Restaurants in Portugal
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A
No Patio
When you hear the song ‘Food, Glorious Food’ (from the musical of Oliver Twist) playing in the background of this cosy place, you know that either you’re immersed in a British theme, or the owner-chef loves his food. Correct on both accounts. The menu and clientele err towards lamb rumps, pork fillets and summer pudding, you don’t hear much Portuguese spoken, and it might stretch the budget. But it doesn’t matter. The quality cuisine hits a high note.
reviewed
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B
Eleven
Michelin-starred Eleven lives up to the hype. Perched above Parque Eduardo VII, this aesthetically stunning restaurant is a fusion of glass walls and Joana Vasconcelos art. Chef Joachim Koerper conjures up inventive flavours such as sardine delight with artichoke and olive oil ice cream.
reviewed
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C
Restaurante Italia
Cheery Italia serves reasonably good Italian food, but what really draws the crowds is its incomparable location. The sunny glass-walled dining room is cantilevered out over the Rio Mondego, while breezy outdoor tables bask in the shade of giant sycamores in the adjacent riverside park.
reviewed
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D
Casa da Comida
With its ferny courtyard and antique-filled rooms, this sublime mansion is ideal for romantic tête-à-têtes. Delicacies like roast kid with herbs are served high and mighty on silver platters. The owners might even welcome you with a free glass of champagne; now that’s service.
reviewed
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E
O Barrigas
With a name meaning ‘the bellies’, there are no prizes for guessing what you’ll be nursing at this low-lit bistro. Red-and-white tiles and candles create the backdrop for flavours like braised rabbit and fluffy bacalhau espiritual (salt-cod soufflé).
reviewed
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F
Vela Dois
Soccer fanatics will love this atmospheric, buzzing Benfica-crazy restaurant (which looks like it has raided the Benfica fan club premises). Its winning secret would have to be the €10 for all-you-can-eat (very good) seafood feast. This restaurant is opposite the library.
reviewed
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G
Adega Lusitana
This new restaurant has a traditionally decorated dining room, a wine bar and a lush outdoor patio. Tapas, trusty bacalhau dishes and wild boar are among the varied offerings. Saturday nights feature live fado (reservations recommended), with DJs spinning some other nights.
reviewed
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Lawrence’s Restaurant
Perfect for romantic tête-à-têtes with its classical music, candlelight and rose-clad terrace, the restaurant at Lawrence’s Hotel serves modern Portuguese cuisine. Signatures such as veal with turnip tops and tarragon sauce are beautifully cooked and presented.
reviewed
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Guernica
Guernica brings a self-conscious dash of style to Porto, with excellent international cooking in a slim Manhattan-style bistro. Recent favourites include lasagne with mushrooms and brie, codfish with sausage, wild boar and seafood pasta. For once, you can order wines by the glass.
reviewed
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J
Mesa dos Mouros
With cosy indoor seating and a small outdoor terrace right by the cathedral, this place is blessed with high-quality cuisine (as confirmed both by us and the comments book!). Excellent choices include the seafood dishes or hearty gourmet-style mains such as rabbit with chestnuts.
reviewed
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K
Kais
Cavernous brick warehouse turned foodie haunt, Kais exudes an industrial-chic air. Candles, jazz and sylvan touches like gnarled olive trees and cascading fountains soften the design. Signature dishes like duck carpaccio with black-olive pâté have locals whispering Michelin star.
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Cravo e Canela
Pure theatre with its maroon walls, teardrop chandeliers and gilt mirrors, this newcomer’s name translates as ‘cloves and cinnamon’. Its innovative menu indeed adds spice to Bairro Alto – think Asian-style beef and tender duck breast with pomegranate.
reviewed
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M
Bora Café
Tiny Bora is the ideal place for your healthy fruit and vegie fix, delicious batidos (fruit milkshakes) and a cool outdoor setting.
reviewed
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O Farol Cervejaria
This clean, modern blue- and white-themed beacon is located by the market complex and attracts many locals. It serves traditional Portuguese cuisine – fish and meat dishes – in a pleasant, airy environment. Generous and tasty plates of the day are around €9.
reviewed
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Vino Divino
Rich and flavourful Italian dishes come beautifully prepared at this elegant restaurant. Appetisers like goat's cheese and roasted eggplant are fine preludes to homemade pastas and raviolis (try the tagliatelle with seafood). There are good wine selections and a rooftop terrace.
reviewed
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O
Restaurante O Fialho
Évora’s long-standing culinary institution. Spread over several small rooms and with wood panelling and white tablecloths, this restaurant serves up professional service and good Alentejan cuisine. Photos of visiting dignitaries line the walls.
reviewed
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Pap’Açorda
Way too sexy for Bairro Alto, Pap’Açorda lures the beauty set with its cascading chandeliers, pink-champagne walls and Right Said Fred lookalike waiters. The signature dish is açorda (bread and shellfish stew), washed down with Moët, sweetie.
reviewed
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Q
O Alexandre
A handsomely appointed dining room sets the stage for the top-notch cuisine at one of Braga’s best Portuguese restaurants. Grilled meats, bacalhau com nata (baked codfish) and an excellent cabrito assado (roasted kid) are particularly recommended.
reviewed
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R
A Carvoaria
A well-kept local secret, this rustic South African haunt is always packed thanks to its friendly service and terrific food. On the menu: spicy boerewors (sausage), garlicky ostrich fillet, oxtail stew and the roll-me-out-the-door ‘steak big boss’.
reviewed
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S
Snack-Bar Restaurante A Choupana
This is a tiled, busy place where many locals opt to sit on stools at a long bar. There’s a TV, lots of knick-knacks and tasty, good-value daily mains (including generous half serves). Attached is an appealing restaurant served by efficient bow-tied waiters.
reviewed
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Cozinha das Rainhas
Attached to the Casa das Senhoras Rainhas hotel, this elegant restaurant offers some of the finest dining in Óbidos, with main courses like bacalhau das rainhas (codfish in a fines herbes crust with extra-virgin olive oil) and desserts like dueto de chocolate (white and dark chocolate mousse scented with orange and lime peel).
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Rosa dos Mares
Marshmallow-pink hues and country-cottage beams aside, Rosa is more stylish than twee. If it swims in the Atlantic, it’s on the menu. Staff will help you navigate the seafood menu of lip-smacking morsels like shellfish rice and oven-baked bacalhau (cod).
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Atanvá
The freshest Portuguese produce lands on your plate at riverfront Atanvá – think thin and juicy steaks, creamy Azeitão sheep’s cheese and salt-crusted Atlantic sea bass. Grab a seat on the terrace to sip a glass of white and indulge in a little people-watching.
reviewed
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A Travessa
This 17th-century convent cranks up the romance with its serene cloisters and brick vaulting. António Moita whets appetites with fresh wood-fired bread and wild mushrooms in truffle oil, followed by delicacies like superb roast pork and walnut-prune semifreddo.
reviewed
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Porta d’Alfama
Tiny Porta d’Alfama serves simple fare like grilled sardines. But food is secondary at Saturday afternoon’s free fado vadio, where the family gathers for a gutsy warble . Take a pew on the sunny terrace with a pitcher of white wine and enjoy.
reviewed