216 Best Restaurants in Portugal

This is Almeirim's most popular traditional restaurant, thanks to its excellent grilled meats—lamb and pork as well as steak—and of course the sopa da pedra (stone soup), which O Toucinho claims to have reinvented on opening back in 1962. It is run by a former forcado (one of the bullfighters who literally grab the animal by the horns)—as the bull's heads and bullfight posters will remind you.

A group of young locals took over this traditional tasca in 2019 and gave it a second life, adding O Velho to the name as a nod to the old man who used to run the place. They still specialize in homemade Portuguese dishes but with a contemporary touch. Highlights include the lamb croquette and the duck rice.

This bakery specializes in pastéis de nata: delicious warm custard tarts sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Although these sweet treats are ubiquitous in Portugal, the version here is celebrated as the original, made here since 1837 using a secret recipe from the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. They're so good that lines snake out of the door of this traditional blue-and-white-tiled establishment. Luckily the lines move quickly, especially if you are just getting take-out.

A local institution, Pastelaria Clarinha is the best place to sample regional cakes and pastries. It has a range of delicious sweets, including traditional tortas de Guimarães—pastry rolls with an eggy pumpkin filling—and the local take on toucinho do céu (egg-and-almond cake, here with gila, fig-leaf gourd).

This family-run pastry shop is said to be the birthplace of the tortas de Azeitão, sweet sponge cake rolls filled with an egg-and-cinnamon custard, but there are many more to sample, including the moscatel-based doce de moscatel.

Since 1942 this bakery has been a cornerstone of the Costa da Caparica community. Sit out on the terrace beneath the pine trees, where you can taste its famous pastéis de Santo António (custard tarts with coconut), along with coffee roasted on-site.

The original chef from Louvre Michaelense, Hugo Ferreira, helms this charming eatery focusing on modern versions of petiscos, Portuguese tapas. Ingredients from the islands steal the show in both the veggie dishes, showcasing seasonal produce and greens, and the tasty grilled or smoked seafood plates, ranging from octopus to arroz de peixe, rice flavored with the freshest fish.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook rolling hills, the Douro River, and a railroad bridge at this family-owned restaurant. Just 800 meters from the train station, the establishment is run by the granddaughter of the late owner, and her partner, who trained as a chef in France. Offerings hinge on what's freshest and may include grilled cod, roasted lamb, game (like rabbit and boar), fish soup, or pillowy wood-oven-baked bread. Desserts skew French: lemon mousse, chocolate fondant, and crème brûlée. Nearly everything, even down to the wine, is grown on the restaurant's own farm.

First-timers are in for a surprise at this lively restaurant on the outskirts of Montemor. Instead of handing out a menu, the owner sings you a rhyme with the daily dishes on offer. Even the bill comes with a special fado performance at your table.

A meal in this long-established restaurant is worth a climb (or drive) to the top of the hill that's home to the Santuário Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, not least because views from the spacious, elegantly decorated dining room are superb. As for the food, it is predominately northern Portuguese---recently complemented with Brazilian-style barbecued meats. It's possible to eat here for around €10 per head, but if your budget stretches further, you might start with the alheira—a garlicky regional sausage, served with sautéed grelos, or turnip tops—before moving on to the house bacalhau, featuring heaps of fried onions, or cabrito assado (roasted kid). There's also a tapas bar next door.

In the heart of old-town Cascais, Santini Cascais has what many people consider to be the country's best Italian-style gelato.

A paper tablecloth stuck to the window detailing the day’s dishes is almost always a good sign. At lunch, this chic tavern and marisqueira fills with a crowd of well-dressed regulars who return for the high-quality food and friendly banter.

The huge queues that form outside this tiny family-run tavern are a testament to the fact that the fish served here is the best in town. There's no menu, but the daily catch is written on a blackboard and cooked to perfection on a charcoal grill out on the flagstones.

You'll need a little Portuguese here, but you will not regret the effort. This is a shining example of traditional tasca (tavern) hospitality—a home-style restaurant without any solid menu to speak of, but where the dishes of the day are enormous, gloriously tasty, and cheap all at once. Simple traditional dishes like meat stewed in beans and broth are the typical meals, but there are fresh, zesty sides, too.

Though the menu is small and the modern space is tiny, the carefully prepared, market-fresh Azorean plates punch way above their weight. Tasquinha Vieira’s focus is on a “cuisine of proximity,” using top-notch ingredients and innovative techniques while respecting the islands' culinary culture, and you can’t go wrong with any of the shareable tapas-style plates of fish, meat, and vegan options.

Open since 1922, this is one of Lisbon’s surviving grand cafés and arguably its most beautiful. It’s still mostly a place for locals, who often meet here and stay chatting for hours over coffee.

At Volta e Meia, the vibrant red walls and hand-painted murals create a lively atmosphere, but it’s the food that steals the show. The savory pies, filled with cod and cabbage or local sausage, cheese, and spinach, are especially popular with locals. The menu also offers a variety of traditional Portuguese dishes, like grilled meats and fresh fish, all with a creative twist.

This family-run tasca has simple wooden tables and chairs squeezed in wherever they will fit, an open kitchen with a jumble of pots and pans, and walls plastered with an intriguing assortment of scribbled poems and cartoons. The food is flavorful and cheap, so don't pass up the chance for a meal here if you can get in (queues often stretch down the street). For such a small place, it has an amazing choice of dishes, including a wonderful sopa da pedra (the name means "stone soup," but it's actually a rich vegetable and meat broth).

Housed in a converted wine cellar in the town of Cuba (about a 20-minute drive from Alvito), Adega da Lua serves a mix of traditional treats. From generous portions of sopa do cação (dogfish soup) to juicy meat dishes such as black pork and roasted loin.

Near the town's bullring, this old-style Ribatejo restaurant is decked out with bullfighting memorabilia. The ensopado de borrego (lamb stew) is renowned, as is the mangusto com bacalhau assado (a garlicky bread-and-cabbage concoction accompanying roasted codfish). Consider accepting the couvert, featuring cornbread with chouriço and orelha de porco (pig's ear, cooked with herbs). For dessert, ask for the celestes Santa Clara (almond cakes) or arrepiados de Almoster (almond meringues)—among the many local sweets invented by medieval monks and nuns.

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.

From the upstairs dining room and terrace of this rustic tavern, enjoy a lovely view of the village's rooftops and the countryside beyond. This isn't a quiet hideaway—Alcaide draws many hungry patrons, especially from May through October—but the food is always prepared and served with flair. Filete de sardinha assada com broa (roasted sardines on corn bread) is a tasty starter, and great main dishes include the requinte de bacalhau (cod with a cheese, chestnut, and apple stuffing) or the tornedó com queijo da Serra (steak with creamy rustic cheese). Desserts include a traditional toucinho do céu ("heavenly" almond cake) and an English-style summer pudding with mixed berries.

Offering a vegan alternative to Sesimbra's many fish and seafood restaurants, Aloha Café serves delicious plant-based breakfasts, brunches, and light meals. Expect an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables alongside vegan versions of classic desserts like cheesecake and pudim (a sweet flan usually made with egg). More substantial dishes include a different set meal every day, and a delicious vegan burger made with portobello mushrooms and smoked tofu. The cozy interior is pure rustic-chic, but on sunny days you'll want to take a seat on the terrace to enjoy the unobstructed ocean views.

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.

This was just another neighborhood pastry shop until it started receiving accolades for its excellent custard tarts and ended up supplying those mouthwatering sweets to shops throughout the city (and even to Paris’s Galleries Lafayette!). This tart stands out for being creamier than most and for always being served cold.

Located on Campo de Ourique’s main street, not far from the route of Trams 25 and 28, Amélia Lisboa is a good choice for a light meal. It attracts not only the people of the neighborhood but also Lisbon’s young and trendy, who love the fun decor and the colorful healthy meals (which include power bowls and plenty of gluten-free and vegan options). Although under a different name, this is essentially the second branch of a popular downtown café called Nicolau Lisboa.

The name means "that place that doesn't exist" in Portuguese, and that's a clue (along with its lack of online presence) that this restaurant aims to have an insider, underground vibe. However, it does exist, and the main restaurant is a stylish room with that serves an eclectic menu of Indian dishes, pizza, and soup. Across the street, at number 76A, there's an even less promoted rooftop bar. 

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.

A huge wall of specialist coffee brewing equipment shows this light-filled café means business. Join the locals for a flat white and pastry while catching up on the news.