Setúbal Peninsula
One of many open-sided cafe-restaurants along the beach, Da Wave has a laid-back, hippie seaside-diner vibe, with its aqua trim and reggae soundtrack…
Must-see restaurants in Portugal
Trás-os-Montes
This tavern in the tiny village of Parâmio is open all day long for coffee and drinks; at lunch and dinnertime it also serves simple meals featuring…
Sintra
This converted grain warehouse is dark, tiled and quaint, with wrought-iron chandeliers and a relaxed, cosy atmosphere. It’s rightfully renowned for its…
The Minho
Set in the south fortress, with tables inside and on a wide patio with views overlooking the edge of the fort, this place does decent grilled meats and…
Aljezur
Unpretentious and family run, this restaurant in the residential New Church area, with guestrooms above, is a reliable spot for Portuguese meat and…
Portugal
This colourfully decorated, kitsch-filled restaurant serves salads, quiches, burgers and bistro fare, but the real draw is the breezy terrace with…
Madeira
Gourmets will shun this smoky local grill, but this is a superb spot to meet day-tripping families, forestry workers and Santana's police officers over…
Tavira
Filled with locals, this old-style, family-run restaurant concentrates on honest, down-to-earth dishes such as javali estufado (wild-boar stew) and…
The Minho
All dark wood, stone and terracotta tiles inside, this restaurant serves grilled meat and fish dishes – including the house speciality, arroz de bacalhau …
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
The concept is simple: take a cosy den of a wine bar, kit it out with barrel tables, add live music and a fun crowd. Then match some 650 wines by the…
Guimarães
Run by a dynamic duo of elderly Portuguese women, this backstreet tavern serves a small menu of two to three home-style dishes daily. Whatever is fresh at…
Óbidos
Holding a place in history as Óbidos' first restaurant, this upstairs spot has windows overlooking the town and features creative dishes such as requinte…
Viana do Castelo
This popular pizzeria buzzes day and night, thanks to the endless variety of tasty, cheesy pizzas churned out of the wood-burning oven in the corner…
Aliados & Bolhão
This no-nonsense bakery is a firm favourite of tripeiros. Snag a table on the terrace for breakfast or snacks such as pasteis de Chaves (puff-pastry pies…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
New Brazilian owners have breathed life into this budget standby, rustling up enormous and delicious portions of salmon and febras (sautéed pork strips)…
Viana do Castelo
Part of a Portuguese-based chain, this swank cafe serves up sandwiches, crêpes, quiches and salads in an airy light-flooded space with exposed stone walls…
Faro
Croissants, both savoury (chorizo, egg or sweet potato) and sweet (apple, strawberry or honey) are the speciality of this long-established patisserie,…
Baixa & Rossio
Take a break from grilled sardines (and menu-touting hawks in Baixa) at this local favourite that boasts black-and-white-tiled floors and a few dishes…
Trás-os-Montes
A cosy spot in the hub of the village, stone-walled Café Montesinho serves snacks and drinks, and also rents an upstairs two-bedroom apartment (€50) that…
Sagres
Set on the white-sand, resort-backed Martinhal beach, this cute cobalt-blue wooden shack is a relaxing spot in the summer months, with indoor and outdoor…
The Douro
The popular Villageois has been preparing steaks and fresh seafood in French-Portuguese style since 1977. The airy dining room is appointed with azulejos …
The Douro
Northern Portuguese fare is served in an elegant country-style dining room or on a verandah with idyllic views of the moistero and the bridge. Top picks…
Braga
A cosy little spot in the shadow of Torre de Menagem, this has a narrow glass-enclosed interior with a counter and a few tables outside. The well-prepared…
The Minho
The speciality at this simple local tavern with a 60-year tradition is arroz de sarrabulho (stewed rice with pork and pork blood). Other dishes are well…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
Named after Portugal's famous kale and linguiça (pork-sausage) soup, this authentic tavern does a fine line in traditional food. Though it does serve the…
Marquês de Pombal & Around
Hidden on the 2nd floor of the indie-loving cinema and museum, this bright, wood-filled cafe with a sunny terrace makes a fine retreat for an afternoon or…
Alto Alentejo
Boasting the town’s loveliest terrace, Casa do Povo has wonderful views across the countryside. The menu is fairly limited, with a few regional…
The Minho
Cabral grills fresh fish and also does a tasty arroz de marisco (rice and seafood stew). It’s all served in an attractive stone-walled dining room, almost…
Óbidos
Attached to the Casa das Senhoras Rainhas hotel, this elegant restaurant is named after the Brazilian writer who took over the establishment. Serves up…
Guimarães
This corner kiosk draws a local crowd for its delicious pregos (steak sandwiches), along with other simple but tasty snacks at low prices. Wash them down…
Portugal
You can dine on original palace recipes such as steamed sole with onions, carrots and fresh cream inside this palatial restaurant housed inside the former…
Sagres
A Sagres' interior of beamed ceilings, azulejos (hand-painted tiles) and heavy timber furniture opens to a sunny dining terrace. Char-grilled fish and…
Viana do Castelo
A decades-old Viana mainstay, this grill house does some of the best barbecue chicken and ribs in northern Portugal. You can also get barbecued seafood –…
The Algarve
Views over Alte extend from the balcony of this village-centre cafe, which turns out simple toasties and sandwiches and sweet pastries and cakes including…
Trás-os-Montes
Snack on tasty regional treats at this corner bakery, including the trademark folar de Chaves (big pillowy loaves filled with bacon and local smoked pork…
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
This modern place serving terrific Minho meat has outdoor seating on a vine-covered terrace. Management is English-speaking (local by way of Boston) and…
The Algarve
Algarvian and Alentejan dishes at this central spot include porco preto (Iberian pig), açorda (bread soup) and cozido de grão (chickpea stew). Opening…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This cheerful, no-nonsense grill sits bang in the heart of Graça. At lunchtime the place bustles with hungry locals, who come for grilled seafood and…
Foz do Arelho
This old school marisquera (seafood restaurant) with its ocean-view terrace serves reliable meals plucked from a central fountain flush with iced fish and…
The Minho
A few steps from the river, the inviting Sabores do Lima has exposed stone walls that give a dash of style to its open dining room. The first-rate cooking…
