Albufeira
Footsteps from the Turismo, Casa da Fonte serves everything from sandwiches to charcoal-grilled fish in a beautiful courtyard lined with azulejos (hand…
Must-see restaurants in Portugal
The Beiras
The only restaurant in the old village, Dom Sancho sits just inside the main Gothic gate. It's touristy but the traditional food is spot on – mainly game…
Évora
Take a stroll along the narrowest lane in town to find this gem of a bakery, which fires up the best pastéis de nata (custard tarts) for miles around, as…
Funchal
One of the original tourist restaurants around since 1976, the 'London' has a bright, simple no-frills dining room where you can enjoy the classics of…
Alto Alentejo
About a 10-minute walk (700m) north of the historical centre, Sal e Alho is famous in these parts for its hearty traditional cooking. Come for game meats …
Lagos
Hearty, top-quality traditional food served in a bustling environment at great prices sees this buzzing adega tipica (wine bar) pull in the crowds. Daily…
Estremadura & Ribatejo
A Swiss owner-chef runs the kitchen, and his friendly Portuguese wife runs the floor. This pleasant, unpretentious spot on the quay has a slightly…
Baixo Alentejo
Three streets east of Rua Serpa Pinto, O Trilho is a local favourite, with excellent regional mains and carefully prepared daily specials (like monkfish…
Miragaia
Down by the river, the Taberna do Barqueiro is a rustic, homely bolt-hole, with stone walls, cheek-by-jowl tables and a terrace on the cobblestones. Daily…
Aliados & Bolhão
With its stone walls, ochre velvet chairs and white linen–draped tables, this romantically lit bistro is a class act. The food is bang on the money, too,…
Cascais
All hail Lisbon's favourite gelato (it's not the area's best, but the Portuguese are immensely nostalgic for it). Santini's creamy, rich, 100% natural…
Faro
Homestyle Portuguese food at bargain prices – Monchique blood sausage stew; fava bean fritters with smoked paprika sauce – and a retro interior with an…
Funchal
One of Funchal's oldest places to fill the hole, 'the barn' tries to live up to its name with rural knick-knackery adorning the walls, but is otherwise a…
Viseu
The Paço dos Cunhas de Santar, a historic winery on a 17th-century estate in Santar, sets an attractive stage for fine dining. The dining room is light…
Foz do Douro
An adorable restaurant right on the waterfront, with two small colourful rooms featuring contemporary artwork and a few tables on the front patio. The…
The Beiras
A cut above most of Guarda's midrange restaurants, Belo Horizonte has long been a local favourite. It does a great line in regional specialities such as…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Rods, nets, hooks and fish charts give away this tiny bar's former life as a fishing-tackle shop. Cabinets are stacked with vintage-looking tins of…
Madeira
Perched high above Calheta, this family-run place, not far from the Mudas Museu, serves up excellent food with a hefty side of panoramic views. Madeiran…
Madeira
A long-standing pub-restaurant in the cobbled streets of old São Vicente, this is the best place to cradle a Corral in the evenings if you're not driving…
The Beiras
For a truly memorable dinner, it’s hard to beat the elegant spread at the Palace Hotel's dining room, itself a work of art with natural light pouring in…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Celebrated chef José Avillez has several restaurants in the neighbourhood, including this buzzing, contemporary bistro. Small plates are a great way to…
Ribeira
A slow-food hideaway just up from the Douro, with chestnut-wood beams, exposed stone walls, and slate tables on wine barrels. The ingredients are all…
Madeira
Arguably Santa Cruz's best place to dine, this mid-naughties block near the aquapark has floor-to-ceiling plate-glass windows providing ocean views and an…
Miragaia
Just around the corner from the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis is this white-walled cafe with high ceilings in a beautifully converted century-old…
Trás-os-Montes
The unassuming roadside exterior can be deceptive: the food is stellar at this traditional restaurant with a spacious dining room. It has a long-standing…
Coimbra
With its low wood-beamed ceiling, tiled walls and rustic decor, this is the very picture of a traditional backstreet tasca (tavern). In keeping with the…
Viseu
With its stone walls and low wood-beamed ceilings, this cosy eatery specialises in traditional recipes collected from surrounding villages. Generous…
The Minho
Dreamy river views from the open-air terrace are the star attraction at this trendy restaurant in the heart of town. Portuguese favourites like salmon…
Pastelaria Conventual Pão de Rala
Évora
The azulejo-covered walls (complete with a bakery scene) and low-playing fado create a fine setting for nibbling on heavenly pastries and convent cakes,…
Madeira
The French chef at this luxury hotel restaurant in the settlement of Jardim da Serra (north of Câmara de Lobos) cooks up an imaginative, international…
Madeira
A smoky aroma of grilling meat wafts from the door of this central Caniço churrascaria (traditional grill). Meat and fish, expertly barbecued on acacia…
Monchique
At this likeably old-fashioned, rustic place, with floor-to-ceiling timber cabinets filled with local pottery, regional dishes include the house…
Évora
An icon of Évora’s culinary scene, O Fialho has been wowing diners since 1945 – as evidenced by the photos of visiting dignitaries lining the walls. Amid…
Guimarães
With a handsomely panelled dining room under a graceful arcade, this refined choice serves Portuguese classics made with straight-from-the-market…
Coimbra
Drawing a mixed crowd of students, locals and visitors, this unpretentious family-run grill is a reliable choice for a good-value fill-up. Don't expect…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
The crisp reds and whites of the dining area blend seductively with the dark wood tables at this main-street eatery. The menu is typical of these parts,…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Tucked away in a tight corner near the tourist office, this friendly, country-style restaurants offers large portions of traditional Portuguese fare…
Marquês de Pombal & Around
With a marble chandelier and icing-sugar stucco confection, this sublime patisserie is where well-coiffed ladies come to gossip and devour cream cakes (or…
Funchal
This snazzy, minimalist restaurant belonging to a great Zona Velha hostel serves up lobster, fish burgers, local limpets and sushi on square plates. The…
Lagos
Around since 1964, this traditional cafe-bakery is a local favourite for cakes and sweets including pastéis de nata, bolas de berlim (custard-filled…
