Local Foodie Guide: Where to Eat & Drink in Lisbon
There are tons of amazing little places to eat and drink in Lisbon, but there are just as many overpriced and hyper-touristed spots that serve subpar versions of what a classic bacalhao dish is supposed to be – so let me guide you!
Before I visited Portugal, I knew next to nothing about Portuguese food. Now that I live in Lisbon, I have happily done the research it takes to recommend my favorite restaurants, tascas (traditional Portuguese tavern), and wine and cocktail bars.
👉 FOOD TO TRY: The food in Portugal includes grilled sardines, baked or grilled bacalhau (salted cod), and a prego or bifana (beef or pork sandwiches). I also love the local ginjinha (cherry liqueur), which is usually served in little chocolate cups because it reminds me of my Romanian grandma’s!
Lisbon is a foodie city, and there are incredible chefs out here doing God’s work in the kitchen, mixing traditional Portuguese with modern and international twists.
My recommendations are curated by my local Lisbon friends and expats alike – all out here trying to live their best foodie life.
MY QUICK GUIDE: WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN LISBON
These are my personal favorites, and I live right next to Vino Vero!
✅ Favorite Tasca: O Velho Eurico – Local Portuguese with the best vibe, and my favorite.
✅ Favorite Fish Restaurant: Cervejaria Ramiro – Anthony Bourdain recommended, with fish by the kilo!
✅ Favorite Fancy Restaurant: Rocco – Date night spot, bust out the heels!
✅ Favorite Beachside Restaurant: Casa Reya – turns into a beach club at sunset with great summer DJ sets!
✅ Favorite Cocktail Bar: Imprensa & Cafe Klandestino
✅ Favorite Wine Bar: Black Sheep & Vino Vero – Both have people spilling into the streets late into the night.
I value restaurants and bars where the vibe is right, the cocktails are unique, the food is exceptional, and tourist Karen is not sitting right next to me asking for the non-fat milk in her espresso martini.
I value authenticity over pomp, variety in locations around Lisbon, and variety in the menu. I also value a good, open-hearted atmosphere.
Where To Eat in Lisbon
This is my own little private tour of where to eat and drink in Lisbon, Portugal – tested out and approved by my friends and family.
These are both high-end and local down-to-earth eateries, and the focus is on delicious food. It is a great starter list for people coming to Lisbon for the first time or folks who are trying to find a few of the more local spots.
➡️ FOODIE ADVENTURES IN A CITY REQUIRES TRAVEL INSURANCE ⬅️
As you start booking your trip to Portugal, make sure you have travel insurance sorted out. My favorite, and the one I use, is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance because it’s pretty comprehensive and more affordable than some of the other travel insurance I’ve researched.
In all my travels to Portugal, I’ve thankfully never had to use travel insurance, but I was glad to have it when I hiked the Fisherman’s Trail in Alentejo and the Pico to Pico trail in Madeira, or when I was eating grilled meats and sardines from a local grandpa grilling outside his house for the Sao Joao festival in Lisbon, and for the many boat trips in the Algarve where I puked my guts out due to the crazy turbulent waves (true story).
Travel medical insurance is a must when planning a trip to Europe because we’re adults, and that’s how we roll. Insurance is important not just because of the financial side if something goes wrong but also because you’ll be glad to have someone to call and help you sort out hospitals and get medicine abroad – in Portuguese. Shit happens, be prepared!
🔥 FUN FACT: I learned about most of the places I’m recommending from attending the annual premier chef festival called Chefs on Fire. It was an amazing weekend of the best chefs in and around Lisbon, from traditional Tasca to Michelin-starred chefs showcasing their craft and love for cooking.
✅ O Velho Eurico – Local
Best Lisbon restaurant for the best food/vibe combo.
Walking into O Velho Eurico feels like you’ve uncovered a hidden gem—until you spot the long ass line outside.
What used to be a quiet neighborhood spot has become a Lisbon favorite, and it’s usually packed. I wouldn’t let that deter you, as you can sip on a white wine while you wait in line – I’ve never had to wait more than 1 hour.
Two things I particularly love about this tasca. Firstly, the young (and cute) chefs spice up the menu by serving creative takes on classic Portuguese dishes. Secondly, the atmosphere is fun and light-hearted, the windows are open, and the wine is flowing.
The menu always has crowd favorites, like bacalhau (salted cod) and polvo (octopus), but they also add unique dishes with whatever is in season and fresh. On my last lunch visit, I got hooked on the pastel de leitão (suckling pig pastry) and Borrego e castanhas (lamb and chestnuts).
It’s the kind of place that’s perfect for a group of friends, so everyone can order something and share, hang out, and enjoy the laid-back vibe.
I have always walked out of O Velho Eurico very happy, tipsy, and in need of an afternoon nap.
Price range: €
Address: Largo São Cristóvão nº3, 1100-179 Lisboa
Website: @ovelhoeurico on Instagram
Should I book? Yes, about a month in advance via the email listed on their Instagram. If not, you will have to wait in line for about an hour (but you can drink while you wait).
✅ Tasca Baldaracca – With Friends
Best Lisbon restaurant for friends’ night out.
A few doors down from O Velho Eurico is Tasca Baldaracca, a family-owned and operated establishment. I stumbled over this Tasca when I just couldn’t be bothered with the line at O Velho Eurico, and what a surprise!
Baldaracca serves modern twists on classic Portuguese dishes. It also plays some amazing music; one of the brothers is always refilling your glass, and the seating is quite intimate – so it feels like you’re in someone’s house.
I would recommend groups of friends go here for a birthday or celebration, especially as the street the tasca is on has a few lively and fun bars to hop around at afterwards.
Price range: €
Address: Largo São Cristóvão nº3, 1100-179 Lisboa
Website: @ovelhoeurico on Instagram
✅ Cervejaria Ramiro – Seafood
Best Lisbon restaurant for seafood by the kilo!
When Anthony Bourdain visited Ramiro in 2013 for his No Reservations show, he basically turned this local cervejaria (beer bar) into a hot spot for everyone in Lisbon.
Despite the beer name, it’s all about the seafood—lobster, prawns, crab, you name it—and everything’s served by the kilo, so it’s definitely best to go with a group if you want to try a bit of everything.
I’m lucky that I live super close to Cervejaria Ramiro!
That said, while the place spans three floors, and be ready to wait for a table—it’s always packed!
Price range: €
Address: Av. Alm. Reis 1 H, 1150-007 Lisboa
Website: www.cervejariaramiro.com
✅ BAHR – Lisbon Views
Best Lisbon restaurant for fantastic views.
Ok, BAHR is one of the best hotels in Lisbon, and it’s in one of the liveliest neighborhoods (and where I used to live), Bairro Alto.
I know hotel dining can be hit or miss, but I wouldn’t be sending you here if it wasn’t an absolute winner.
Inside BAHR, you’ll find curved ceilings, cozy nooks, and a stunning wooden bar. It has an Art Deco vibe, and the cocktails are super creative and delicious.
I think the best part of BAHR is the terrace, where you can look over the city of Lisbon’s rooftops and the Tagus River, ideally around sunset.
For the food, you can expect Portuguese classics, of course, with a creative twist. Think garlicky grilled squid with beans and turnips and raw beef “pica-pau” tacos – but everything upscale.
Price range: €€
Address: Praça Luís de Camões nº 2, 1200-243 Lisboa
Website: bahr.pt
✅ Rocco – Fancy Date Night
Best Lisbon restaurant for date night.
I first went to Rocco with a friend of mine and sat at the bar, and it was a nice change of pace from the usual casual Portuguese vibe. Great for a date night or even a special event dinner.
Bust out the nice dress and heels for this one; people are definitely dressed to impress.
The food is classic Italian with a modern twist, so carpaccio, steak tartare, prawn risotto (my personal favorite), and rigatoni amatriciana. A highlight of our dinner was the tiramisu, which is made fresh to serve.
I also appreciated that the bartenders were well-versed in wine pairings and had an entire menu dedicated to the Negroni. It’s a night out, and both expats and locals are showing off here – definitely a vibe.
Price range: €€€
Address: R. Ivens 14, 1200-227 Lisboa
Website: rocco.pt
✅ Casa Reîa – Beachside
Best Lisbon’ish restaurant on the beach.
I arrived in Lisbon in August when summer was in full swing.
During the hotter months, everyone leaves the city and heads to the Caparica coast, just a 30-minute drive across the Tagus River. This is where Casa Reîa is located – it’s a beach restaurant that turns into a beach club at night.
The decor is beautiful, white, breezy, and the food is amazing and beautifully plated.
Think fish and rice, oysters, and local Portuguese wine for a long European lunch in the sand.
Best of all, the restaurant is right on the beach, so you can head to the water after lunch with a cocktail in hand.
I used to spend the whole day on the beach next to Casa Reia, have lunch and dinner there, and wait for the place to convert into a beach club – I’ve watched many sunsets to jazzy electronic sets here!
Price range: €€
Address: Praia da Cabana do Pescador, 2825-491 Costa da Caparica
Website: casareia.com
✅ Gunpowder Lisboa – Indian/Portuguese
Best Lisbon restaurant for upscale Indian food
If you know Gunpowder from London, you’ll already be a fan—they’ve got three spots there. Instead of expanding to another UK city, they’ve come south and blessed Lisbon with a beautiful Indian/Portuguese blend.
I don’t know about you, but every other week, I crave Asian food like every other American I know.
This is how I discovered Gunpowder – I went to their Sunday lunch, where they collaborate with guest chefs from Lisbon, and I never thought Indian and Texas BBQ could pair so well together.
The menu is familiar Indian but with a Mediterranean twist. Think Algarve oysters with pickled cucumbers, wild prawns with roasted garlic and tomato, and grilled stone bass with green coorgi sauce—all fresh and ready to pick from the fish display.
Pair it all with local Portuguese wines, and you’ve got the perfect place for a long, relaxed lunch or upscale evening with friends.
Price range: €€
Address: R. Nova da Trindade 13, 1200-303 Lisboa
Website: gunpowderrestaurants.pt
Where To Drink in Lisbon
There is no end to places you can drink in Lisbon, but again, it’s about finding the needle in the haystack.
These are my favorite cocktail bars and wine spots based on the expertise of the bartenders as well as the vibe and decor.
🍹 Imprensa Cocktail Bar
Address: R. da Imprensa Nacional 46, 1250-127 Lisboa
This is a cute little bar with amazing mixologists. Imprensa used to be an old print shop, but it has now been converted into an oyster and cocktail bar.
Fun Fact: They do serve amazing fresh food at the bar up to midnight.
It’s probably my favorite cocktail bar in Barrio Alto, and I go so often that I’ve even got my picture up behind the bar!
🍹 Cafe Klandestino
Address: R. da Imprensa Nacional 46, 1250-127 Lisboa
A little uphill from Avenida Liberdad, I think this is a hidden little gem on a residential street. The cocktails are similar to Imprensa but even more unique because it’s not as busy.
🍹 Liquid Love
Address: R. da Imprensa Nacional 46, 1250-127 Lisboa
Liquid Love is hard to find because it’s a bit unassuming in a quiet neighborhood.
When I went, it was dominated by a big group of gay men, and coming from Austin, I immediately fell in love with the vibe.
The ambiance is dark, and it feels very intimate inside compared to the glowy lights of both Imprensa and Cafe Klandestino, and the cocktails are phenomenal.
🍷 Vino Vero
Address: Tv. do Monte 30, 1170-265 Lisboa
It is a VIBE!
The Vino Vero owners are from Florence, but they opened up a second natural wine bar in Lisbon, located in Graça, about 5 minutes from where I live.
There are always people eating and drinking late into the night, spelling on the streets – and I think this is the spirit of Portugal.
🍷 Black Sheep
Address: Praça das Flores 62, 1200-192 Lisboa
Black Sheep is located in the famous Praça de Flores, which is a quiet park by day that turns into a hub where all the young cuties of Lisbon meet at night for a drink.
Around the park are a few restaurants and bars, but Black Sheep is the best, and most famous – and they serve only natural wines.
I love grabbing a glass of wine from Black Sheep and going out into the Praça with it to hang with my friends and people-watch.
What food and drink is Lisbon known for?
In Lisbon, the food is all about simple, fresh flavors that pack a punch. Here’s what you can’t miss:
- Pastel de Nata: These creamy, caramelized custard tarts are legendary. Head to Pastéis de Belém to grab one (or three), and enjoy with a sprinkle of cinnamon. My personal favorite pastels are from Mantegeria bakery, which is located in TimeOut Market.
- Bacalhau à Brás: Codfish is everywhere, but this dish—shredded salt cod mixed with eggs, onions, and crispy fries—is a favorite.
- Sardinhas Assadas: Grilled sardines, especially during festivals, are served simply with bread and a drizzle of olive oil. Messy, but worth it.
- Bifana: A soft roll stuffed with thinly sliced, marinated pork and a bit of mustard. It’s street food perfection.
- Ginjinha: A cherry liqueur served in tiny chocolate cups. It’s sweet, strong, and found at little hole-in-the-wall bars and tascas. You can always ask for one at the end of your meal.
- Vinho Verde: Light, slightly fizzy, and super refreshing. Perfect for sunny afternoons.
Where do local people eat in Lisbon?
The locals in Lisbon usually eat at their neighborhood tascas because it’s cheap and good, clean food.
In Graça, where I live, my favorite little hole in the wall is Tasca Estrela d’Ouro. I can have a home-cooked Portuguese meal for about €15, including wine and a final bica (espresso).
Is it expensive to eat and drink in Lisbon?
Eating and drinking in Lisbon is surprisingly cheap, especially compared to other European cities and probably your own hometown.
You can enjoy a full meal of fresh seafood or hearty Portuguese food for around €10-15 at a local tasca (small hole-in-the-wall cafe/restaurant. A bifana sandwich might set you back just €3-5.
A nice dinner with wine will cost about €20-30 per person, even at the trendy spots.
If you want to splurge, Lisbon has Michelin-starred restaurants where meals can range from €60-100, but even these tend to be more reasonably priced than similar spots in Paris or London.
Espresso (a bica) is everywhere and only about €1-1.50. A glass of ginjinha is around €1-2, and a cold beer (often a Sagres or Super Bock) is about €2-3.
A glass of house wine? Usually under €4, and a decent bottle at dinner can be as little as €10-15.
Can you walk and drink in Lisbon?
Yes, you can walk and drink in Lisbon, and it’s pretty common! Portugal doesn’t have strict open-container laws like some countries, so strolling with a beer or a cup of wine is generally fine.
My only ask is to be respectful. Don’t take your beer into churches or other historic sites. Just stick to the streets and parks, and make sure you use paper or plastic cups.
A FEW EXTRA SPOTS: Where To Eat & Drink in Lisbon
In conclusion, there are so many wonderful places to eat and drink in Lisbon. These are just my favorites and the ones that come recommended by my local Portuguese friends.
Here are a few more gems outside of the ones I mentioned above:
- Cacué for the “açorda de camarão” and a great date night spot!
- Taberna do Mar for their sardine nigiri – and a wonderful take on Portuguese-style omakase
- Jorge d’Amália for their “bitoque” and authentic Tasca-style vibe
- Insaciável is the cutest little wine bar with tiny plates on the esplanada, and it is great for people-watching!
- Mãe – Conzinha Com Amor for their “bacalhau à Brás” and hefty portions.
- Taberna Meia Porta for their “espetada de atum“
- Faz Frio – don’t worry about the line out the door; it goes fast, and you can drink cocktails on the street and make friends while you wait!
- Restaurante Come Prima for their black truffle pasta and a lovely walk in the beautiful Santos neighborhood afterward.
