The Best Restaurants in Lisbon: My Favorites for Lunch and Dinner
After five visits I feel like a bit of a local in Lisbon. The city has so many good restaurants that I discover new favorites on every (solo) trip. From vegetarian haute cuisine and a pharmacy-turned-restaurant to a rooftop bar with the best sunset in the city. Lisbon welcomes solo travellers with open arms, and a table for one raises no eyebrows. Try the typical Portuguese bacalhau and freshly baked pastéis de nata. Enjoy a cold glass of vinho verde while somewhere in the distance a fado singer performs a song. These are the best restaurants in Lisbon! Bom apetite!
Last updated: 2026.
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Encanto | best restaurants in Lisbon
Best restaurants in Lisbon
1. Encanto by José Avillez
Vegetarian haute cuisine at its very best. The dishes are works of art and true taste explosions. We had a fantastic evening here: every course was a surprise. Top chef José Avillez runs several restaurants in Lisbon, one of which has a Michelin star. His restaurant Mini Bar is also on this list. Read my full review in my blog post about Encanto.
Largo de São Carlos 10 — €€€
2. Antiga Wine Bar
During my last visit to Lisbon I had lunch here two days in a row. After five years they know who I am and that makes the home-away-from-home feeling even stronger. The homemade tapenade with bread, the olives, the seafood, the wine: everything is delicious. The clams à Bulhão Pato are the best in Lisbon! Antiga in Alfama is also an ideal spot for solo travellers. There are often more people eating alone, so you will feel comfortable straight away. Pro tip: bring a journal or a book, so you always have something to do. Order a glass of the ‘Astronauta’ sauvignon blanc. That was my favorite wine there.
R. Santo António da Sé 10 — €€
Prado Wine Bar and Antiga Wine Bar | best restaurants in Lisbon
3. Prado Wine Bar
The culinary highlight of my last visit. Prado combines local ingredients with natural wines and the flavours are genuinely surprising. Order the mussels: fresh, simple and incredibly good. It is a small restaurant, so book ahead!
Travessa das Pedras Negras 2 — €€
4. Rosamar
This is the restaurant where I arrived as a solo yolo guest and was spontaneously given a glass of bubbles with the words: “complimentary for our solo guests.” That is not something you experience everywhere in Europe. In Barcelona they are considerably less happy with “just” one person at the table. It set the tone for a wonderful evening. The kitchen is Portuguese with a modern edge, the interior is beautiful and the service is warm and attentive.
R. da Rosa 317 — €€
Fabric and Rosamar | best restaurants in Lisbon
5. Time Out Mercado da Ribeira
The food halls of Lisbon. At this food market you pick dishes from stalls run by some of the best restaurants and food shops in the city. The choice is enormous and it is hard to decide. I go for the traditional Portuguese bacalhau with truffle oil and chorizo, a couple of croquettes from the Croqueteria with cod and ink, and I end my food fest with a divine ice cream from the famous Santini. There is something for everyone. It gets very busy here and you may end up eating elbow to elbow. Keep that in mind. Not ideal for a romantic dinner, but perfect for an easy solo lunch.
Mercado da Ribeira, Av. 24 de Julho 50 — €
6. Familjen
A Scandinavian-inspired restaurant in the heart of Lisbon and very popular. The standout dish on the menu: Green Asparagus, pistachio, rhubarb and dill. Every cool Lisbon local seems to have this place on their list, so booking ahead is recommended. The interior is warm, the service friendly and the wine list surprisingly good.
R. Machadinho 56 — €€
7. Fabric – best restaurants in Lisbon
I had a fantastic lunch here! Order the whipped feta with okra and freshly baked pita bread. Fabric also has an excellent selection of natural wines. I ended up here spontaneously and stayed far longer than planned. There is also a lovely terrace outside. Catch more of my Lisbon finds on my Instagram.
Rua de S. Paulo 190, Cais do Sodré — €€
Time Out Mercado | best restaurants in Lisbon
8. Mini Bar Teatro
This special restaurant is located in an old theatre. The menu plays into that brilliantly. Choose from ‘support actors’, ‘dramas’, ‘comedies’ and ‘leading ladies’. The twelve courses include an ‘explosive olive’ and a ‘Margarita apple’. The absolute highlight: a homemade Ferrero Rocher with edible gold leaf. Read my full blog post about Mini Bar Teatro for all the details.
Mini Bar Teatro, R. António Maria Cardoso 58 — €€€
ALL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN LISBON
9. Rosa da Rua
A happy accident. I was on my way to A Cevicheria, a Lisbon hotspot with a giant papier-mâché octopus hanging from the ceiling. They do not take reservations and there were about twenty people waiting outside, so back to Rosa da Rua we went. What a cosy little place. Excellent traditional Portuguese food from the buffet. Two of my favorites: the squid stuffed with chorizo and the chickpeas with cod. The ladies who served us made us feel like we had known them for years. Warm, homely and the prices are friendly too.
Rosa da Rua, R. da Rosa 265 — €€
Petit Café | restaurant tips Lisbon
10. Petit Café
After a long walk through the hills of Lisbon I crash, slightly overheated, onto the terrace of Petit Café in Alfama, where a kind guitarist plays Brazilian songs in the background. While I work through the tentacles of my octopus and sip on a good glass of Portuguese white wine (they certainly know how to fill a glass over here), a beautiful antique tram rolls past and I can feel myself easing back into the slow Lisbon pace of life. Petit Café is also a wine bar, so ask for a recommendation. And whatever you do, leave room for the passion fruit tiramisu.
Petit Café, Largo São Martinho — €€
11. Pharmacia
A Lisbon classic that has stood the test of time. Pharmacia is located in the Apothecary Museum and is decorated accordingly: pepper and salt in medicine vials, your bottle of wine served in an old medicine box with a big red cross on it. Order an Ibuprofeno or a Morphino cocktail and you will feel better immediately. Female top chef Susana Felicidade runs the kitchen. The sweet potato cookies with crème fraîche and salmon are a must. The atmosphere inside is my favorite: the garden reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland.
Pharmacia, R. Mal. Saldanha 1 — €€
Pharmacia and Mama Shelter | best restaurants in Lisbon
12. Mama Shelter Rooftop Bar – best restaurants in Lisbon
Hotel Mama Shelter has an amazing rooftop bar where DJs play regularly. Order a cocktail and enjoy the fantastic view over the city. The snacks are great too, so you are guaranteed to stay far longer than planned.
R. do Vale de Pereiro 19 — €€
Special cuisine at Oven
13. Oven – best restaurants in Lisbon
Exceptional Indian and Nepalese food at the highest level! Chef Hari Chapagain was born in Nepal and serves authentic Indian and Nepalese flavours with a modern edge. The star of the restaurant is the traditional tandoor: specially made for this restaurant in clay and copper, reaching temperatures of up to 400 degrees. There is only one like it in the whole of Lisbon! Order the naan, the grilled lamb chops or the chicken tikka and ask the staff about spice levels. Fun fact: in 2025 Oven became the first Nepalese restaurant to be included in the Michelin Guide Portugal. Reservations are essential.
R. dos Fanqueiros 232 — €€€
Looking for the best places to shop in Lisbon? Read my guide to shopping in Lisbon.
Best hotels in Lisbon
– Click on the names for rooms and rates –
Browns Central Hotel: my absolute favorite. Perfectly located in Chiado, warm interior and a true home away from home.
Hotel Hotel, Member of Design Hotels: for anyone who cares about design. Every corner is considered and the location is excellent.
Casa do Barão: a restored 18th-century palace in the heart of the city. Intimate and full of character.
Alecrim ao Chiado: atmospheric, affordable and consistently well reviewed. Walking distance from all the best restaurants.
Dear Lisbon, Charming House: a stunning boutique hotel with a pool in the heart of Lisbon. Every room has its own story.
AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado: rooftop terrace, excellent service and one of the best value options on this list.
ROOMS AND RATES BROWNS CENTRAL HOTEL
Brown’s Central Hotel
Best things to do in Lisbon
Lisbon has plenty more to offer beyond its restaurants. After five visits, these are the experiences I still recommend to everyone.
Day trip to Sintra, Pena Palace, Cascais and Cabo da Roca
Fairy-tale palaces and a dramatic Atlantic coastline, all within an hour of the city. Entry tickets included, queues skipped.
BOOK THE SINTRA AND CASCAIS DAY TOUR
Private city tour by eco tuk-tuk
The best way to cover Alfama, Mouraria and the finest viewpoints without destroying your legs on the steep cobblestones.
Food and wine small group walking tour
Pastéis de nata, fresh seafood, local wine and the best cheese you have ever tasted. This tour hits every market and hidden tasca most tourists walk straight past.
Sunset cruise with drinks on a spacious yacht
Two hours on the Tagus with the city glowing behind you and a drink in hand. The perfect end to a day of eating and wandering.
Belém walking tour with Jerónimos Monastery ticket
One of the most impressive buildings in Portugal, with entry included. Combine it with a stop at Pastéis de Belém for the original pastel de nata, made to the same recipe since 1837.
ALL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN LISBON
Restaurant Familjen | best restaurants in Lisbon
Getting there and staying connected
Lisbon is well connected from most European cities with direct flights. If you want to explore beyond the city, I always compare rental cars via Discover Cars: great rates and plenty of pick-up points across Portugal. For an airport transfer, WelcomePickups is my go-to: fixed price, no surprises.
Staying connected in Portugal is easy. I always travel with Saily: download an eSIM in minutes and stay online from the moment you land. No roaming fees, no SIM card stress. Order your Saily eSIM here.
THE BEST RENTAL CARS FOR YOUR PORTUGAL ROAD TRIP
Lisbon is also a great base for day trips. I have a complete guide to Ericeira, the charming surf village 45 minutes away. Want to go further? Read my Madeira travel guide if you want to extend your Portugal trip to the islands. Looking for the best places to shop? Read my guide to shopping in Lisbon. And for the food lovers: my favorite brunch spots in Lisbon are also online.
Best restaurants in Lisbon: frequently asked questions
What are the best restaurants in Lisbon?
My absolute top picks are Encanto for vegetarian haute cuisine, Antiga Wine Bar in Alfama for a relaxed lunch with excellent wine and Prado Wine Bar for the most memorable dinner of your trip. For surprising dishes head to Oven or Familjen. For a theatrical evening Mini Bar Teatro is unmissable, and for a cosy, affordable meal Rosa da Rua never disappoints.
Is Lisbon good for solo travellers?
Absolutely. Lisbon is one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe. The Portuguese welcome you everywhere and a table for one raises no eyebrows. At Antiga Wine Bar there are often other solo diners and at Rosamar I was given a complimentary glass of bubbles as a solo guest.
Do you need to book restaurants in Lisbon in advance?
For popular spots like Encanto, Prado Wine Bar and Mini Bar Teatro, booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially in high season. At Time Out Mercado and Rosa da Rua you can usually just walk in.
What typical Portuguese dishes should you try in Lisbon?
Bacalhau (salt cod) in all its variations, pastéis de nata at Manteigaria, fresh seafood like mussels and octopus and a cold glass of vinho verde. At Time Out Mercado you can try a bit of everything in one visit.
Which neighbourhood has the best restaurants in Lisbon?
Alfama and Chiado are my favorites. Alfama has the most authentic atmosphere, with trams, laundry on the lines and fado drifting through the streets. Chiado is livelier and offers the widest mix of restaurants, from budget to fine dining.
ALL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN LISBON
- Find the best hotels in Lisbon at Booking.com
- Book tours and activities at GetYourGuide.com
- Compare rental cars at Discover Cars
- Book your airport transfer via WelcomePickups
- Get your eSIM at Saily
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