Where to Eat and Stay in Lisbon, Portugal

Take to Lisbon’s beautifully-paved streets and you’ll find restaurants teeming with seafood, the linchpin of the capital’s gastro scene. Fresh sardines and octopus aside, there are plenty of other local delicacies to feast on while in the city, from juicy beef steaks to plump custard tarts.

Trailblazing chefs and fresh twists on treasured recipes have catapulted Portugal’s capital city to new culinary heights – and the world is taking notice. Gastro enthusiasts flock here for a food-fueled adventure, ready to eat their way through new-wave dishes, Portuguese classics and street-food wonders.

Soak up Lisbon’s atmosphere and sample the delicacies along the way with a stay in the city. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the perfect hotel for your time here, with swanky boutique pads and historic stays peppered throughout the city’s many districts. Begin planning your next European city break with our guide to the best places to eat and stay in Lisbon.

Best restaurants in Lisbon

For seafood: Cervejaria Ramiro

Location: Av. Alm. Reis 1 H, 1150-007 Lisboa, Portugal

Discover seafood nirvana at Cervejaria Ramiro – it’s been a local favorite since opening its doors in the 1950s. Authentic dishes are the order of the day, with giant tiger prawns, barnacles and crab among the bounty of fresh catches on offer.

Be sure to order a plate of enormous scarlet shrimp – it’s touted as the must-try dish at Cervejaria Ramiro. The Portuguese tend to do things a little differently, so make like a local and order a tender prego (steak sandwich) for dessert. That’s right, dessert!

For steak: Café de São Bento

Location: R. de São Bento 212, 1200-821 Lisboa, Portugal

There’s no better place in the Portuguese capital to savor a prime slab of beef than at Café de São Bento. Relax at a table inside the inviting brasserie and indulge in a mammoth succulent steak, served up with a fried egg and crispy fries, perfect for dipping into the restaurant’s signature creamy peppery sauce.

For sweet treats: Pastéis de Belém

Location: R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal

Craving a sweet snack? Look out for the blue awning of Pastéis de Belém. Head inside to pick up the city’s iconic dessert, the pastel de nata – a crispy puff pastry nest filled with a creamy lemon-tinged custard and dusted lightly with cinnamon.

More than 20,000 of the heavenly delights are made onsite every day, crafted using a prized 180-year-old recipe said to have originated within the walls of the local Mosteiro dos Jerónimos monastery.

For fine dining: Federico

Location: Rua São Pedro de Alcântara 39-49, Lisbon 1250-237, Portugal

For a luxury dining experience, head to Federico the restaurant and bar residing in Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel. It’s the ideal place for food lovers who enjoy the perfect wine pairing with every dish. Serving lunch and dinner, there’s something for everyone to tantalize the tastebuds, from beef tartare to a classic Caesar salad.

For traditional Portuguese cooking: A Taberna da Rua das Flores

Location: Rua das Flores 103, 1200-194 Lisboa, Portugal

This lively Lisbon tavern sticks to its roots, serving up superb staples of Portugal’s culinary scene. Settle down at one of the tables in the intimate eatery and a friendly member of staff will bring over a giant blackboard showcasing the daily changing menu for you to choose from. Expect world-class salt cod dishes, a magnificent way with mushrooms and perfectly pink tuna.

For street food: Time Out Market

Location: Mercado da Ribeira, Avenida 24 de Julho, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal

Discover award-winning custard tarts, lip-smacking steak sandwiches and fried cuttlefish all under one roof at Time Out Market Lisbon. Browse more than 50 stalls at Mercado da Ribeira and feast on your favorite dishes at one of the wooden benches lining the heart of the space. There’s something here to suit the whole family, from delicious warming soups to cooling artisanal Italian ice-cream.

For international-inspired cuisine: Sea Me Peixaria Moderna

Location: Rua do Loreto 21, 1200-241 Lisboa, Portugal

Park your inhibitions at the door and let the imaginative chefs at Sea Me introduce you to a new take on seafood. The crème de la crème of Portuguese and Japanese cooking are fused together to form the menu, showcasing a mixture of fish dishes that nod to Asia.

Savor the sublime blow-torched sardine nigiri, try seared tuna with wasabi ice cream or take a bite out of sea bass-topped clam uramaki.

Best hotels in Lisbon

Memmo Principe Real

Location: R. Dom Pedro V 56 J, 1250-094 Lisboa, Portugal

Relax after a long day exploring at one of the city’s best boutique hotels – Memmo Principe Real. Treat yourself to a stay at this five-star hotel and enjoy an incredibly luxurious room decked out with an inviting bed and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer incredible views of the city. Head to the hotel’s rooftop and take a dip in the heated terrace pool, where even more beautiful vistas await.

Brown’s Central Hotel

Location: R. dos Sapateiros 144, 1100-042 Lisboa, Portugal

Behind the pistachio façade of the 18th-century building, you’ll find a contemporary-clad interior awash with color. Every one of the rooms at Brown’s Central Hotel is artfully decorated and comes with a private bathroom fitted with a heavenly rainfall shower. Unwind in your cozy room, before heading down to The Bar, where jazz music and cocktails are the order of the day. Head to Brown’s Brasserie for a bite to eat, whether it’s a pre-sightseeing breakfast or a post-swim lunch.

Altis Avenida Hotel

Location: R. 1º de Dezembro 120, 1200-360 Lisboa, Portugal

Experience the glamor of the 1940s with a stay at the Altis Avendia Hotel. Relax in an Art Deco-inspired bedroom, where soft Egyptian cotton bedding and a marble-clad bathroom add luxurious touches to your Lisbon stay. Take the lift to the top floor and enjoy breakfast at the Rossio restaurant with panoramic views of the city.

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