The 21 Absolute Best Places To Eat And Drink In Lisbon, Portugal

The Time Out Market, also known as Mercado da Ribeira (Ribeira Market), is a great place to begin your food adventure, as it features some of the city's best options. Wander around the fresh produce market for a sense of what's in season, then visit a few of the stalls to see how each has used it.

Grab a few dishes to take to the long communal tables or sidle up next to a fish or oyster bar to eat, drink, and people-watch. This is an excellent opportunity to try a variety of seafood, too, including freshly grilled sardines and bacalhau: two classic dishes for which Portugal is known. This newer-to-the-scene market was opened in 2014 and is a popular tourist attraction for good reason. Choose between 26 restaurants, eight bars, and a dozen other shops — or visit as many as possible; the market is your oyster!

Go for the food, but stay for the view. Bahr, which sits on the fifth floor of the award-winning Bairro Alto Hotel, offers guests extraordinary views over the city and nearby River Tagus while serving exquisite cuisine prepared by chef Bruno Rocha and his innovative and energized team. Overseeing the restaurant as creative director is Michelin star-winner and proud Lisboeta native chef Nuno Mendes (via BigHospitality).

Bahr prides itself in capturing Lisbon's creative and bohemian spirit, paying close attention to detail while avoiding the pretension often associated with a fine dining experience. Enjoy a leisurely dinner from its all-day or exclusive dinner menu, inspired by the second-to-none local suppliers and producers of Lisbon, with dishes featuring raw beef pica-pau tacos, seabass, topinambour (or sunchokes), and dashi beurre blanc. Then, finish the evening off with a nightcap on the rooftop bar.

Often at the finest of restaurants, there is a missed opportunity for diners and chefs to connect: for visitors to see the faces of those who have used their talents to prepare carefully chosen ingredients, and for cooks to appreciate seeing the happy and curious faces of whom they have cooked for. The team behind Loco fills in this gap, with chefs introducing themselves while presenting their dishes to diners and having the chance to describe the meal and answer any questions. It is an intimate and memorable time for all involved.

From the live tree growing in the center of the building to the thoughtful presentation of each Portuguese-inspired dish, Loco feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that flies slightly under the radar. Even booking a table requires an email exchange between Loco staff and patrons, discussing allergies and food preferences to create a customized menu for each person. The dishes remain a mystery until you turn up and sit down, but let us assure you the suspense only adds to the experience.

Not to be confused with pastéis de nata, Pastéis de Belém is its similar-but-unique cousin with a history that pre-dates the former. In the 1800s, next to one of the monasteries in Belém, Portugal, was a sugar cane refinery known for producing baked goods to sell within its connected shop (via Pastéis de Belém). By 1834, all monasteries and convents were forced to shut down; however, someone from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, or Heironymite Monastery, offered to make pastries to help keep the shop (and the monastery) afloat. Eventually, they were called "Pastéis de Belém."

Though they are no longer created solely by monks, the recipe for this treat has remained true to its original form, differentiating it from the modern-day pastéis de nata. To taste a Pastéis de Belém is to taste a bit of Portuguese history.

At the eatery of the same name, the pastries are made inside its self-titled "Secret Room." There are, of course, other offerings as well, but you would be remiss to stop by and not have this once-monk-made treat.

Tabernas or "tascas" are a much-loved tradition in Portugal; they are community gathering places (think tavern or pub) known for serving regional food and drink with a convivial spirit. They're casual, open late into the night, and speak to Portuguese hospitality's warmth and generosity (via Culinary Backstreets).

The menu at Taberna da Rua das Flores changes daily based on season and availability. Handwritten on a large chalkboard rather than printed on paper, staff may carry the board tableside from which diners can choose their meal. When the dish has sold out, it's simply crossed off the list. Here, there are no reservations; as the website says, you show up, put your name on a waiting list, and walk around to have a drink or snack while you wait. 

Everything from the décor to the service is a throwback to traditional Portugal. It comes highly recommended by chefs and locals (via Food and Travel). City Guide Lisbon notes that it's also a cash-only establishment, so make sure to come prepared to pay the old-school way.

Cervejaria Ramiro was initially opened in 1956 as a small "pasture house," according to its website. As the establishment slowly began to incorporate seafood onto the menu, it became clear this was what customers wanted even more than their meaty offerings, and the concept stuck. Now, it's primarily a seafood restaurant and brewery with the occasional meat offering; it is the place to go for the best the Atlantic and River Tagus can offer.

Both the establishment and menu are an ode to the sea, with crustation-themed keychains, mugs, and cushions available for purchase. Their menu will make you long for your next seaside escape with simple dishes highlighting the brilliant varieties of shrimp, clams, lobster, barnacles, and more, which are freshly caught and served daily. 

Pap'Açôrda has been leading Lisbon's restaurant industry since it was first up and running in the early '80s. The restaurant was first located in Bairro Alto, helping the city become one of the hottest and most happening neighborhoods. In 2016, it went from the frying pan right into the fire itself, relocating to the Time Out Market.

The restaurant, which now offers takeaway options thanks to its new location, is still under the watchful eye and masterful hand of chef Manuela Brandão, who has been at the helm for over 35 years (via Taste of Lisboa).

Pap'Açôrda is well known for serving modern interpretations of Portuguese classics like shrimp açôrda and royal açôrda –- where shrimp and lobster replace what would traditionally be cod, sitting on top of a flavorful bread soup. Whatever you do, make sure to order the chocolate mousse here; it is nothing short of famous amongst local crowds and critics alike (via Time Out Market).

Is there anything Belcanto hasn't been nominated for or named these days? Certainly not much. The restaurant, run by chef José Avillez since 2012, was awarded two Michelin stars in 2022 (via Michelin) and proudly placed at 46 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants. We aren't the only ones to report this is one of the most outstanding restaurants you could visit in the city.

To make the most of your experience, choose one of three menus, including the Chef's Table selection: A bespoke combination of the restaurant's other two offerings, exclusively available when reserving a spot at the chef's table. This is an opportunity to watch Chef Avillez perform his kitchen alchemy up close.

Unlike other fine dining restaurants, which only offer dinner menus, Belcanto offers guests a la carte options, too. Though there is no specific children's menu, they, too, are welcome to dine alongside their parents. That said, we'd imagine only those with an adventurous spirit and sophisticated palate, whose parents don't mind paying adult prices, would appreciate the experience.

Tinned fish, particularly sardines and tuna, are amongst the best things Lisbon does. So much so that an entire market is devoted to expectational, artisan products encased in unique and often colorful tins. The canned fish is known as conservas, and while it has become more popular on a global scale in recent years, it is anything but a new fad here.

Conserveira de Lisboa is a nearly century-old company, opening its doors in 1930, and specializes in tinned fish (via Conserveira de Lisboa). Visit their store to browse their beautifully packaged products, including cod, tuna, sardines, and squid, each in various oil-based marinades or spicy tomato sauces. While the location is more a storefront than a sit-down establishment, its products make for the perfect edible artwork and unique souvenirs for any food lover –- or to bring joy and a delicious lunch on a rainy day when you rediscover the container tucked away in your pantry.

With fashion reporters predicting that the red and pink color combination is in for 2023, Zunzum's tomato and bubblegum accented interior is ahead of its time. ZunZum focuses its efforts on a modern interpretation of Portuguese cuisine. Based on visuals alone, it draws inspiration from a myriad of places, creating artfully styled plates and vibrantly colored cocktails which are almost too beautiful to eat (via Instagram). Forbes attributes this to the chef and proprietor Marlene Viera's "dessert sensibility." Viera originally planned to open a dessert-only bar, a venture currently on hold (via Forbes).

ZunZum is a relatively new addition to Lisbon's restaurant scene, opened and run by Viera; she's an experienced chef with a distinctive viewpoint and over 28 years of experience (via ZunZum). ZunZum's menu is just as vibrant as its design, with options like pink swordfish ceviche with passion fruit and red pepper and octopus pica-pau, amongst many others from which to choose, and an extensive wine list featuring Portuguese varietals.

Fancy eating brunch, lunch, or sipping a coffee on a converted, propped-up double-decker bus filled with some of the young creatives of Lisbon? If so, head to Village Underground! Founded in 2014 by Mariana Duarte Silva (via Culture Trip), it comprises 14 repurposed shipping containers and two buses. It is conveniently near LX Factory, so consider it a one-stop venture to the neighborhood of Alcantara for a blast of creative inspiration!

Though good vegetarian and vegan options are available alongside burgers, wraps, and other items on the menu, the creative buzz of the atmosphere and the unique experience also draw you in. An excellent place to linger into the evening hours, enjoy a range of evening concerts and performances, and a few cocktails, too (via Village Underground). And if you're the more active type, spend time in Village Underground's mini skate park, feel the breeze on the outdoor swing, or simply take a stroll around this living piece of art.