Baixo Alentejo
It looks like a smart pastelaria, but there’s an important difference: it’s known for its delicious regional doces conventuais (desserts traditionally…
Must-see restaurants in Portugal
Peso da Régua
The coolest dining room in town is set in a restored wood-and-stone railyard warehouse with exposed original timbers. You can order grilled alheira…
Cascais
Among palm and pine trees, this lush waterfront complex contains a handful of shops, cafes and restaurants with outdoor terraces overlooking the deep blue…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
A traditional family-run restaurant, complete with exposed stone walls, blue ceramic tiles and framed pictures, O'Flor is a cut above many similar-looking…
Aliados & Bolhão
As old school as old school gets, this long-standing restaurant on the ground floor of an unassuming office building seems frozen in time, with its…
Sesimbra
No menu, no frills, just the tastiest grilled fish and cheapest plonk in town at this tasca run with love and prowess by Senhor Isaías' surviving son…
Lagos
Tiny Bora is the ideal place for your healthy fruit and veggie fix, with omelettes, soups, salads, sandwiches (such as beetroot, sweet potato and hummus)…
Guimarães
With tall windows gazing out over Largo do Toural, this historic restaurant under a soaring ornamental stucco ceiling serves the full range of Portuguese…
Massarelos
For pop-up views of the Ponte da Arrábida illuminated, you can't beat this concrete-and-glass clay-oven pizzeria leaning over the Douro. It rustles up…
Trás-os-Montes
Upstairs in a manor house opposite the cathedral square, this elegant eatery boasts oak-panelled rooms, chandeliers, wide plank floors, a leafy and sun…
Belém
Join the snaking queue for Belém’s wildly popular fast-food standby. Crowds clamour over a long list of sandwiches, baguettes or salads, customise their…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Lunching visitors and locals out for their weekend meal create a cheerful buzz at this laid-back bar-restaurant. It's known for its hearty mountain…
Aliados & Bolhão
As fads come and go, restaurants dishing up good old-fashioned Portuguese grub are becoming scarce. Cue Tripeiro: a cosy, nouveau-rustic tavern where you…
The Algarve
Overlooking the square In the centre of town, this São Brás institution has been around since 1952. Pastries and cakes made on the premises include tarte…
Miragaia
A little slice of authentic rusticity, this stone-walled, softly lit tavern fills up fast at weekends. Do as the locals do and order petiscos (Portuguese…
Belém
Tucked away from the crowds on a side street, Alecrim & Manjerona ('Rosemary & Marjoram') is a cute grocery store, cafe, deli and wine bar rolled into one…
Coimbra
Part of the university's law faculty, this busy cafeteria is one of Coimbra's best-kept secrets. An excellent option for the budget traveller, it's open…
Coimbra
In a wonderful position opposite the majestic old cathedral, this restaurant sees many tourists but nevertheless offers up tasty regional dishes…
Zambujeira Do Mar
The owner’s father used to cook lunch for the local fisherfolk after they came into port; these days, the former kiosk is an upmarket restaurant that…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
A local favourite, the vine-covered terrace of this cheerfully boisterous restaurant heaves at weekends as families and groups of friends crowd in for a…
Aveiro
What better place to dine on seafood than the fish market? On the first floor of the market building, this industrial-chic restaurant serves up canal…
Aveiro
As authentic as they come, this modest family-run place is largely shielded from travellers due to its side-street location. We think it's great – the…
Viseu
The Cacimbo is a lifesaver on Sunday evenings, when virtually every restaurant in central Viseu is closed. The dining room, next to its own busy takeaway,…
Braga
This gourmet food shop with a narrow upstairs seating area sells all manner of sandwiches and snacks built around DOP and DOC Portuguese products – from…
Ribeira
This enticingly cosy hole-in-the-wall cafe rustles up light bites such as quiches and salads, but really they are just the prelude to the main act:…
O Cocho – Mercearia Alentejana
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
This sweet deli and grocery store plays up top-quality, sustainably sourced produce from the Alentejo. Wholesome soups, toasties, tapas and some of Lisbon…
The Douro
This long-standing riverfront favourite is first and foremost a seafood grill. Stroll into the kitschy interior and peruse the chalkboard menu, then…
Alto Alentejo
Tucked along one of Borba's narrow lanes in the centre, the family-run O Espiga is a pure delight. With huge portions of traditional Altentejan cooking …
Funchal
One of Funchal's best seafood restaurants is Doca do Cavacas, which juts out of the volcanic rock like an ocean-going liner. The semicircular glazed…
Funchal
The menu at this restaurant abutting the Fortaleza de Santiago is a rice-themed trip around the world. Every dish (even the desserts) contains basmati,…
Baixo Alentejo
Inside this cavernous space, you can dine on updated versions of classical Alentejan recipes as well as creative dishes with international accents. Salad…
Marquês de Pombal & Around
It's damn near worth the trek for early risers, as this trendy Saldanha bakery-cafe opens at 7am, even on Sunday. It does light bites (tostas, bagels,…
Alto Alentejo
Serving great cakes and ice cream, this is the place to ease your sugar cravings. Also on offer are pizzas, light meals (quiche, crêpes, burgers), teas,…
Vila Nova de Gaia
Matching a cosy stone-walled interior with a little pavement terrace facing the river, this bistro is literally a stone's throw from the Ponte de Dom Luís…
The Algarve
Opening to a terrace with views of the river, this cheap and cheerful family-run lunch spot is a good bet for its charcoal-grilled chicken, sizzling pork…
Machico
This seafront glass box, just metres from the waves, contains Machico's best seafood restaurant. Every inhabitant of Madeira's waters, plus many from…
Faro
Students and bohemians head to the tree-shaded terrace of this laid-back hang-out for char-grilled seafood and meats, and traditional stews, plentiful…
Funchal
This superb busy bakery with waiter service, opposite the casino, sells cakes and pastries all produced on the premises, plus coffees for €1. Freshness…
Monsaraz
Step back in time with this Knights Templar–themed eatery, complete with iron chandeliers, wall-mounted weapons and banners strung from the rafters. The…
Odeceixe
Chaparro is a great choice for no-nonsense Portuguese char-grilled meat and seafood, particularly the house-speciality, octopus with sweet potato. Watch…
