Restaurants in Portugal
-
A
Pastéis de Belém
Sublime, divine traditional pastéis de Belém custard tarts, with the eggiest, lightest, crispiest tarts, served warm with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. The recipe is secret, but these tarts taste like they've been made by angels. Founded in 1837, the traditional tiled tearoom is pretty.
reviewed
-
B
Santini
All hail Santini for its yummy 100% natural gelati, made to an age-old family recipe. Grab a cone and skedaddle to the beach before it melts.
reviewed
-
C
Nakité
This pleasant vegetarian restaurant has satisfying daily specials featuring tofu, seitan and tempeh paired nicely with goat cheese, shiitake mushrooms and other fresh ingredients. Nakité also has fresh juices and good desserts. Dine inside (amid piped-in New Age tunes) or on the back patio next to a gurgling fountain.
reviewed
-
D
Confeitaria Do Bolhão
This cheerful belle-époque cafe, popular with everyone but especially ladies of a certain age, serves good food at great prices, including a daily lunch special of soup, main course and freshly squeezed juice for €5. The front counter serves an irresistible array of local sweets to go.
reviewed
-
E
Viagem de Sabores
Travel your tastebuds at this worldly haunt behind the sé. Your affable host is João Baptista, the design industrial cool with quirks like an illuminated zeppelin. From tender Moroccan lamb to chocolate cannelloni – globetrotting here is moreish, we swear.
reviewed
-
F
Terra
Our readers sing the praises of Terra for its superb vegetarian buffet (including vegan options) of salads, kebabs and curries, plus organic wines and juices. A fountain gurgles in the tree-shaded courtyard, lit by tealights after dark.
reviewed
-
G
Casanova
Casanova seduces with wood-fired pizza that’s thin, crisp and authentically Italian. Bag a table on the riverside terrace (heated in winter).
reviewed
-
H
Pão Pão Queijo Queijo
Join the snaking queue for Belém’s tastiest falafel (both hands required), sardine baguettes and Mexican salads.
reviewed
-
I
A Tasca
This simple, friendly tavern serves good-value specials like grilled squid and hake.
reviewed
-
J
O Escondidinho
Amid azulejos, dark wood furnishings and starched white place settings, O Escondidinho serves excellent traditional cuisine. Chefs here combine fresh ingredients and a wood-burning oven to create classic bacalhau dishes and flavourful baked octopus, while grilled seafood dishes are equally impressive.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Café Inglês
This cafe has a wonderful shady terrace and is everyone’s favourite spot. The food is excellent (don’t miss the Chocolate St Emilion dessert). One of the Algarve’s liveliest restaurants north of the coast, it has an elegant interior and in summer has occasional live jazz, fado and African music.
reviewed
-
L
Cozinha da Sé
Contemporary artwork hangs from the exposed stone walls at this handsome Braga newcomer. Sé serves traditional, high-quality dishes (including one vegetarian selection), with flavourful standouts liked baked bacalhau (dried salt-cod) and açorda de marisco (seafood stew in bread bowl).
reviewed
-
M
Restaurante Zé Manel
Tucked down a nondescript alleyway, this little gem, which is papered with scholarly doodles and scribbled poems, is easy to miss. Despite its location, it’s highly popular, so come early or be ready to wait. Try the good feijoada á leitão (a stew of beans and suckling pig).
reviewed
-
N
O Caçula
Tucked down a narrow lane, O Caçula serves healthy-tasting lighter fare in a trim, contemporary, bi-level space. In addition to a few vegetarian dishes (vegie lasagne, ratatouille), there are grilled items (chicken breast with Roquefort cheese), steak, and fresh juices and smoothies.
reviewed
-
O
Bica do Sapato
Part-owned by John Malkovich, this uberhip dockside venue is all glass walls, UFO-style lighting and chocolate-black hues. Upstairs hipsters nibble sushi in the spacey bar, while downstairs the design-conscious restaurant serves highlights like tender roast lamb with citrus jelly.
reviewed
-
P
Pois Café
All hail Austrian-run Pois for its laid-back boho vibe. Its sofas invite lazy afternoons spent reading novels and guzzling coffee. Creative salads and sandwiches with names like Sepp (olive, pesto and Emmental) go nicely with tangy juices. There’s a kids’ play area.
reviewed
-
Q
Olivier Avenida
Star chef Olivier’s latest venture is this gorgeous pearl-kissed restaurant, lit by teardrop chandeliers and centred on a horseshoe-shaped bar where DJs spin lounge music in the evening. Signatures such as tender kobe beef are polished off nicely with tangy apple sorbet.
reviewed
-
Casa Piriquita
Since 1952, Casa Piriquita has been tempting locals with another sweet dream – the travesseiro (pillow), light puff pastry turned, rolled and folded seven times, then filled with delicious almond-and-egg yolk cream and lightly dusted with sugar.
reviewed
-
Azenhas do Mar
This smart restaurant, in Azenhas do Mar, serves fresh fish caught by the owner – the clams and steamed barnacles are delicious with a glass of house white. The sea views are wonderful, especially from the deck. Step up to the bar to glimpse the old water mill.
reviewed
-
R
Café Mise en Scène
This colourful French café has artwork on the walls, eclectic furnishings and a few outdoor tables. Delightful choices include coq au vin, fish soup and chocolate fondue, though it's also a nice destination for afternoon café au lait.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
O Comercial
Hidden at the back of the stock-exchange building, this one-of-a-kind restaurant boasts towering arches, old-world service and a stylish, fireside lounge. At dinner, the food has been known to disappoint, but the three-course lunch menu is great value.
reviewed
-
T
El Rei D’frango
Grill goddesses Luciana and Carla rustle up enormous and delicious portions of salmon and febras (sautéed pork strips) for pocket money. You’ll roll down the cobbles after eating at this simple local haunt.
reviewed
-
U
Cervejaria da Trindade
This 13th-century monastery turned clattering beer hall oozes atmosphere with its vaults and azulejos of quaffing clerics and seasonal goddesses. Feast away on humungous steaks or lobster stew, washed down with foaming beer.
reviewed
-
V
Adega Nova
This popular place buzzes with tourists and country charm. It has a lofty beamed ceiling, rustic cooking implements on display and long, communal tables and bench seats. The meat and fish dishes are reliable and service is efficient.
reviewed
-
W
Bangkok
The smiliest restaurant in town, this Thai place with patio seating is exquisitely decorated with green tiles, wood and scented candles. The chef is no less imaginative, turning out excellent, aromatic and authentic dishes.
reviewed
