Lisbon is awash with fantastic places to eat, you just have to know where to look for the best ones. Forget looking, here is a list of Lisbon’s tastiest restaurants just for you!
D’Bacalhau
They say there are over 1000 ways to create bacalhau the famous Portuguese dried cod and D’Bacalhau, located in Parque das Nações, gives you a wide choice of options: grilled (“bacalhau á brás”) with cream (“bacalhau com natas”) with a touch of olive oil (“bacalhau à lagareiro”) is a tempting signature dish. www.restaurantebacalhau.com
Bica do Sapato
Lisbon’s hippest restaurant to be seen in and for people watching. Set in a renovated riverfront warehouse in front of Santa Apolonia train station, it features contemporary Portuguese dishes in a minimalist setting.
Ministerium
A bar, restaurant (cantina) and a night club under one roof! A wide variety of sandwiches, steaks, salads, cheeses and desserts, Ministerium Cantina’s Chef Nuno Bergonse combines “youth” and “ambition” in his all his dishes. At weekends, chairs and tables are removed to welcome the best local and international DJs and their electronic beats.
Duetos da Sé
A conversation and a handshake between gastronomy and the arts in this restaurant next to Lisbon’s famous Cathedral (Sé). Enjoy tapas-style snacks and Portuguese mains whilst listening to piano recitals, and jazz and fado performances.
Belcanto
Now with 2 Michelin Stars, the latest awarded in November 2014, Belcanto is a haute cuisine restaurant managed by legendary Portuguese Chef José Avillez. Enjoy new Portuguese cuisine in an atmosphere that still provides the romance of the Chiado district.
The Decadente Restaurante & Bar
One of the most popular restaurants in Lisbon, you can get brunches, lunches and dinners here. It specialises in serving affordable, locally produced fare in a cosy dining room. Furniture from the 70s, design magazines from that decade, soft music and charming staff all add to the charm.
Flores do Bairro
A bistro-style eatery that reinterprets regional Portuguese cuisine in a quirky but refined way. The restaurant, located on the ground floor of the very hip and trendy Bairro Alto Hotel, offer great views of Luís de Camões Square and Rua das Flores, right in the heart of Lisbon’s Bairro Alto district.
Maria da Mouraria
One of the best ways to grasp Lisbon’s culture is by having an authentic Portuguese meal while experiencing a fado performance, the wistful and plaintive songs of lost loves. This restaurant and fado house is named after and located in the former home of Lisbon’s first fado singer, Maria da Severa, and serves up traditional Portuguese fare and fado.
www.mariadamouraria.pt
Mini Bar Teatro
Chef José Avillez’s first gourmet bar in Lisbon and found in the São Luiz Theatre (Chiado). A menu of popular cocktails, wines, beers as well as varied gastronomic choices to suit all palates.
Confeitaria de Belém
No trip to Lisbon should miss out on this legendary bakery. Located close to the landmark Jerónimos Monastery, this is where the famous pastéis de Belém originated, now Portugal’s national dish. Legend has it, only three people in the world have the original recipe for these sweet egg-custard tarts, dusted with cinnamon and sugar. The tradition at the bakery is that the tarts should be eaten in pairs.
Getting to Lisbon
Direct flights to Lisbon operate from London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Bristol with TAP Portugal, BA, easyJet and Ryanair.
For more information on restaurants in Lisbon please visit www.visitlisboa.com.
