3 Best Restaurants in Monsaraz, Évora and the Alentejo

At the entrance of this popular restaurant is a huge, rounded oven with an iron door, hence the name (forno is Portuguese for "oven"). Picture windows line the dining room and afford a spectacular view over the rolling plains. The Alentejan menu appropriately features roasts; one special dish worth trying is the borrego assado no forno (roast lamb prepared according to an ancient recipe of the nearby monastery).

This little restaurant in one of the old village houses has a devoted clientele that hails from both sides of the Portuguese–Spanish border. The dining room is small, but there is a terrace for outside dining with views over the valley to distant mountains. The menu is classic Alentejo, with good lamb roasts and hearty casseroles. Although their main specialty is ensopado de borrego (lamb stew), the grilled fish dishes are also excellent. When available; try the chocos grelhados (grilled squid) or the peixe espada grelhada (charcoal-grilled swordfish).

In the village of Reguengos de Monsaraz, O Gato is a bed and breakfast, pastry shop, and restaurant in a traditional Alentejan white-stucco building with blue awnings. It's a huge favorite with locals, serving traditional fare like lamb stew made with fresh herbs and spices. There's an extensive wine list.