One of my main challenges for this Lisbon city trip is to not come home completely exhausted. I always want to do too much when I visit a city for the first time. So how do you make sure you’re taking enough breaks from all the sightseeing? You eat. And drink coffee. And then eat some more.
That’s exactly what I did in Lisbon. Fortunately, this city is all about incredible food. In this Lisbon food guide I’m sharing all my favorite spots for eating in Lisbon that I discovered while I was there. The best restaurants in Lisbon for breakfast / brunch or dinner and the best coffee shops. One thing’s for sure, you’ll never go hungry during your Lisbon city trip.
Where to get the best pastel de nata in Lisbon
Let’s start with the best part about eating in Lisbon: pastel de nata. You can get these sweet Portuguese custard tarts everywhere in Lisbon, but once you’ve tasted one from these two shops, you’ll never want anything else.
Manteigaria
My absolute favorite place to get a fresh pastel de nata is Manteigaria. The crust is flaky and the custard often still warm. Plus you can watch how the custard tarts are being made. When they walk outside to ring a bell, that means a new batch is coming freshly out of the oven. Yum!
Address: Rua do Loreto 2
Pasteis de Belem
If you’re as big of a fan of pastéis de nata as I am, then visiting Pastéis de Belém is a must. This is where it all began, and where you can taste the original ‘pastel de Belém’. Of course it’s super touristy and there’s a queue outside, but they’re very efficient so you won’t have to wait long.
Address: Rua Belém 84-92
Lisbon Food Guide: the best coffee in Lisbon
Always on the hunt for the best coffee, there are two modern specialty coffee shops in Lisbon that I highly recommend. These Lisbon cafes are perfect to catch your breath from walking up and down those hills.
Hello Kristof
Coffee and magazines, that’s what this popular cozy café nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of Santos in Lisbon is all about. With its minimalist Scandinavian design, Hello Kristof is the perfect relaxing spot to enjoy specialty coffee or a simple, health-conscious meal, like avocado toast and granola bowls. Or have one of their delicious homemade pastries.
Address: Rua do Poço dos Negros 103
Fabrica Coffee Roasters
Fábrica Coffee Roasters is a must-visit for coffee lovers in Lisbon. With several locations in the city center, this ‘hipster’ specialty café is renowned for its artisanal approach to coffee roasting using carefully selected beans from around the world. The interior is warm and rustic with wooden accents and cozy seating. In addition to their exceptional coffee, you can also get delicious freshly baked pastries and light bites at Fábrica Coffee Roasters.
Address: Rua das Flores 63
Landeau: the best chocolate cake in Lisbon
It’s easy to get my attention when you’re talking about chocolate. So when several people were telling me about the best chocolate cake ever, I had to try it. And yes, it’s incredible!
Address: Rua das Flores 70
Lisbon Food Guide: best breakfast & brunch spots in Lisbon
Going out for breakfast is not really a ‘thing’ yet in Lisbon. Even places that offer somewhat of a breakfast menu often open between 9 and 10am, or later. So sleep in and have brunch at one of these Lisbon restaurants.
Dear Breakfast
Dear Breakfast is a charming café in Lisbon, known for its all-day breakfast. They open at 9am and I especially loved the pretty – very instagrammable – modern, bright interior. This is one of the best restaurants in Lisbon for people who like to start their day with a delicious breakfast. The food is quite simple, but made with quality ingredients and tastes really good.
Address: Rua Gaivotas 17
Nicolau Lisboa
Not necessarily a breakfast place, but a great spot for whenever you’re in the mood for something healthy and (again) a pretty interior. To be honest, I wasn’t that impressed with my smoothie bowl (looked very pretty, didn’t taste so great). But since it’s such a popular restaurant, I’m sure the other items on the menu must be better.
Address: Rua São Nicolau 17
Best restaurants in Lisbon for lunch and dinner
Whether you’re in the mood for traditional Portugese food or something more modern, Lisbon has an amazing food scene that offers something for everyone. When I’m traveling by myself I often go out for lunch and then eat something more simple for dinner, the menu is often the same. So for this Lisbon food guide I highly recommend you don’t miss these great restaurants.
A Cevicheria
The interior with the blue and white floor tiles and the giant octopus hanging over the bar makes this one of Lisbon’s must-visits for lunch or dinner. A Cevicheria, located in the trendy Principe Real neighborhood, is known for its innovative seafood dishes with high-quality ingredients.
They don’t take reservations and when I arrived 5 minutes after they’d opened for lunch (on a weekday) I managed to get the very last seat at the bar. So either get there in time or stop by to put your name on the list about an hour before you’d like to eat.
Address: Rua Dom Pedro V 129
Bairro do Avillez
José Avillez is one of Portugal’s most famous chefs with several restaurants in Lisbon, some with Michelin stars. Bairro do Avillez is not just one restaurant. There’s the traditional ‘Taberna’ in the front and then the spacious (more expensive) Páteo in the courtyard, focussing on seafood and fish. I had the grilled squid with the most delicious black rice at the Páteo. It was great, but I kind of wished I had opted for the Taberna since I would have been able to try several of the smaller (and cheaper) dishes instead of one main meal. Unfortunately I went here on my last day in Lisbon, so I’ll definitely come back for the Taberna next time.
Address: Rua Nova da Trindade 18
The Decadente
I had dinner at The Decadente on my first evening in Lisbon simply because it was close to my hotel. With the other restaurants I was already expecting great food because I’d heard so much about them. But with The Decadente, I had no idea what to expect. And it was amazing! Great atmosphere, nice people, delicious modern Portuguese food and not expensive. I could have eaten here every night.
Address: Rua São Pedro de Alcântara 81
Time Out Market
When you don’t have enough time to try all the restaurants in Lisbon, then Time Out Market is the place to be. According to Time Out: “If it’s good it goes in the magazine. If it’s great it goes on to the market.” Here you’ll find many of the best Lisbon restaurants and food vendors under one roof.
Located in the historic Mercado da Ribeira, this bustling market is a culinary hotspot if you want to try some of the best food that Lisbon has to offer, from traditional Portuguese food to international cuisine.
Address: Avenida 24 de Julho
Pap’acorda
If you are at Time Out Market, but you’d rather eat at a real restaurant, then go upstairs to Pap’Açorda. It’s a Lisbon favorite for traditional Portuguese food. They’ve been around for over 36 years, but only recently moved to the Time Out Market building, so the restaurant looks very modern. And when you’re there you might as well try a typical Portuguese dish that the restaurant was named after: açorda. They describe it as a bread soup, although it tastes more like a stew with shrimp, garlic and coriander. It’s super heavy so skip the starters and you won’t have room for dessert, but I does taste good.
Address: Avenida 24 de Julho 49
LX Factory
I mentioned LX Factory in my post about the best places to visit in Lisbon. But I also have to include it in this Lisbon food guide. Located in a refurbished industrial complex in the Alcântara district, this trendy cultural hotspot offers a lot of options for eating in Lisbon, from cozy cafés to gourmet restaurants.
Lost In: for drinks with a view in Lisbon
With all this food it’s a good thing that you’ll burn so many calories walking up and down those hills in Lisbon. Another good thing about these hills is that they offer beautiful views. The garden at Lost In is a great place to enjoy the view while having a drink in one of those colorful seats under the trees.
Address: Rua Dom Pedro V Nº56-D
