces for both lunch and dinner. Desserts and drinks—which include some great fresh juices as well as craft beers—are extra.

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 atypical incarnation of a traditional Portuguese tavern scooped a Michelin Bib Gourmand award soon after opening in 2021. The light, bright dining room is a relaxing space for lingering over clever re-imaginings of classic dishes, a selection from the well-chosen wine list, and the signature salty-sweet cheesecake for dessert.

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.

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.

A range of authentic Japanese dishes are served at this local branch of an established Tokyo brand, but ramen is the real star. The noodles here—made fresh in-house—are lighter than some other types, thanks to the use of yuzu. As well as the range of flavorful (and generously sized) ramen bowls, there's a range of small plates, from fried soft-shell crab to pork buns, various dumplings, and even gluten-free noodles.

Imaginative small plates are the main attraction at this small seafood-focused spot, which has now expanded to a second branch in the foodie neighborhood of Campo de Ourique. The ceviche is hugely popular at both branches, and for good reason. There's even a fish-free version made with tofu.

In the charmingly old-fashioned dining room at one of Lisbon's oldest restaurants, bottles are displayed like works of art, and courteous staffers serve up Portuguese classics paired with one of the wine list's 600 choices.

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.

More of a local option than some cafés in the area, Aloma is known for its prize-winning pastéis de nata, whose fame has helped it build up a small chain and even go into the export business. This outlet also offers a range of other pastries, plus sandwiches and quiches.

The intimate, dimly lit space and musical backdrop of tinkling jazz make a memorable setting for savoring a glass of wine, while sampling delicious and inexpensive versions of traditional Portuguese food. Standouts on the menu include a tasty bacalhau à brás (codfish mixed with egg and matchstick potatoes) and a photo-worthy flaming chorizo. As you'd expect, the wine list is good. Bring cash, as international cards are not accepted.

This rustic restaurant was established in a former bakery and has kept the building's original large brick baking oven and stone arches. It serves well-presented classic Portuguese cuisine and a few original dishes from a menu evenly divided between meat and fish options.

This restaurant takes you on a trip around Asia, with a wide selection of dishes that go from Thailand to Indonesia. There are also vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant takes no reservations, so show up early or expect a long wait for a table outside on the terrace or in the colorful interior.

The tables outside this long-established haven are the perfect place to watch the old trams go by, while an interior reading room offers a quiet space to relax with a book and a snack or meal (the two-course set lunches are a good value at €15). Less touristy than some other cafés nearby, it still attracts artists from the neighboring theaters who stop for a drink.

This laid-back, friendly spot in the São Bento district, just outside the Barrio Alto, is a local reference point for Goan cuisine. Vindaloo dishes are among the stars, and vegetarians have plenty of options alongside the meat and seafood dishes.

Portugal's first vegan pastéis de nata (custard tarts) are available at this long-established coffee merchant, with its vintage facade and wood-and-glass interior. Nonvegans, too, will love these egg- and dairy-free treats.

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.

This place hasn’t changed a bit over the years, from the beams across the ceiling to the harnesses and wagon wheels that serve as decor. It's a favorite among locals, who come here to enjoy hearty Portuguese dishes amid the bustle of Bairro Alto.

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.

Today it's a lively spot for petiscos and cocktails, but this was once the location for secret political meetings (and romantic trysts), thanks to its secluded gabinetes (booths). It's been given a top-to-toe overhaul, but retains its paneled booths, tiled floors, and other details from its more than 150 years of history. Light dishes such as chilled tomato soup and tapas-style plates for sharing make for sociable dining in a cozy restaurant-bar, but they also have heartier bacalhau and seafood rice dishes, which are often big enough for two. 

There’s an enormous array of top-quality Portuguese cheeses, wines, and petiscos on the menu here. Regular live sets from talented local musicians add extra panache to the proceedings.

Named after the Brazilian chef who came up with the recipes for this restaurant's original hamburgers, Honorato is a minichain of trendy burger joints. The branch in Chiado is the most popular—it has a lively atmosphere and large windows looking out to one of the neighborhood’s main squares.