There are so many great restaurants and food markets in Lison. We recommend unique hidden gems that will make your vacation in Lisbon more memorable. To us, these are must-visits.
Restaurant
Sem
There are many great Micheline star restaurants in Lisbon like Alma, Belcanto, Epur, Loco, and Fifty Seconds. If you are in the mood for something different and pocket friendly, try Sem, a restaurant beyond farm-to-table. There’s both tasting and a la carte menu.
We spoke with Chef George McLeod after a delightful meal. The highlight was this incredibly tender and deep-flavored 14-year-old beef sirloin. Chef McLeod’s core concept and passion is zero waste. 14-year old beef is one way of proving his point. He learned techniques at London’s first zero-waste restaurant, Silo, eventually as a head chef. George and his Portuguese wife and chef opened Sem in Lisbon during the pandemic. They not only source seasonal ingredients from local producers, they would ask some producers to grow special varietals for the restaurant from the seeds they provided.
As a result of zero-waste practice, you can also taste really interesting flavors from natural fermentation. The creative fermentation in combination with superb seasonal ingredients is what makes Sem so good and special.
As Bifanas do Afonso & Solar da Madalena
Hole-in-the-wall 3-euro comfort food, anyone? As Bifanas do Afonso and Solar da Madalena have the best bifanas, traditional Portuguese pork hot sandwiches street food. The pork is marinated in dry white wine, garlic and spices. You can add mustard or hot sauce to your liking. For a busy sightseeing day, grabbing a bifana is just perfect. As Bifanas do Afonso is mainly for lunch. Solar da Madalena opens till 8pm.
Seafood
The line at Ramiro is just too long, and the price higher than seafood restaurants in other regions of Portugal. If you are visiting Porto or Algarve too, we recommend indulging on seafood outside of Lisbon. But below are a couple of great seafood options in Lisbon.
Sal, Marisco & Co
Sal, Marisco & Co is a high quality seafood shop at a fair price. You can dine in, take out, or buy fresh. They source seafood from all over Portugal. You’ll find a great variety for you to try. Lobsters, gooseneck barnacles (percebes), oysters, crabs, clams, prawns, crayfish, and so much more.
Peixaria Sá & Fihos
Peixaria Sá & Fihos is a local’s favorite store for super fresh fish. It’s clean and has a big variety of fish at an excellent price. If your Airbnb has a kitchen and you are feeling adventurous with cooking fish, Peixaria Sá & Fihos will not disappoint.
Dessert
Portuguese natas are like a hybrid of croissant and Crème brûlée. Places like Pastéis de Belém, Manteigaria, Castro and Fábrica da Nata are must trys. But if you’d like a chance of scene for desserts, here are some world-class finds in Lisbon.
Bolo d’Oro
Bolo d’Oro’s egg tarts and fruit tarts are lighter than natas but not any less delicious. The owner proudly uses his grandmother’s recipes. The place is also just super cute and artisanal to grab a tart and a cup of coffee at, for a really good price. Bolo d’Oro – Fábrica de bolos de pão is the second shop they recently opened.
Alice Gelato
We’ve tried almost all gelato places in Lisbon and Porto, and lots and lots in Italy. Alice’s Gelato is surprisingly the best in Portugal and can definitely compete with the top in Italy. The secret is simply really good and 100% natural ingredients plus excellent techniques. They have flavors like passion fruit and mascarpone. Granita is available too.
Landeau Chocolate
Landeau Chocolate’s chocolate cake is just delightful. Not too sweet or heavy. It’s velvety and quality chocolate. The hot chocolate is fabulous too. Landeau Chocolate’s other location at LxFactory is also really fun to visit. LxFactory is an artsy center with lots of cool shops, restaurants, and of course, arts.
Bread
Gleba
Gleba is an impressive bread bakery, if not the best in Lison. The closest to the city center is in the Campo de Ourique neighborhood market. What’s special about Gleba is that not only they have artisan bread, they use different sources or varieties of flour for some bread so you can taste the difference. You can buy specialty flour there too.
Tea
Companhia Portugueza do Chá
Companhia Portugueza do Chá is like a 19th century tea shop with a very wide variety of tea selection. Their Lisbon breakfast tea is incredibly fragrant compared to typical black tea. There is a huge tin for you to smell. Their earl grey uses bergamots from Algarve. It’s in a neighborhood of design shops and cafes, perfect for a lazy afternoon stroll.
