Looking for updated AMAZING recommendations for food! Tell me the best little hidden gems! Not looking for the Michelin Star bit still can be fancy. What amazing mouthwatering meals did you find around the following areas? Need a good mix! We are not picky, we love all food. Areas of interest. Lisbon, Belem, Cascais, Sintra, Obidos, Arrabal, Coimbra, Porto, Evora.
In Evora, you must eat at Botequim da Mouraria. I had the best meal there in all of Portugal! It’s small and intimate. Counter seating. If they don’t take reservations, get there early or be prepared for a looong wait.
In Porto, friends recommended Restaurante Acadia Do Porto. Wonder seafood, family atmosphere, great food and ambience.
Lisbon:
Solar Beira with river view in Cacilhas, across the river from Lisbon. You take a short ferry ride
Grilled sea bream at Taverna Alfacinha, near Rossio Square
Clams and spaghetti at Maritimo in Cascais. Can’t beat the ambiance in a garden setting just off the square
Coimbra:
Cafe con leite and pasteis de nata at Biquinha near the train station. Wonderful small community cafe
OCroisant for delicious breakfast bowl of savory chicken, avocado, shredded veggies and mango
Seafood ravioli and bruschetta at Il Tartufo
Porto:
Pedro dos Frangos For delicious half-chicken barbecue on spit. Get there early because there will be a line out the door after 7:30-8:00 even on a rainy night
I hesitate to recommend anything from my last trip, since it was just pre-pandemic, but I will be in Lisbon in April, so have been looking.
My general advice is to do some searching for blogs, both articles and YouTube videos. James Blick from Devour Tours has at least one, maybe two on Lisbon that are good. I have a short list of smaller Tascas and Seafood places on a short list, of which I might be able to hit two or three.
If you’re looking for a mix of food experiences, you gotta have at least one fancier place. Its not actually a Michelin Star place, but in Evora, we really enjoyed the Pousada Conventa.
@Cyn we definitely do fancy but we prefer to pick our own meal. The 6 course set menu we do not preference. Thank you for the recommendation!
Hello- I was just in Portugal for a week after an extended solo trip to Spain. I loved both! I love good food so would like to give you my recommendations.
So in Cascais, I stayed at the Hotel Albatroz. It was a splurge and it was beautiful. I highly recommend- having lunch or dinner on the outside patio overlooking the sea. The food is incredible, the people are kind and just a beautiful atmosphere- even if you don’t stay in the hotel. The food is so gourmet good. Check out the menu. Expensive but delicious and one of a kind ocean views.
https://www.thealbatrozcollection.com/albatrozhotel/m/restaurants
In Cascais, I also loved Hifen. Great restaurant! Extremely delicious- Fresh- not too expensive either for the quality.
https://hifenrestaurant.squarespace.com/
The Cascais market was fun to pick out fresh seafood and have it cooked to order! That is what one of my private tour guides recommended as his favorite for an authentic local meal.
I loved it but loved the Albatroz and Hifen better if you are on a tight time schedule. Probably just depends on what you happen to order, too!
In Lisbon- I LOVED Cantinho do Avillez- In Chiado- a lovely Lisbon neighborhood close to the center of everything- a casual restaurant from a famous chef. So so so incredible and delicious. They were so kind and lovely there! It was a real experience and again- not too hard on the wallet- comparatively speaking.
https://www.cantinhodoavillez.pt/en/
I also did an extremely fun food tour in Lisbon by Devour that was just fun and great food and wine! You can google Devour Lisbon food tours. Great way to see a bit of the city and learn as well as have some great food. I met some really fun people on the tour- so much fun.
I would recommend making reservations in advance for all. I hope you have a wonderful time!
Lisa