Tripadvisor Lisbon Restaurants (2024)

FAQs

What time do most people eat dinner in Lisbon? ›

The main meals are lunch, between 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., which is often eaten at a restaurant near work, and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.Most people eat a full meal including soup, a main dish and dessert or fruit.

While €40–50 per day is enough to eat at the best local cafés and tascas, you might want to check out some fancier places. For example, dinner at Bairro do Avillez or Cervejaria Ramiro will set you back at least €50 per person. And at the best bars in Lisbon, you'll pay €10–15 for each co*cktail.

Breakfast turns to brunch, lunch prolongs until late afternoon, and dinner gets delayed so you can enjoy that last bit of sunshine. There's always an excuse to eat in Portugal. Even in between the big meals, like lunch and dinner, locals love to have a quick snack.

Most commonly, the Portuguese will have something simple, like toast with butter, however, there are a few more bread selections to choose from. Croissant: either plain or with ham and cheese for a bit more sustenance. Toast: as mentioned, usually with butter. However, some people swap out butter for fruit jelly.

Intendente and Anjos Two of the more central neighborhoods in Lisbon are considered areas to avoid because of their proximity to Lisbon's Red Light district.

Lisboetas, Lisbon locals, in general even tend to recognize that the food might actually be better in Porto and its surroundings, especially traditional dishes.

Ginjinha is almost as iconic as pastéis de nata, and as much a cultural fixture as Lisbon's azulejo tiles. It's tasty, affordable, and undeniably emblematic of Portuguese culture. But beneath the surface of its obvious appeal, there's much more to discover about this iconic drink.

What is the national dish of Lisbon? ›

The national dish of Portugal is considered to be Bachlhau, which is a salted cod that can be prepared in hundreds of ways. Two popular Bacalhau dishes in Lisbon include Bacalhau à brás (shredded cod with fried potatoes and onions) and Bacalhau com natas (cod with cream).

Plan to tip around 10-15% in Lisbon restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Lisbon depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.

If you have to choose one or the other, choose cash. The Portuguese prefer it, so that would be your safest choice. Bring it with you if you're travelling to smaller towns or the countryside, because it's likely that cash will be your only option.

Food and drinks

An espresso coffee, which is so popular amongst the Portuguese and is normally referred to as a “bica”, costs around €0.55 to €0.80 at the counter of a traditional café. A galão (cup of coffee with milk) may cost between €0.75 and €1.35 and a cup of tea between €1 and €1.7.

Late-Evening Dinners Are Typical

Residents of both Portugal and Spain tend to eat dinner late (10 PM is not unheard of). But restaurants do open for the evening meal earlier if you'd rather not eat that late. Even when visiting a popular restaurant, you'll often get a table if you show up at 7 PM.

The Portuguese tend to start their nights out late, around 11pm or even midnight. But plenty of clubs stay open until 6am at weekends, so don't succumb to FOMO if you don't start early and try to build in a power nap before. Musically speaking, Lisbon's nightlife is renowned for its eclectic mix.

Portuguese restaurants are usually open for lunch from 12:00 to 15:00. Dinner is served between 19:30 and 23:00 although there are always a few restaurants that are open until 02:00.

Like much of Europe, many Portuguese people eat lunch around 1pm or later. Dinner isn't usually served until around 8:30pm or 9pm. Most restaurants and shops will close around 3pm for the afternoon siesta and won't reopen until 7:30pm.