With local tascas, where fresh fish is shared over cold beers, and Michelin-starred spots that lead the way when it comes to global cuisine, Portugal’s capital is a foodie haven. This is where to eat in Lisbon.
When it comes to where to eat in a city, local knowledge is a good way to start. And perhaps no one knows Lisbon’s culinary scene better than chef Olivier da Costa, one of Portugal’s most renowned chefs. With an accolade of over 30 restaurants spanning three continents and seven countries, there’s no doubt that food is his art. It all started in his father’s kitchen (who was one of Portugal’s first chefs to win a Michelin Star) and, with a lot of grit, has evolved into the global empire – spanning innovative Portuguese, Mexican, and Japanese cuisines – that it is today. Many of Olivier da Costa’s flagship restaurants are based in the foodie capital of Lisbon.
Blessed with an expansive Atlantic coastline and a varying climate, the Iberian country’s cuisine leads with freshly caught fish, locally grown greens, and rich stews. But that’s not all there is to it. As a foodie capital of Europe, Lisbon is a vibrant city of contrasts, a place where both natural wine bars and traditional tascas thrive. It’s both forward thinking and proud of its past, and these restaurants reflect that. Here are ten of the best restaurants in Lisbon to bookmark for your next trip to Portugal’s capital city.
ÀCosta By Olivier
The first pitstop when you arrive in Portugal’s capital should be somewhere for really great Portuguese food, and ÀCosta by Olivier, Oliver da Costa’s signature Portuguese restaurant, is the place for it. Set on the harbour-side, the restaurant overlooks where the Tejo river rolls into the sea, and to the back, Lisbon Cathedral and brightly coloured buildings stagger up the city’s famously steep hilltops. This airy space merges sophisticated city dining with breezy coastal lunches to create an amiable ambiance that you could sit in all day. Look around and you’ll find lots of locals enjoying a long lunch with family and close friends (always a good sign). A meander through the à la carte menu will introduce you to over 700 years of Portuguese cuisine, which is the focus here, homaging Olivier da Costa’s roots. Start with clams à bulhao pato (steamed in garlic, white wine, and garnished with herbs) before moving on to seafood bitoque. The beauty of Portuguese cuisine – which Olivier da Costa masters – is the simplicity of it all. The very best quality fish and finest cuts of meats plus fresh, seasonal vegetables from local supplies, mingle with olive oil, garlic, lemon and salts for wonderfully rich and fresh flavours. This is where the chef’s culinary heritage shines through – in the likes of roasted codfish served with greens, peppers, and potatoes, and slowly-cooked lobster risotto.
Yakuza
Another of Olivier da Costa’s creations, but vastly different from the rest, is Yakuza. With spots in the Algarve, Cascais, Porto, and Tenerife and also Olivier’s home city of Lisbon – each as covetable as the next – it’s here the chef-prenenur blends flavours of the West and East. The exterior is unsuspecting, tucked away for those in the know. A secret entrance later, you’ve arrived into one of the most stylish venues in Lisbon, decorated with lantern lighting, artwork, purple orchids and plenty of fresh greenery as envisioned by Olivier da Costa himself. And the menu is just as exciting. A large, colourful mural hangs over the expansive open kitchen where top chefs shape sushi and fresh sashimi from the catch-of-the-day by hand. Start with Margarita Yakuza or Mojito Yakuza at the bar, before you are shown to your table, where sculptural, iced bowls stacked with sushi pieces (think eel, foie gras and apple sunomono, or salmon, toro tuna, king crab, crispy sweet potato and shisho pieces) and flowing with dry ice will soon arrive. There is an immaculate attention to detail here, with each edible flower garnish hand-cut into intricate shapes. Quail egg confit and sharp truffles burst through the Wagyu satsuma nigiri, while succulent king crab is served straight from the claw – a feast for all the senses.
Cervejaria Ramiro
“Cervejaria” translates to brewery, and is traditionally a spot for catching up over chilled imperials (small beers) and bar snacks – a core part of any Portuguese town and city. A common concept, yet there is nothing common about this eatery – perhaps the appraisal of the late American celebrity chef and critic Anthony Bourdain is testament enough. Shying away from the modernising city around it, Cervejaria Ramiro’s appeal has remained the same since it opened in the 1950s, with chargrilled langoustines, fresh garlicky vongole, and pink table clothes. Head here for a focus on simple, flame-cooked and salt-baked dishes. It may be touristy, but it’s worth your time.
Canalha
The tasca takes on a new look at Canalha, to the tune of sleek wood and stone interiors, plates of fresh swordfish doused in lemon, and sea urchin served up like objects d’art. Chef João Rodrigues is the man behind the menu, which focuses on local ocean catches, seasonal greens, and free-range meats across sharing plates – best enjoyed alongside good conversation and topped off with the leite crème – Portugal’s take on the French crème brûlée. With a Bib Gourmand stamp of approval behind it, and a constant influx of adoring crowds from near and far, Canalha is the spot you’ll want to know in Lisbon for fuss-free but full-of-flavour food.
K. O. B.
K. O. B. stands for Knowledge of Beef, and is the steakhouse in Lisbon for the discerning carnivore. First opened in 2014, the restaurant has remained a stylish spot ever since, with dark-blue walls, dark-wood detailing, and custom-designed lamps creating a sophisticated atmosphere. You’ll find all kinds of meat cuts available here, from Wagyu strip steak and to 35-day-aged Black Angus, with the resident butchers onsite to talk you through it all. After you make your pick, they will be seared how you like them and served simply with salt to let the strong flavours shine through – only the finest meats are used here. Plenty of side dishes accompany mains, including truffle potato mash and grilled garlicky greens. The wine list is long to complement the variety of meat offerings, and is selected to pair with the different cuts – with recommendations just an ask away.
SEEN by Olivier
A place to see and be seen is the concept for this stylish rooftop bar and restaurant. Located on the top floor of the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade hotel on Lisbon’s central avenue, SEEN by Olivier attracts Lisbon’s sartorial crowds, and is one for the night owls. A bustling, square bar built around a tree is the focal point once you’re ushered inside. Let the DJ’s pulsating beats entice you further, where a staggering of booth seatings and a great menu await. The SEEN by Olivier mule (served with fresh ginger foam) or sharp wasabi papi cocktail pair perfectly with tacos made from fresh catch-of-the-day ceviche, beef gyoza, or a fresh oyster or two. A large terrace overlooking the city’s famous terracotta rooftops is perfect for watching the pink sun go down over the river, while the music picks up inside.
Encanto
While Portuguese cuisine sways towards the likes of “bifana” (a small beef sandwich) and “bacalau” (codfish), there is still plenty of room for vegetable dishes to shine through, as restaurant Encanto’s 100 per cent vegetarian tasting menu (sometimes with sea shell decorations) proves. Starting off the bat impressively with a Michelin Star awarded the first year the restaurant opened and a Green Star following the following year (2025), Encanto’s praises are well sung in the food world. As impressive as the menu of radish dumplings with pine-nut tofu, and leeks and truffle tarte, is the ethos: 85 per cent of the restaurant’s ingredients come from local suppliers, each picked out by head chef Jose Avillez. Local cooking done differently.
Cafe Do Paço
If you want to venture back to Portugal in the mid-twentieth century during a weekend away, head to the Anjos side of central Lisbon and step inside Cafe do Paço which feels like it hasn’t changed for decades, in all the best ways. Dark-oak panelled walls, chandelier lighting, and red-velvet seating lead the way for the decor, while the menu remains just as alluring. Classic cuts of meats, fried eggs, french fries – all the hearty classics champion the short menu – with a great selection of mousses to finish.
Corrupio
Sitting down for lunch, aperitivo or a relaxed dinner with friends is a typical European pastime, one that is well-loved across Portugal’s capital. Do it the “proper” way with a seat at the counter in Corrupio, where plates of the very best local meats, fishes, and wines from the Iberian peninsula are served up. The team at Corrupio set out to re-introduce a menu of the country’s hearty culinary classics, with a refreshed touch, and to a contemporary audience. A relaxed version of a chef’s table, watch it all come to life with a seat at the counter. Plates of octopus salad, smoked tuna, and endive salad are washed down with crisp vinho verde and conversations with close friends. Portuguese music playing in the background makes for an afternoon well spent in Portugal’s sunny city.
Prado
Is “sea-to-land” the new “farm-to-table”? Perhaps. But Prado does both. Fusing the very best produce from both farm and sea, diners will delight in the likes of smoked eel with goat’s butter and Jerusalem artichoke, or marinated mackerel with a fresh green-apple juice, olives, and capers, or perhaps braised Barossã beef. Experimental, yet doing a lot with little (to minimise food waste), Prado is modernising what Portuguese cuisine looks like, combining traditional cuts of local meats and catch-of-the-day with fermented ingredients, sharp marinades, and indulgent garnishes. The Prado Menu offers a selection of it all, with a wine pairing of natural and biodynamic bottles available to jazz up the evening. Set within a former fish factory in downtown Lisbon, the spot attracts a contemporary crowd of tastebuds looking for food flair.
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Lead image: ÀCosta by Olivier
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