The 32 best restaurants in Lisbon

The bitoque (a dish with steak, a fried egg, chips and rice served here with a delicious, garlic-heavy sauce) is probably the most famous dish at Adega Solar Minhoto – in fact, it recently made our list of the 10 best steaks in the world. The restaurant specialises in dishes from the Minho area of northern Portugal and you’ll find generous portions of regional comfort food on the menu, from rojões (fried pork) and cabidela (poultry and rice) to bacalhau à minhota and lamprey (available upon request when in season, though there have been better years for it). The restaurant can accommodate around 45 people across the two dining rooms and the outdoor seating area, but it’s best to arrive early as they don’t take reservations.

Named after the idyllic village of Azenhas do Mar, where this restaurant is located, this classic fish and seafood eatery features a glass-walled dining room overlooking the pool and the Azenhas do Mar beach. The views are spectacular, no matter if the skies are blue or if there’s a storm howling and choppy seas. There’s plenty to choose from, from amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams in a garlicky sauce) to octopus salad, from barnacles to crab, and even locally sourced fish sold by weight, which can either be grilled or salt-baked.

Perhaps the most iconic Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal, Belcanto owes its fame to José Avillez and his impeccable team. Ranked 25th in the 50 Best list, and with two Michelin stars, Belcanto offers a unique experience from the moment you step through the door. In an elegant yet relaxed setting, designed to help everyone feel at ease and enjoy the experience, the chef offers two tasting menus. The classics menu (€235) showcases the restaurant’s signature dishes, while the landscapes menu (€250) tells the story of Belcanto’s constant evolution. Next door is vegetarian restaurant Encanto, where Avillez earned a Michelin star in under a year.

Boubou’s opened as a bistro in 2018, where meals quickly turned into feasts. Over time, thanks to her experimentation, Louise Bourrat found her way. Boubou’s is now a creative, dynamic and unique fine-dining restaurant, shaped by the Luso-French chef, who won France’s Top Chef TV show in 2022. There are two tasting menus (one of which is vegetarian), and diners can choose between a seven- and 10-course option (€95-€125). The tasting menus are undoubtedly the best way to get to know Louise and her cooking. The cuisine is international with a French touch, and the menu changes with the seasons and depending on what Louise feels inspired by.

Canalha opened around a year ago, but thanks to its immediate success, it feels as though it has been around for far longer. Credit must go to João Rodrigues, who, after leaving Feitoria (the Michelin-starred restaurant he led for 15 years) and travelling the country with his culinary project Residência, has settled on Rua da Junqueira, opening a straightforward restaurant where the focus is on quality ingredients. The chef explains: ‘At Canalha, we don’t hide our ingredients – you know exactly what you’re eating. It’s very direct cooking. If it’s squid, you’ll be able to identify the squid on your plate.’ This isn’t just a random example – grilled line-caught squid with sheep’s butter (€25) is one of his signature dishes. At the entrance, there’s a display of meat, fish, and seafood to be prepared to your liking, meaning there are plenty of off-menu options too. 

While it's true that steak served on a sizzling hot stone has been its claim to fame for years, there are many reasons why dozens of diners keep returning to Casa dos Passarinhos. This place is almost always busy, which is always a good sign. The menu is extensive, with about thirty starters, plus half a dozen daily specials, mostly grilled and stewed dishes. The grill is exemplary, as our critic José Margarido assures. Whether it's fish or meat, it’s always perfectly cooked. And then there's the fried cuttlefish, which seldom disappoints.

The area is in a state of chaos due to the construction works that have taken over Santa Apolónia, but Casanova remains steadfast in the spot it occupied back when Lux nightclub was the only thing around. Two decades later, interestingly, the nightclub and the pizzeria are the last ones standing. The pizzas continue to draw a devoted crowd. These days, it might not seem all that extraordinary, but it’s worth remembering that back in 2000 (when Maria Paola Porru first opened Casanova) it wasn’t so easy to find good thin, crispy pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven – and despite how common these kinds of pizzerias have become, it’s still hard to find ones where the quality is this high.

Erica Porru's restaurant has established itself as a cult spot in Beato. The daughter of the legendary Maria Paola, founder of the Casanostra and Casanova restaurants, Erica has been forging her own path in the kitchen after a career as a makeup artist in the film industry (to which the restaurant’s name pays homage). It’s no surprise, then, that Clube de Vídeo is filled with beautiful film posters, nor that its clientele is predominantly artists from various disciplines. Open only for lunch, it serves simple, well-executed pasta dishes, from lasagnas to conchiglioni with ricotta and pistachio, and always offers delightful desserts at fair prices, such as panna cotta and tiramisu. All in all, it’s a good vibe.

The owners of Copo Largo, Miguel Rodrigues and Filipe Ramalho, previously worked at other 21st-century taverns, having learned their craft at places like Sal Grosso and the now-closed Salmoura. This is Portuguese cuisine for the post-Maria de Lourdes Modesto, post-Avillez, post-Michelin generation: these are traditional recipes with bite, which often feature daring twists. Here you’ll find sharing plates, with bistro aesthetics and Portuguese flavours, plated without too much fanfare: think croquettes in brioche with jus, beef tongue with chickpeas and pennyroyal, pork with migas (a traditional bread-based dish), and sarrabulho (a pork blood-based dish) rice pudding.

Corrupio was born at the end of 2022, and the vision was clear from the start: focus on Portuguese cuisine, hand-pick the ingredients, and pair the dishes with the finest wines. Behind the counter are two alumni of O Frade: chef Daniel Ferreira and sous-chef Rafael Prates. The counter itself is the centrepiece of the restaurant, designed by Pedrita, who also created the wall panel. Each seat is unique, and the design is distinctive. The menu is perfect for sharing, with standout comforting dishes like the grilled croaker with fresh lemon and coriander rice, or goat with rice, sausages and orange. Be sure to ask about off-menu items as there's always a surprise or two (and from Monday to Friday, there's a separate lunch menu, with traditional Portuguese dishes).