Lisbon Restaurants and Dining

(Lisbon, Portugal)

Many traditional Portuguese restaurants exist in Lisbon and are frequently family run and fairly cheap, although these by no means dominate the overall dining scene. Tourists will not only be able to sample tasty local dishes, but also enjoy more international flavours, along with plenty of seafood.

The best of Lisbon's restaurants rank highly when compared to European standards and often incorporate many continental and Mediterranean-style ingredients in their dishes. Over the past couple of decades, the number of eateries here has grown dramatically and so tourists should prepare themselves for quite a choice.

Where to Eat

The Bairro Alto area of Lisbon is one of the most vibrant districts, with a healthy selection of restaurants and bars to match, particularly along the Rua da Atalaia, the Rua da Barroca, the Rua do Conde, the Rua da Rosa and the Travessa da Queimada. Most of the wines on the menu will be from some of Portugal's best vineyards and will be the perfect accompaniment to an evening meal, and afterwards, head to one of the many nearby nightclubs.

For the best Portuguese dining experience in the whole of Lisbon, the appealing Alfama area is the place to be and here you will be able to enjoy everything from salted cod (bacalhau) and horse mackerel (scad), to rich pork and beef stews (cozido à portuguesa) or bread soup (açorda). Alfama is an extremely historic part of Lisbon and therefore its restaurants tend to feature the best architecture and character. Most are based on or around the Avenida da Liberdade, and on the neighbouring streets of the Avenida Almirante Reis, the Rua da Alegria, the Rua dos Correeiros and the Rua de São Bento.

A number of Lisbon's most desirable restaurants boast exceptional views across the River Tagus, especially around Santa Luzia. The window seats soon fill up and so reservations are often necessary at these dining venues. If you do need to wait for a table, there is usually a pleasant bar area on hand, or you can always take a stroll next to the river to pass the time.