Must-see restaurants in Portugal

  • AUGUST 12, 2017: People dining inside the Time Out Market food hall in Mercado da Ribeira at Cais do Sodre.
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    Mercado da Ribeira

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Doing trade in fresh fruit and veg, fish and flowers since 1892, this domed market hall has been the word on everyone's lips since Time Out transformed…

  • Porto restaurant POIs

    Euskalduna Studio

    Aliados & Bolhão

    Fairly-priced, fuss-free fine dining comes in the form of Euskalduna Studio, a smart 16-person restaurant in a well-heeled Porto district, where guests can…

  • Fresh Portuguese tarts at Antiga Confeitaria de Belem.

    Antiga Confeitaria de Belém

    Belém

    Since 1837 this patisserie has been transporting locals to sugar-coated nirvana with heavenly pastéis de Belém. The crisp pastry nests are filled with…

  • Casinha Velha

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    The best culinary experience in central Portugal begins insanely: an epic cow's, sheep's and goat's cheese cart, arranged regionally, along with black…

  • The Yeatman

    Vila Nova de Gaia

    The Yeatman is a two-star restaurant in Porto within a spectacularly-stylish hotel of the same name. The tasting menu of 14 dishes is the brainchild of…

  • Pinóquio

    Baixa & Rossio

    Busy Pinóquio is easy to miss as it's tucked into a praça corner partially obstructed by a souvenir kiosk. Dressed in white tablecloths against pea-green…

  • Gelataria Nannarella

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    Seatless Nannarella is squeezed into little more than a doorway and serves up Lisbon's best gelato. Roman transplant Constanza Ventura churns out 34…

  • Casa Bota Feijão

    Parque das Nações

    Don't be fooled by the nondescript decor and railroad-track views – when a tucked-away place is this crowded with locals at lunchtime midweek, it must be…

  • Mercado da Baixa

    Baixa & Rossio

    This tented market/glorious food court has been slinging cheese, wine, smoked sausages and other gourmet goodies since 1855. It's fantastic fun to stroll…

  • Chef Henrique Sa Pessoa's new Iberian fusion cuisine restaurant

    Tapisco

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    Michelin-starred Lisbon chef Henrique Sá Pessoa's venture into Príncipe Real may seem obvious (trans-Iberian tapas) but in reality Spain and Portugal don…

  • Typical Portuguese food at the most popular tasca in Mouraria

    O Zé da Mouraria

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Don’t be fooled by the saloon-like doors, there’s a typical Portuguese tasca (tavern) inside: homey local cuisine, blue-and-white-tiled walls, chequered…

  • Bairro de Avillez

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Step into the latest culinary dream by Portugal's most famous chef – Michelin-starred maestro José Avillez – who has set up his gastronomic dream…

  • Último Porto

    Lisbon

    An absolute local's secret for a reason, this top seafooder takes an act of God to find. Hidden among the shipping-container cranes of the Port of Lisbon,…

  • Ti-Natércia

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    'Aunt' Natércia and her downright delicious Portuguese home cooking is a tough ticket: there are a mere six tables and they fill up fast. She'll talk your…

  • Confraria

    Alto Alentejo

    This outstanding restaurant serves up delectable plates of regional fare showcasing whatever is fresh and seasonal. The menu is limited and mostly meat…

  • Casa Mateus

    Sesimbra

    Upgrade from ubiquitous grilled fish at this cosy dining room drenched in hardwood and old stone. In 2013, husband, wife and son team Carlos, Cristina and…

  • Regional Flavours

    Funchal

    Take a superb location on pedestrianised Rua da Carreira, a team plucked from top Madeiran restaurants and an inspired owner, and the result is one of the…

  • Alcoa

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    You may have seen it in Lisbon, but this heralded pastelaria (pastry shop) hails from Alcobaça, sitting front and centre across from the monastery hawking…

  • Restaurante António Padeiro

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    If the monks had not pigged out at the Alcobaça monastery (their gluttony was eventually noticed), they would have flocked to this wonderful, elegant-but…

  • O Abocanhado

    Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês

    With its stunning panoramic terrace high above the Rio Homem, this gorgeously situated restaurant is a temple to the finest ingredients that the…

  • Bettina & Niccolò Corallo

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    Few chocolates command such undying devotion, but this family-run transplant from São Tomé and Príncipe elicits freakish enthusiasm for its thin artisan…

  • Bistro 100 Maneiras

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    The Bosnian mastermind behind Bairro Alto's 100 Maneiras also oversees this creatively charged Chiado bistro. Start with the namesake 100 Maneiras Strong…

  • Ao Largo

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Leiria's most enjoyable spot comes courtesy of friendly wine-lover Miguel, who opened a restaurant with his sister and his girlfriend, combined their…

  • Tres Pipos

    Viseu

    You'll need your own wheels but it's well worth searching out this convivial family-run restaurant in Tonda, a small village some 30km southwest of Viseu…

  • Mar à Vista

    Ericeira

    Crustaceans of every kind are on display at this hearty frill-free local marisqueira known for its shellfish (no fish, no meat). Phenomenal crabs (both…

  • Restaurante de Casa das Penhas Douradas

    Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela

    This smart restaurant, part of the fabulous Casa das Penhas Douradas hotel, is a world away from traditional village life. Its streamlined Scandinavian…

  • Poço dos Sabores

    Óbidos

    Ditch the tourist onslaught in Óbidos for this village charmer 5km away in Usseira, where Joaquim and sister Angela combine restaurant skills honed in…

  • MUU

    Aliados & Bolhão

    So you came for the steak, right? Wise decision. A welcome newcomer to Porto's food scene, MUU has carved out a name for itself with outstanding cuts of…

  • Quinta do Furão

    Madeira

    Stylishly rustic, this excellent hotel-restaurant sets the highest standards on the north coast. Wonderfully imaginative gourmet dishes, such as cream of…

  • Ja!mon Ja!mon

    Óbidos

    With the cheery Andre, his family and a young, enthusiastic staff at the helm, the hospitality is oh-so Portuguese (read: happy and generous) at this…

  • Taberna Típica Quarta Feira

    Évora

    Don’t bother asking for the menu since there’s just one option on offer at this jovial eatery tucked away in the Moorish quarter. Luckily it’s a stunner:…

  • Café Galeria House of Wonders

    Cascais

    This fantastically whimsical, Dutch-owned cafe is tucked away in the old quarter. Its astonishingly good Middle Eastern/Mediterranean vegetarian plates,…

  • Restaurant da Adraga

    Portugal

    This legendary seafood restaurant sits on the edge of a small beach below Almoçageme. No fancy techniques or overdressed dining room here – just…

  • Bar do Guincho

    Cascais

    Sweeping the awards for most dramatic location in Cascais, this good-time bar-restaurant sits tucked behind a craggy ridge on the northern end of Guincho…

  • DOC

    Pinhão

    Architect Miguel Saraiva's ode to clean-lined, glass-walled minimalism, DOC is headed up by Portuguese star chef Rui Paula. Its terrace peering out across…

  • Monte da Eira

    The Algarve

    A former threshing mill's stables have been converted to house this charming restaurant with white-clothed tables spread over several rooms and two…

  • Restaurante Sever

    Alto Alentejo

    The pick of the restaurants for miles around, this smart place is in a beautiful location, just over the bridge in Portagem, on the Rio Sever. It comes…

  • Casa Pires

    Nazaré

    Many locals think that this is the only place in Nazaré to eat grilled sardines. Enough said. When sardines are out of season, though (read: frozen), you…

  • Terra Utópica

    Mértola

    The most atmospheric place for a meal in the old town, Terra Utópica has two small antique-filled dining rooms (one with a roaring fire on cold nights)…

  • Jardim das Oliveiras

    Monchique

    High up in the hills, this local secret has dining rooms with crackling open fires, farming implements and black-and-white photos, and a magical garden…

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