Although Lisbon’s monuments and historic sites are truly impressive, one thing I loved most about our visit there was the vast variety of unique foods and drinks located all throughout the city. Here, I’ve compiled a complete guide to Lisbon’s best bars & restaurants.
Restaurants:
Cafe Madragoa
Cost: $$
Located in the Estrela district of the city, Cafe Madragoa was one of our favorite restaurants in Lisbon. After a long day of exploring, we ventured here for a filling meal and this spot did not disappoint. Not only were our Bife “Madragoa Cafe” and Bacalhau Madragoa dishes unbelievably good and extremely affordable, but the specialized service and attention from the owner herself, really made the experience a memorable one. If you’re looking for a local spot with great food and service, this is it.
Manteigaria
Cost: $
Positioned right off of one of the main streets in the city, Manteigaria has got some of the best pasteis de natas (the national pastry of Portugal) in the city. I was a bit skeptical at first, but was pleasantly surprised by their sweet taste and soft texture and at a price of only 1€, you really can’t beat it!
Mez Cais
Cost: $$
We stumbled upon this place on our last day in Lisbon and while we had loved the traditional Portuguese dishes we had eaten up to that point, we were all in the mood to mix-up our diet a bit. We were all pleasantly surprised by how good this Mexican food is.
Nicolau Lisboa
Cost: $$
A fellow blogger friend had recommended Nicolau Lisboa and I’m so glad that we ended up checking it out! Not only is it super cute and of course, Instagram-worthy, but the food was just as good. I started off with a mimosa (of course) and paired it with a Nutella & Strawberry Tapioca. My dining companion had the Eggs Florentine. If you’re looking for a trendy and health-focused spot in Lisbon, this is it! I would highly recommend getting there early if you’re looking to walk right in as there can be a bit of wait later in the morning.
O Lavrador
Cost: $$
Located right around the corner from our gorgeous Airbnb, O Lavrador was our go-to spot for a quick lunch or dinner. We had lots of cod, sardines, steak and wine over the course of our many meals here and I’d highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a true local experience.
Osteria Cucina di Amici
Cost: $$$
Such a great homemade modern-style Italian restaurant! With a small number of tables in the space and a small staff, Osteria Cucina di Amici is very customer-service focused. We tried a range of beet pasta, vegetable lasagna, meatballs and more. Our only complaint was that the plates were a bit smaller than we had expected, which could have been due to the fact that we were on our feet all day and had worked up quite an appetite.
Pastelerias
Cost: $
Known as small local Portuguese bakeries, these tasty spots are scattered all around the city and are your best bet for a quick and delicious breakfast and brunch at a reasonable price. Spots like these were where we ate almost every morning of our Portugal adventure.
Ponto Final
Cost: $$$
A friend had recommended Ponto Final and it did not disappoint. Located on the other side of Lisbon (across the water), this restaurant offers a nice escape from the busy vibe of the city. In order to get here, you’ll need to take the ferry from Cais de Sodre to Cacilhas and then walk about 10 minutes from the stop to the restaurant. Though it seems like quite a trek, it’s worth it for the gorgeous city views and the local ambiance. To this day, we can’t stop talking about the steak that we had there, which I guess means that we’ll need to go back.
Cervejaria Ramiro
Cost: $$$
Cervejaria Ramiro came highly recommended by locals and tourists alike, so despite our doubts upon checking in once we got there, we decided to wait and experience it ourselves. Overall, we ended up waiting about an hour to get in and were escorted through the three-floor restaurant, which was packed to the brim with people. The menu is a bit daunting, as it’s all priced out by the kilo, which we were obviously unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, our waiter was unwilling to guide us, only recommending the most expensive dish on the menu, which was 100€. Overall, the food we ate was decent but didn’t outweigh the lack of customer service that we experienced. Although it came highly recommend, I would not return, as I feel that there are more authentic local restaurants to experience in the area.
Bars:
PARK
Cost: $$$
One of the hot spots in the city, PARK rooftop bar is always packed with a mix of locals and tourists. Located on top of a parking garage, the space itself is underwhelming but the views of the city and the vibe of the place make it worth the hype. Unlike some spots nearby, these drinks will run you around 7€ (around $8.30), rather than around 4€ anywhere else, so come prepared to spend a bit more money.
El Chanta
Cost: $
Located in the LX Factory, this is great spot to take a break and recharge yourself. After our 7-hour flight from NYC, we were running on no sleep, but still wanted to explore the city. This was a great outdoor cafe for an espresso and of course a glass of wine. Very reasonably priced and away from the main strip of the LX Factory, it was the perfect option for a quick break.
Looking to explore more about Lisbon? Check out my Top 10 Things to Do in Lisbon and Best Day Trips from Lisbon posts.
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