73 Best Restaurants in Portugal

With tables and chairs set out on a narrow jetty jutting out into the waters of the Tagus, Ponto Final makes a visually dramatic spot to enjoy tasty fish and seafood. It's located on the waterfront a short walk from the ferry terminal, and tables are in high demand. Book well in advance, or just show up early for lunch or dinner and sip a glass of something chilled as you wait. In case no tables become available, neighboring bar-restaurant Atira-te ao Rio is a pleasant alternative. 

The extraordinary fusion Portuguese dishes served here are the concoctions of two-Michelin-star chef Dieter Koschina. A stone's throw from the ocean and surrounded by greenery, the dishes are inspired by these very surrounds. Choose the Signature Menu, for a four-course tasting experience. Though reservations are required, call in the morning for last-minute openings.

With a cavernous interior, lovely blue and yellow azulejo tiles, and formal staff, this upscale tasca has been a local favorite since 1939. It serves vast portions of typical Portuguese dishes such as cabrito assado (roast kid) and bacalhau d'ouro (salted cod with turnips, potato, and cornbread). Most main dishes easily serve two, but leave room for something from the ever-changing but dependably good dessert menu.

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.

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.

This cool, colorful restaurant is as cheeky and irreverent as its name suggests. The menu takes Portugal's culinary traditions on fantastic flights of fancy using the freshest of local seafood.

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.

Fresh produce is the hero at this modern neighborhood bistro. Portuguese chef João Rodrigues swapped his Michelin-star kitchen for this modest diner where top-quality seafood and seasonal ingredients shine. There are no fancy foams, just fuss-free dining and an ever-changing menu with Portuguese roots and daily specials. Bookings recommended. 

Make reservations well in advance, as walk-ins often find themselves out of luck at this industrial-chic spot serving inventive renderings of local classics. Its signature dish is an entire grilled octopus easily big enough for two to share, but there are also delicious small sharing plates like quail egg croquettes and tuna tataki.

Portugal's most celebrated contemporary chef, José Avillez, brings his signature flair to Porto with Cantinho do Avillez, a homey yet modern dining room just downhill from São Bento train station. While he's unlikely to be in the kitchen—his food empire spans more than 30 restaurants globally—he designed the menu, and quality remains excellent. Expect moments of inventive gastronomy such as his signature "exploding olives", alongside polished versions of local comfort food like steak sandwiches with garlic sauce and fleur de sel, or creamy lobster rice.

In a renovated mansion near the waterfront, this eatery is a prime destination for seafood; start with fish soup or sapateira recheada (stuffed crab) and continue with main dishes such as roast octopus or the unusual house bacalhau, which is fried and stuffed with bacon. Desserts include a pudim de Abade de Priscos (an especially rich crème caramel pudding) that some say is the best in the country.

The resort's first restaurant is still one of its best. Casa Velha occupies an old farmhouse and focuses on French-style fine dining, served in its beautifully rustic olive tree–shaded garden, if you like. Many of the ingredients come from Quinta do Lago's organic farm or the ocean nearby.

Castas e Pratos was the first and remains the best of a row of eateries in a former railroad shed by Régua station. Snack on the first floor at a high table or climb the wooden stairs to the large mezzanine to for a sit-down meal; the sophisticated flavors and presentation are sure to delight you. You could start with a ceviche of tuna, shrimp and sea bass, or a seared scallop with pea purée, then move on to delicately flavored turbot with cockle rice, or one of the delicious slow-cooked meat dishes, such as veal cheeks. There are always tasty vegan options, too, and even a gourmet children's menu. For dessert, "O ovo" (The egg) hatches a sweet surprise. There are some 650 wines to choose from, the vast majority from the Douro, including local bubbly.

Enthusiastic approval from the late Anthony Bourdain helped boost Ramiro's profile, and this traditional cervejaria (which literally translates to "beer house" but practically speaking means seafood hall) is now one of the most famous places in Lisbon to eat fresh seafood. The atmosphere is casual, frenetic, and buzzy. The restaurant's popularity means there's almost always a wait for tables, so it's go at off hours or if you book ahead—they've finally relented on their infamous no-reservations policy.

Although the name suggests it’s only open to the press, this restaurant welcomes everyone. The menu features innovative dishes like eggplant drizzled with miso caramel or white fish ceviche topped with spicy popcorn. It has a cozy dining room lined with azulejo tiles, but in the summer everyone heads straight to the pleasant garden and plops down at one of the umbrella-shaded tables.

It's best to come hungry to this rustic eatery across the Rio Lima, famed for its starters, such as rissóis de leitão (suckling pig rissoles) and orelha de porco (pig's ear), as well as main dishes like cabrito assado (kid roasted in a wood oven) and bacalhau with a corn bread crust. The stone-walled dining room is dominated by a massive fireplace that keeps the place warm on chilly evenings; in summer there's a pleasant shaded terrace. Servings are huge, so when dining alone don't be shy to ask for a half (meia dose). Don't miss their pudim de Abade de Priscos, an ultra-rich crème caramel pudding. 

Perched on rocks overlooking the open ocean, on the site of a former shellfish nursery, this fashionable restaurant offers some of the best seafood in the area. As you'd expect, the day's menu depends on the sea's bounty, but it might have salmonete (red mullet), pregado (turbot), robalo (sea bass), or linguado (sole). Alternatively, opt for a cataplana of fish stew for two, or even a juicy steak. The starters are worth sampling, too, such as octopus salad or a dish of fresh amêijoas (clams).

After training in a former Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen, Chef Diogo made a move to the Alentejo to open his own place. Now he's expressing his creativity by reinterpreting classic Portuguese dishes. The recipes may change, but the ingredients are always seasonal and sourced as close to Marvão as possible. The open kitchen allows you to watch every step of the process, from prep to serving.

In the same family for three generations, Fialho has become one of Évora’s culinary institutions. Among the specialties here are the borrego assado (roasted lamb) and perdiz à convento da cartuxa (roast partridge with potatoes and carrots), made according to a recipe from a nearby monastery. The dining room, with a beamed ceiling and painted plates hung on its walls, is regularly packed on weekends, and reservations are essential.

Portugal is a nation obsessed with seafood, but more often than not, fish is simply grilled over charcoal with salt. Guelra is changing the game with a fish-focused eatery where you can sit down for creative seafood snacks and wine at the bar, or venture upstairs for a chic meal with Portuguese-influenced dishes. Be sure to try the amphora wines.

Despite the misleading name, this cheerful restaurant actually does have a patio, and a beautiful one surrounded by trees and soft lighting (the name translates roughly as "in the courtyard"). The chefs incorporate premium local produce in dishes that have an international flair.

From the sandy shores of Praia da Fontinha, climb the stairs to reach this somewhat hidden spot. Sit outside on the rustic deck shaded by palm trees or dine in the surprisingly modern indoor space and watch the staff grill your food in the open kitchen—and come hungry: Pé na Água specializes in huge pots of seafood big enough to feed a whole family.

Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients are the stars of the show at this chic but relaxed fine-dining restaurant, where plants hang from the ceiling, and contemporary furnishings keep things feeling serene. The presentation is as sophisticated as the flavors, making this one of the city's most acclaimed and awarded restaurants, with top honors from the influential local publication Mesa Marcada and a recommendation in the Michelin guide.

Though not right on the ocean, this is an excellent option for for seafood lovers. The extensive menu offers a wide variety of mixed shellfish or grilled fish platters to share, including regional favorites like sapateira recheada (whole stuffed stone crab) and lagosta (spiny lobster).

Calm and cool Princesa is one of Caparica's most picturesque beachfront spots. A vast outdoor terrace is filled with sun loungers and comfy chairs where you can relax with a jug of sangria while watching the waves roll in. Browse the menu for a selection of simple-yet-tasty salads, fresh seafood, and grilled fish.

Inspired by the works of famed Portuguese writer Eça de Queiroz (it's set inside the elegant MS Collection Hotel, in a building that was once the writer's family home), Prosa serves tasting menus and a-la-carte dishes designed to tell a story with every dish. The menu is signed by Michelin-lauded chef Rui Paula and makes excellent use of locally sourced ingredients to create contemporary versions of classic Portuguese dishes like caldeirada (fish stew) and cured black pork. The buckwheat, chocolate, and black garlic tart is a stand-out on the short-but-sweet dessert menu.

You can't visit Porto Santo without stopping by this fantastic seafood restaurant on the far end of Calheta Beach. The fresh fish of the day is always your best bet, or try the giant spicy prawns, amêijoas (cockles), or caldeirada (fish stew). There's also a snack bar open all day for drinks and lighter fare.

Built in the ruins of an 8th-century castle tower (hence its name), this eatery serves fine renditions of typical Algarvian fare in four dining rooms (including a cistern room) with balconies overlooking the beach. It's a unique option for a special occasion—but great food in a historic setting comes at a price.

Behind a vintage tiled facade is a widely acclaimed restaurant that has long been among the country's most popular destinations for Italian food, where everything is homemade—from the bread and pasta to the ice cream. Among mouthwatering starters are vitello tonnato and goose liver with stewed figs and port wine sauce, while delicious main dishes include shrimp pansotti with a mascarpone and dill sauce, and breast of duck with port wine sauce and tangerines. For desserts there is the ever-popular baked raspberries with lemon sorbet and a sinfonia de pêra Rocha (featuring a local pear variety, three ways).

Two former salt warehouses have been lovingly restored to create a sophisticated dining room with a lofty ceiling and exposed beams. The specialty at this award-winning spot is bacalhau—served in creative forms such as confit with cornbread crust or paired with seasonal purées. The menu also features local seafood and meat dishes, but there are vegan and gluten-free options, too.