Must-see restaurants in Alto Alentejo

  • Confraria

    Alto Alentejo

    This outstanding restaurant serves up delectable plates of regional fare showcasing whatever is fresh and seasonal. The menu is limited and mostly meat…

  • Taberna Típica Quarta Feira

    Évora

    Don’t bother asking for the menu since there’s just one option on offer at this jovial eatery tucked away in the Moorish quarter. Luckily it’s a stunner:…

  • Restaurante Sever

    Alto Alentejo

    The pick of the restaurants for miles around, this smart place is in a beautiful location, just over the bridge in Portagem, on the Rio Sever. It comes…

  • Gadanha Mercearia e Restaurante

    Alto Alentejo

    This foodie-loving spot brilliantly merges traditional local products with contemporary touches. Extraordinary petiscos (snacks) include linguiça de porco…

  • Solar do Forcado

    Alto Alentejo

    The current owner is a former forcado (performer of a specific style of Portuguese bullfighting), as was his father, as attested by the many photos and…

  • Pedras do Castelo

    Alto Alentejo

    Right across from the castle, this welcoming, easy-going spot is a great place to taste Alentejan delicacies – like porco preto (black pork) or bacalhau…

  • Pirolito

    Alto Alentejo

    A stylish new tapas and wine bar has arrived in Castelo de Vide, making it all the more worthwhile to stick around after sundown. Small plates of shrimp…

  • Alecrim

    Alto Alentejo

    Alecrim is a fine place for a meal, no matter the time of day. Come at lunchtime for excellent multicourse daily specials (creamy codfish dishes and…

  • Botequim da Mouraria

    Évora

    Poke around the old Moorish quarter to find some of Évora’s finest food and wine – gastronomes believe this is Évora’s culinary shrine. Owner Domingos…

  • Sabores de Monsaraz

    Monsaraz

    Perched high above the plains, with views reaching as far as Spain, this stone-built tavern is a rustic, wonderfully family-friendly spot. Good honest…

  • Mercato

    Alto Alentejo

    This lively, cheerfully decorated tavern serves traditional flavours with contemporary verve. Nicely turned out plates of garlic and olive-oil clams, or…

  • Salsa Verde

    Évora

    Vegetarians (and Portuguese livestock) will be thankful for this veggie-popping paradise. Pedro, the owner, gives a wonderful twist to traditional…

  • O Gaspacho

    Monsaraz

    A small, cheerfully decorated cafe where you can try owner Gabriel's excellent signature gazpacho. It goes well with the creative small plates on hand,…

  • Momentos

    Évora

    Jorge, the affable proprietor of Momentos, takes great pride in the bounty of the Alentejo, which he showcases each night on his changing blackboard menus…

  • Bistro Barão

    Évora

    This tiny family-run restaurant serves exquisitely prepared Portuguese dishes using high-quality products. Start with sauté shrimp with garlic or stuffed…

  • Tomba Lobos

    Alto Alentejo

    A stylish newcomer to Portalegre, Tomba Lobos serves beautifully prepared dishes that showcase the high-quality produce of the Alentejo. Roasted lamb,…

  • Taverna dos Conjurados

    Alto Alentejo

    More upmarket than the average taverna, this inviting eatery serves excellent regional cooking. The attentive host is proud of his classic Portuguese…

  • The Place

    Alto Alentejo

    Run by a friendly expat couple, the Place has a small but well-curated selection of dishes that taste even better while enjoying the mesmerising views…

  • Luar de Janeiro

    Évora

    We’ll be upfront: you don’t come here for the atmosphere (no soft lighting, no music). You do come here for attentive service and dishes made with the…

  • Dom Joaquim

    Évora

    Housed in a renovated building with stone walls and modern artwork, this restaurant offers fine dining in a smart, contemporary setting. Chef Dom Joaquim…

  • Chão das Covas

    Évora

    Tucked away on a small plaza beside the aqueduct, this friendly, boxcar-sized eatery serves up tasty home-cooked Alentejan classics that change by day, as…

  • Vinarium Wine & Tapas

    Évora

    In a thoughtfully designed space across from the municipal market, Vinarium is a must for wine lovers. Here you can sample fine quaffs from the Alentejo,…

  • 1/4 Para as Nove

    Évora

    It will forever be ‘a quarter to nine’ at this jovial eatery (the owner bought the timepiece secondhand – it never worked). Broken appliances aside, the…

  • Venda Azul

    Alto Alentejo

    Just south of the main square, Venda Azul serves delicious Alentejan fare at unbeatable prices – a feast for two, including wine and dessert, costs less…

  • Vinho e Noz

    Évora

    This unpretentious place is run by a delightful family and offers professional service, a large wine list and good-quality cuisine. It’s been going for…

  • Adega 7160

    Alto Alentejo

    Amid huge wine jars and painted Alentejan ceramics, Adega 7160 serves traditional regional dishes with a modern twist. Start off with roasted pumpkin soup…

  • Os Cucos

    Alto Alentejo

    Hidden in the leafy gardens south of the Praça República, this is the pick for quality food and shady location. It has an airy, semicircular interior, and…

  • O Alpendre

    Alto Alentejo

    Serves outstanding regional cuisine in a dining room of exposed brick and azulejos (tiles), with rustic farm implements adorning the walls. Porco preto …

  • Sabores das Maltezas

    Alto Alentejo

    Across from the Lago do Gadanha, this small, cheery cafe serves big, creatively topped salads, tostas (open-faced sandwiches) and soups as well as…

  • A Cadeia

    Alto Alentejo

    Unlock your purses at this place, housed in the former judicial jail, which dates from the 16th century; the two storeys of the quadrangle separated male…

  • Adega do Alentejano

    Évora

    Red-and-white checked tablecloths, rustic decor and a garrulous host named Carlos set the stage for a fun, casual night of Alentejo fare that won't break…

  • Fábrica dos Pasteis

    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…

  • Sal e Alho

    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 …

  • 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,…

  • Restaurante O Fialho

    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…

  • Restaurante O Espiga

    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 …

  • Doces & Companhia

    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,…

  • Taverna Os Templarios

    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…

  • Emigrante

    Alto Alentejo

    Just off the highway, before making the uphill drive to the castle, this local favourite serves up excellent Portuguese classics. True to name, Emigrante…

  • Piparoza

    Évora

    Along the pedestrian lane of restaurant-lined Alcarcova de Baixo, the cavernous Piparoza is a standout for its huge menu and lively ambience. Open from…

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