22 Best Restaurants in Chiado and Bairro Alto, Lisbon

Dating from 1905, Lisbon’s most famous café maintains its dazzling art deco interior, though you'll probably prefer to take a quick peek and then settle in at one of the handful of tables outside to watch the lively street scenes unfold. The coffee no longer comes exclusively from the former colony that gave the place its name, but it still serves some of the best in town, alongside tasty cakes, pastries, and artfully-presented fish and seafood dishes.

José Avillez, one of the city's most distinguished chefs, has created his own foodie "neighborhood" incorporating a range of dining styles. For formal meals, there's the spectacular Páteo (a wrought-iron balcony encircles the room, which is illuminated by an enormous skylight) and a more casual tavern called Taberna (the kind of place where haunches of ham hang over the bar). Then there's Pizzaria Lisboa, where the thin-crust pies are prepared with great care; and Mini Bar, a secluded and dimly-lit spot for intimate drinks and small plates for sharing. 

With two Michelin stars, Belcanto is another jewel in the crown of celebrity chef José Avillez and is one of Lisbon's most celebrated restaurants. Widely credited with putting Avillez (and Portuguese cuisine) on the culinary world stage, the restaurant uses the latest gastronomic techniques to update traditional dishes. The dining room is just as refined, with every course placed before you with a flourish by an expert staff.

Celebrated Sarajevo-born chef Ljubomir Stanisic has earned awards not just for his unconventional approach to food, but also for the slick design of his restaurants. At Bistro 100 Maneiras, expect to be wowed by the thoughtful redesign of a handsome art deco building as well as by the ever-changing menu and the expertly crafted cocktails.

Occupying a corner of one of downtown’s grandest squares, Delfina Cantina Portuguesa bills itself as an upscale Portuguese deli. It's the house restaurant at the chic AlmaLusa boutique hotel, but all are welcome to enjoy the tapas-style small plates throughout the day and night, as well as more substantial meals like bacalhau à brás (rich shredded cod).

You don't need to be a guest at snazzy Chiado hotel The Ivens in order to snag at table at its most glamorous restaurant, but you will need to book in advance: these are some of the most coveted seats in town. Perch yourself on one of the high seats for communal dining and watch the talented mixologists create the perfect cocktail to accompany light sharing dishes like tuna tartare with wasabi pearls and avocado. Negroni lovers are in for a treat: there's an entire menu dedicated to the drink, and the Negroni de Cacau is dangerously delicious. 

This restaurant is a modern spin on Lisbon's traditional fish markets and beer halls, with a dash of Japanese flair. Take your pick from vast glass display cabinets of fish and crustaceans, and have it prepared on the spot in a variety of ways, whether it's dunked whole into the cooking pot or fileted and tossed onto the grill. Alongside the Chiado original, there's a smaller branch inside Time Out market. 

Imaginative small plates are the main attraction at this trendy seafood-focused spot, which also has nice vegan options. The ceviche is hugely popular, and with good reason. There's even a fish-free version made with tofu.

In this traditional restaurant, one of the oldest in Lisbon, the courteous staff serve up Portuguese classics and pair them with one of the 600 choices on the wine list. In the charmingly old-fashioned dining room, bottles are on display like works of art.

Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa’s fine-dining restaurant moved from its original location in Santos to Chiado in 2015, but the name was the only thing that was inherited from the previous space. The decor became darker and minimalist, and the entire menu was changed, adding a slight Asian touch to the contemporary Portuguese cuisine. His hard work paid off—the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in just a few months, and by 2022 had gained a second of the coveted stars. 

The intimate, dimly lit space and musical backdrop of tinkling jazz make a memorable setting for sampling delicious versions of traditional Portuguese food and drink. Standouts on the menu include possibly the creamiest bacalhau à brás (codfish mixed with egg and matchstick potatoes) in Lisbon, and a photo-worthy flaming choriço. The wine list is good, with a crowd-pleasing vinho verde and notable whites from the Alentejo. Bring cash, as international cards are not accepted.

The tables outside this reliable café are the perfect place to watch the old trams go by, while an interior reading room offers a quiet space to relax with a book and a meal or snack. Less touristy than some of the others nearby, it still attracts artists from the neighboring theaters who stop for a drink.

The "little corner of peace" is as cozy and welcoming as its name suggests. The wood-paneled restaurant specializes in foods from the former Portuguese colony of Goa—otherwise surprisingly hard to find in Lisbon—resulting in uniquely Portuguese-Indian dishes. The friendly English-speaking staff can guide you through the menu.

This place hasn’t changed a bit over the years, from the beams across the ceiling to the harnesses and wagon wheels that serve as decor. It's a favorite among locals, who come here to enjoy friendly service and a hearty taste of food from the Alentejo region among the bustle of the Bairro Alto.

Today it's a lively spot for petiscos and cocktails, but Casa Faz Frio was once the location for secret political meetings (and romantic trysts) thanks to its secluded gabinetes (booths). It's been given a top-to-toe overhaul, but retains its paneled booths, tiled floors, and other details from its more than 150 years of history. Light dishes such as chilled tomato soup and tapas-style plates for sharing make for sociable dining in a cozy bar-restaurant. 

There’s an enormous array of top-quality Portuguese cheeses, wines, and petiscos on the menu at Grapes & Bites. Nightly live sets from talented local and international solo artists add an extra dash of panache to the proceedings. 

The inspiration for this restaurant's food comes from Argentina, so expect a beef-heavy menu that has long made it a favorite among Lisbon’s carnivores. You’ll also find fish dishes borrowed from traditional Portuguese cuisine, and a couple of vegetarian options, too.

For some of the best ice cream and sorbets in town, drop into this branch of a family-run chain founded in 1949. New flavors are introduced regularly, but all stick to the tradition of using only fresh fruits and all-natural ingredients.

Named after the mythical water nymphs of the Tagus River, this place is divided into two parts: a sleek, modern dining room serving refined versions of Portuguese dishes upstairs and a more relaxed wine-and-tapas bar downstairs. Both spaces face the river, so the tables by the windows are some of the most coveted in town.

An unpretentious traditional tasca (tavern) hidden among Bairro Alto’s many noisy cocktail bars and tourist traps, Tasca do Manel serves hearty portions of excellent Portuguese food at fair prices. The fish soup and duck rice are house specialties, as are the homemade wine and the potent bagaço (Portuguese grappa) that usually rounds off a meal here.

A lively crowd gathers in the chic dining room of this contemporary restaurant (once the Swiss ambassador's residence), packs into the backyard terrace, and jostles for a spot at the cocktail bar. The zero-waste menu, which changes regularly, focuses on fresh seasonal ingredients, all sourced from Portuguese shores. There's an emphasis on fire and flame, so expect smoked, chargrilled, and barbecued treats like squid from the Azores and prawns from the Algarve. Daily vegetarian options ensures everyone is happy.