Porto
It's worth the taxi hop north of town to O Paparico. Portuguese authenticity is the name of the game here, from the romantically rustic interior of stone…
Must-see restaurants in Portugal
Aliados & Bolhão
If you’re in search of a hipster hangout in Porto, this gourmet sandwich and tapas bar is your haunt. Brick Clérigos is one of the city’s communal dining…
Miragaia
Noshi is a hip and healthy cafe with a welcoming atmosphere. You’ll find a good coffee selection, including cappuccinos, soy lattes, 100% Arábica…
Ribeira
This chic Mediterranean-style restaurant and mozzarella bar is located in Porto’s swanky dining precinct, and as a high ranker in the popularity stakes it…
Miragaia
This sunlit cafe rocks the Scandinavian look with light timber furniture and fresh white walls. As well as doling out the rich juices of coffee beans,…
Aliados & Bolhão
This uber-hip cafe is a sure sign Porto is evolving beyond its paper-tableclothed past to flaunt some cosmopolitan swagger. Tuck into eggs Benedict,…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This family-owned Mouraria tavern welcomes regulars and first-timers with the same undivided attention. Space is tight so sharing tables is the norm and…
Miragaia
Charming, boho-flavoured and lit by fairy lights, A Sandeira is a great bolthole for an inexpensive lunch. Chipper staff bring to the table creative…
Lisbon
The very best of Syrian food is served at this refugee success story in the heart of Lisbon's most culturally diverse neighbourhood – Mouraria. When in…
Porto
Distressed concrete and brightly painted bistro furniture create an urban-cool look at this hip hangout. It's a chilled cafe for a creamy coffee with…
Miragaia
This family-run tavern prides itself on serving up honest Portuguese grub with a smile. It dishes up generous helpings of codfish, grilled sardines and…
Lisbon
Bitoque – a steak with a fried egg on top and a side of fries – is a quintessential Portuguese dish. This small neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This all-organic small-plates newcomer comes courtesy of Chef António Galapito, after his stint at Taberna do Mercado (Michelin-star chef Nuno Mendes'…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
In the shadow of the Basílica da Estrela, Lisbon's latest hot table comes courtesy of chef Alexandre Silva, whose bold and modern take on Portuguese…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
The food at this trendy spot will transport you to Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam, but the ceramic swallows draped across the exposed brick archway …
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
A transplant from Berlin's hip Prenzlauer Berg district, this artsy and modern Indian place strikes the perfect balance between real-deal South Indian…
Sintra
Chef Luis Santos shakes up Sintra's culinary scene with his modern upgrades to Portuguese cuisine, served amid the muted greys and greens of his…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Michelin-starred chef José Avillez' foray into gourmet cabaret is tucked clandestinely away inside a former chapel, where reservations are purposely…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
Fancy a chef's table experience masquerading as a gourmet picnic with strangers? Local's tiny, minimalist 18-sq-metre space harbours just 20 seats per…
Lisbon
In the former break room on the top floor of LX Factory, Diogo Noronha's Portuguese-Brazilian small-plate party frames outstanding views of Cristo Rei,…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Trendy and fun, Mini Bar is the most approachable and hippest entry point into the innovative cuisine of Michelin-starred chef José Avillez, who has…
Lisbon
Sitting inconspicuously along Alcântara's main drag, this tiny, cash- and counter-only small plates newcomer is an authentic journey through Mexico's…
Lisbon
Haul yourself to this friendly neighbourhood taberna for one thing and one thing only: Lisbon's best Francesinha ('Little Frenchie'), a speciality of…
Faro
For an exotic take on Portuguese cuisine, this small Madeiran restaurant bangs down plates loaded with specialities you'll only get on the Island of…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
In a cosy, atmospheric dining room, Taberna da Esperança wows diners with flavourful dishes that blend Alentejan recipes with a modern edge. The inventive…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
You'll have to get past the owner's unfortunate 'My way or the highway' attitude, but if you do, this tiny throwback tavern does a daily-changing, locally…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
On closer inspection, this seemingly undistinguished tasca near Santos train station reveals some very serious carnivorous happenings. There are other…
Cascais
To escape the high prices and tourist masses in the old town, head out to this local favourite in the Torre neighbourhood. It's a buzzing place, with a…
Belém
Flee the crowded sidewalks of Belém's epicentre for this modern and excellent seafooder a bit down the road, where stacks of top-notch fish and…
Sintra
Sintra's friendliest and most welcoming restaurant is a travel-highlight star in the making. Congenial owner Zé's creative tapas are as slightly off…
Vila Nova de Gaia
Overseen by Portuguese star chef José Cordeiro, the Blini is a chic newcomer to Gaia. The reflective cube perches atop a historic town house, its…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
A peaceful retreat from the nearby Rua Nova do Carvalho mayhem, Tosca is an enticing spot for Portuguese tapas and bold Douro reds (but don't be afraid to…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This lively hipster taqueria is a godsend of authentic Mexican street tacos (carnitas, cochinita pibil, carne asada, al pastor etc), served among tweaked…
Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
Headed by celebrated chef Vitor Sobral, the 'tavern on the corner' serves rich and inventive dishes featuring classic Portuguese ingredients. It's a small…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This beautifully designed restaurant inside a boutique hostel overlooks the stunning Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara and has touches of industrial…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This sexy restaurant dishes up succulent beef and pork dishes made with ultrapremium Carnalentejana DOP-certified meat from the Alentejo, along with wines…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Up the stairs behind a not-very-triumphant facade lies this surprising treasure trove of 19th-century Portuguese bric-a-brac (seashell nightlights,…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
You'll find some of Lisbon's best pizza – uncut, certified by Napoli's strict Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana – at this cosy Chiado hotspot whose…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
From its latest and far more prominent location on pretty Praça Dom Luís, the not-to-be-missed 'cut room' dishes out succulent, perfectly seasoned…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
The Portuguese love to self-proclaim their product to be the best this or the best that in the world, but this don't-miss cafe puts its chocolate where…
