Must-see restaurants in Portugal

  • Aldeia Douro

    The Douro

    Great regional food is prepared with a twist at this friendly, contemporary restaurant with an attached wine bar. See their Facebook page for daily…

  • Maria do Mar

    Nazaré

    Tucked away in a dark backstreet, this place does an excellent fish stew (€9.50) served in its rustic nautical dining room. There's a welcoming host and…

  • Cantina Lx

    Lisbon

    Decked out like an industrial-chic country barn, this cool cafe in LX Factory is a laid-back pick for snacks, mains such as codfish and sirloin steak, and…

  • Confeitaria da Ponte

    The Douro

    Boasting a peaceful, shaded terrace overlooking the bridge, this tradi­tional bakery has the best ambience for enjoying Amarante’s famous pastries and…

  • Café no Mercado

    Évora

    Inside the Mercado Municipal, this tiny food stand serves up espressos, desserts, sandwiches as well as wines and cocktails.

  • A Tasquinha

    Peso da Régua

    Small and cosy, this tavern dishes out well-prepared regional mainstays with a focus on meat dishes. The portions are generous and the house wine of good…

  • O Fontinha

    The Beiras

    This modest, no-frills restaurant, in a traditional schist house, is good for no-nonsense mountain food such as grilled trout and bife de vaca (steak).

  • Apeadeiro

    Cascais

    With simple decor, this sunny neighbourhood restaurant is known for its superb chargrilled fish and other souped-up Portuguese classics at reasonable…

  • Tapas e Manias

    Guimarães

    Tasty tapas-style Portuguese dishes with a twist are served at this cosy restaurant on Praça de Santiago, with alfresco tables tended to by friendly staff.

  • Casanova

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Signless Casanova seduces with wood-fired pizza that’s thin, crisp and authentically Italian. Bag a table on the riverside terrace (heated in winter).

  • Cafe Belmonte

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Palácio Belmonte's peaceful and beautifully located cafe, with old stone walls and an outdoor terrace, is just a few steps from Castelo de São Jorge.

  • Toma Lá-Dá-Cá

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    There’s always a buzzing crowd filling this Santa Catarina gem, which is famed for its simple classics and roasted-pork dishes with French twists.

  • Cafe Mimoso

    Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela

    A basic, no-frills village cafe where the locals stop by for a drink and chat. It's good for a coffee and a quick snack, say a toasted sandwich.

  • Serralves Restaurant

    Foz do Douro

    Overlooking the park, this museum restaurant rustles up a pretty good lunch buffet, with soup, salads, vegetarian options and desserts.

  • Restaurante Bragança

    Aliados & Bolhão

    This authentic cheapie is rammed with locals tucking into grilled fish and meat at midday. Daily specials run between €5 and €6.50.

  • Manjar do Douro

    The Douro

    Well-known traditional restaurant frequented by business folk at lunchtime and dishing out well-prepared Portuguese mainstays.

  • Ichiban

    Foz do Douro

    This sleek, bright space is the real Japanese deal when it comes to sushi, sashimi and maki – it's as fresh as it comes.

  • O Pescador

    Viana do Castelo

    A simple, friendly, family-run restaurant admired by locals for its good seafood and tasty lunch specials.

  • Sai Cao Posta à Sai Cão

    Restaurante Sai Cão

    Aliados & Bolhão

    If you want glamour, this rough 'n' tumble local haunt is not your place. Tables are illuminated by fluorescent lighting, the footy blares on the TV and…

  • The first shop in Lisbon of the Portuguese artisanal ice cream brand. Flavours vary from ordinary chocolate and strawberry to creations inspired by Portuguese pastries Ovos Moles and Pampilho

    Pascoalini

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    The first shop in Lisbon of the Santarém artisanal ice-cream brand. Flavours vary from ordinary chocolate and strawberry to regional Ribatejo creations…

  • Sitting Area outside Red in Santos

    Red

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    At this shipping container turned casual lunch spot, roast beef is the main ingredient in sandwiches made on the spot (along with home-made fries). The…

  • RO exterior 1

    RO

    Aliados & Bolhão

    Asian food is thin on the ground in Porto; nevertheless, the demand for eastern flavours is mounting, so two Portuguese lads got clever by setting up shop…

  • The tables have marble tops like the typical "tascas" (taverns) and the menu is all about the Portuguese "petiscos" (snacks)

    A Maria Não Deixa

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    The tables have marble tops like typical tascas (taverns) and the menu is all about the Portuguese petiscos (snacks), including staple dishes like octopus…

  • The best popular "bacalhau à brás" in town

    Varina da Madragoa

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    The place is hard to find, but its bacalhau à Brás (shredded cod with onions, eggs and potatoes; feeds two for €9.50) makes this backstreet restaurant in…

  • Customers at the Pastelaria Benard esplanade in Chiado Lisbon

    Pastelaria Benard

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Located in a busy street in Chiado, this cafe and pastry shop opened as a teahouse in 1868. In the cobblestoned esplanade, bright sun-yellow tablecloths…

  • O Corvo's mix and match style

    O Corvo

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    This quaint cafe is located in a small, friendly square in the heart of the Mouraria neighbourhood, offering affordable meals and exceptionally warm and…

  • Carpaccio and tartar by the Old Cathedral

    Ao Pé da Sé

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Tourists flock to this cafe for its proximity to Sé de Lisboa, one of the city's busiest attractions, and the welcoming shade from the esplanade. It…

  • Vegetarian restaurant Organi in Chiado

    Organi

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Organi's well-served dishes are only topped by the attentive service and the outdoor seating option, slightly hidden from the crowds trampling up and down…

  • Power your climb uphill to Castelo de São Jorge with a coffee and pastel de nata at this new cafe in Lisbon

    Pastelaria Santo António

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    This place serves ice cream, waffles and sandwiches, but it's the convenience of having a freshly baked pastel de nata (custard tart) with an espresso on…

  • Light meals at Chiado's Contemporary Art Museum

    Spleen

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    At the new cafeteria of the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado, you can have a drink or a healthy meal in the garden of statues before or…

  • Spanish-inspired tapas in the heart of Lisbon, away from the crowds

    Tapas da Trindade

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Go to Tapas da Trindadeto if you are craving Spanish-inspired tapas and Portuguese petiscos in the city centre but don't want the crowds or the outdoor…

  • Inside Cafe Vertigo in Lisbon

    Vertigo Café

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Vertigo's location between two of the busiest areas in the city, Chiado and Largo do Carmo, makes it a great refuge from the tourist crowds for a drink or…

  • Casa da India

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Despite the name, this is a traditional joint with a Portuguese menu. It's a local haunt with a buzzing, if downmarket, atmosphere (the green and beige…

  • Tik Tak

    Ericeira

    On a picturesque corner in the pedestrian zone, Tik Tak draws plenty of tourists and hip young locals to its open kitchen, jazzy music and tastefully…

  • Vale das Freiras

    Madeira

    Curral das Freiras is known for its chestnuts and this restaurant-cafe specialises in all sorts of dishes made from them. Chestnut soup, liqueurs, cakes,…

  • Carmo

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    On picturesque Largo do Carmo, this fan favourite has elegantly presented Portuguese classics (monkfish rice, bacalhau à Brás), as well as somewhat rarer…

  • Borda D'Agua

    Madeira

    Right on the seafront as the name suggests, this multitasking eatery can serve as a lunchtime quickie for coffee and sandwiches outside, or as a full…

  • Baluarte da Avenida

    Setúbal

    Baluarte serves excellent fish and seafood dishes cooked to perfection without a lot of fuss. Start with local Azeitão cheese, followed by grilled fish or…

  • Ponte Românica

    Pinhão

    Serving traditional Portuguese food with minimal fanfare, Ponte Românica specialises in tasty grilled meat and fish (lamb chops, sea bass, salmon and…

  • Casinha São João

    Ribeira

    With tables gathered under stone arches and big river views from the terrace, this is a charming place for drinks and petiscos. The welcome is warm and…

    • placement: fullWidth
    • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
    • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
    • targeting:
      {
        "position": "superzone"
      }

More destinations you need to see