In July 2026 I enjoyed a return trip to Lisbon, thirteen years after my first visit to Portugal’s capital. I must admit I can’t remember a huge amount about my first time other than thinking it was great and hoping to return. This holiday was a slower pace with three full days to explore packing in plenty of treats and steps. Lisbon is an absolute foodie destination but it’s also got something for everyone with Speciality Coffee Shops, Pastel de nata Bakeries, Wine Bars, Tapas restaurants, Food Courts and so much more. As I’m writing this I’m dreaming of going back to head to all of these again and more besides…! I’ve combined my favourite fifteen places to eat and drink from my most recent trip in this post and I hope you find it useful for your visit to Lisbon 💛
1. Pomme Eatery
Category: Dinner/Lunch & Drinks
Pomme Eatery is a charming spot to stop for drinks or book a table to sample their delicious food as well. I highly recommend that you do book although they do have walk in tables as well. We were super lucky that some people must have just left as we walked straight in but other people were having to wait or opt for another day.
As the name suggests, Pomme has speciality ciders to taste as well as Portuguese wines (plus some from a handful of other countries. The atmosphere is bright and airy with a light buzz. Just enough to give a vibe without being too overwhelming. I chose the chicken kiev to eat which was packed with flavour and the portion size just perfect for me. My friend is gluten free and Pomme had a number of options that were great choices for GF and some that could be modified in order to remove the gluten element. She ordered the beef skewers & fries, both of which looked exceptional!
2. The Folks
Best For: Speciality Coffee, Breakfast & Brunch
Coffee spots are always the first to be pinned on my Google Maps & Pinterest boards when researching a holiday and Lisbon was no exception. It would have been impossible (and come on, I’m not made of money 😉) to taste all of the best ones but The Folks I have got to recommend! It’s a Lisbon chain and as you explore the city, you’ll see The Folks popping up again and again. My flat white was smooth and silky with a great flavour – they know their beans! Each branch looked like it would make a perfect brunch spot as well.
3. Manteigaria
Best For: Pastel de natas
I may have eaten a minimum of ten pastel de natas during my trip to Lisbon. Five them were in one day. Three of theme were from Manteigaria. The first one I ate in fact was from Manteigaria and it was the peak of the pastel de nata train. It was 8:30 in the morning and the branch at Praça Dom Pedro IV had only just started baking for the day. It was creamy. It was oozy. It was warm. It had the perfect hint of cinnamon and the perfect flake to the pastry. I already couldn’t wait to try another.
Manteigaria has a few outlets around Lisbon and is highly competitive to be the best pastel de nata in the city although Pastéis de Belém is the big competitor to fight off as the oldest (although slightly different to other pastel de natas you’ll have with a firmer crust) with its secret from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
4. Magnolia
Best For: Lunch & Wine
Magnolia was an Instagram find. As soon as I started looking up one or two places for food and drinks in Lisbon, every other reel or carousel seemed to be about the exact same thing and my ‘saved’ folder explored… The algorithm is terrifying at times and incredible helpful at others. Anyway sorry, back to Magnolia. This little beauty of a wine bar looks like it should be on the corner of a charming village street not in the middle of a busy European capital city and so it’s a darling place to come. Book a table if you want to secure a spot but you may be fine if you’re happy to wait, with walk in.
I cannot tell you how good the focaccia with the buratta / pesto bowl was 🤤 The fresh, zingy pesto was served with the creamy buratta in a bowl and the warm, crusty focaccia on the side to dip in. A perfect lunchtime treat paired with a cold, crisp & dry white wine.
5. SOL Restaurante e Jardim
Best For: Drinks
For a drink with a view, don’t miss SOL Restaurante e Jardim, located at one of Lisbon’s famous Miradouros. The viewpoints can get pretty crowded and hectic as tourists jostle to get a photo so enjoy a slower hour or two with a wine or a beer at SOL. The view is stunning and the vibes relaxed. We visited early in the afternoon but I’m sure this spot would be dreamy at sunset. Whilst the sun sets in the opposite direction, the light on the ocean and the colours of the sky as the sun dips its weary head beneath the horizon will be phenomenal.
6. Amun
Best For: Brunch & Breakfast
Amun was a short ten minute walk around the corner from our hotel and sets itself apart from other brunch or breakfast locations with an attitude of being geared towards health conscious options. I took that approach with a fresh and flavourful green juice which looked as good as it tasted and a bowl of overnight oats which definitely hit both the taste bud spot and the fueling for a day of hitting the city streets spot! There are plenty of tables at Amun and their strict laptop policy for certain hours will suit anyone who has a distaste of seeing the screens out and headphones on.
7. Breakfast Lovers
Best For: Brunch & Breakfast
Breakfast Lovers is iconic for its locations with views of Lisbon’s famous yellow trams. The trams are absolute icons of the city and you’ll be spotting as many as you can and trying to get a great snap during your trip. At Breakfast Lovers Misericórdia, you need to get a window seat and you’ll see trams passing the window – a perfect capture. For the best tram spot in the city, head to Breakfast Lovers Tram 28 which has a handful of tables which are located on a little island of pavement which sticks into the road. This means that you can take a photo with the tram coming directly behind you which is pretty cool! Combine some yellow tram spotting with great food and coffees and the Breakfast Lovers cafes are an iconic Lisbon experience.
I definitely thought that you’d have to book these spots in advance so we must have got pretty lucky that on our Saturday afternoon in Lisbon we managed to snag one of those Tram 28 tables, an iced coffee to cool down with and plenty of ‘it’s coming, it’s coming, quick pose!’.
8. Vibeyard
Best For: Wine & Small Plates
We had a private wine tasting at Vibeyard which was a fabulous way to spend an evening. Our host was super knowledgeable but also gave us plenty of time to chat and savour each wine ourselves. From red, to white, to sparkling and rosé, every sample was intriguing with different notes to pick out. I was especially impressed by a northern, coastal Portuguese wine which had a salty note from the salinity of the ocean air the grapes would have been grown within. The food that went alongside was also delicious, seasonal and paired to go well with the wine we were tasting. We loved the vibe of Vibeyard (sorry I know!) which felt cosy and intimate with curved lines and soft lighting. You can book the wine tasting that I loved below 👇
9. The Coffee
Best For: Speciality Coffee
I first visited The Coffee in Luxembourg a few months prior to my trip to Lisbon. This is a speciality coffee shop with a minimalist vibe so you know that their focus is very much on the coffee itself. The Coffee began in Brazil when three brothers were inspired by the simplicity and quality of Japanese coffee shops. You’ll find them in 30 countries around the world but with the focus on perfection and perfect coffee a constant tie. In both experiences I’ve had, you order through an Tablet with plenty of options for customisation so you can build your brew.
10. Zenith
Best For: Breakfast & Brunch
Zenith was the site of our final brunch of the trip and it was a chunky, indulgent and delicious one. It was their incredible pancakes which stood out and because they could do Gluten Free versions, meant that we could order two different flavours and then half them to get a taste of more than one. What a treat! And a good thing too because it was hard enough working out which two we should get let alone if it had to be just the one! We opted for one Banana Flambé and one Matcha & Berries and admittedly both think the banana pancakes had the edge. If you enjoy a hit of matcha you be disappointed as the flavour wasn’t strong but I have to confess was perfect for me as I’m not a fan of the strong earthy taste you can often get from it!
11. Fabrica de Nata
Best For: Pastel de natas
I first tasted a Fabrica de Nata pastel de nata in Porto, it was my first Portugeuse tart of the decade in fact and it was so creamy. When I spotted another outlet in Lisbon on Rua Augusta I knew I had to try one again, even if it may have been my fourth of the day. They’re flakey, creamy and perfection in just a couple of bites. Another pastel de nata treat.
12. Time Out Market Lisbon
Best For: Lunch & Dinner
There are more and more Time Out Markets in major cities around the world and they’re food courts designed to bring together some of the best food and drink in each city that they’re based. So, head to the Time Out location in Lisbon (which is actually the original Time Out Market!) down at Mercado da Ribeira. The court is visually stunning and you’ll be struck by how many different cuisines, treats and chefs feature in one spot. You can grab a bifana from a Michelin starred chef’s kitchen, big, sweet doughnuts from Crush or sample all sorts of different flavoured croquettes from Croqueteria.
13. Padaria 110
Best For: Pastries
Ooh the pastries in the window of Padaria 110 will make your mouth water so the challenge here is trying to decide which one you’re going to go for! Take a friend so that you can split two in half 😉 You can see the bakery through the back window of the cafe and watch the care and expertise of the bakers as they laminate and fold and prep the pastries. I had a honey & salt pastry which was so flakey, so buttery and the combination of sweet and salted was exceptional.
14. Chez Béa
Best For: Breakfast & Brunch
Chez Béa is a crêperies in downtown Lisbon which brings a touch of Brittany to Portugal’s capital city. The spot is relaxed and cosy and the menu has a vast array of options including plenty for Gluten Free & Vegan choices as well. There are SO many fillings for your crêpe or gallette to choose from that you will absolutely find something to suit your taste buds. I chose a yoghurt & granola bowl for something a little lighter.
15. Beco a Sério
Best For: Dinner & Small Plates
Beco a Sério felt like a bit of a hidden gem find, although the number of reviews on Google Maps (1,000+) would suggest it isn’t really a hidden gem, because it’s tucked away on a little courtyard and when we arrived was pretty quiet and easy to get an early dinner reservation. The owner is very friendly and welcoming. There are plenty of main options but we decided to do a little tapas sharing with the starters and a crisp glass of wine. There was such a relaxed atmosphere as other people kept filtering in as well, I always find there’s something about a courtyard spot like this. If you’re looking for Gluten Free, this is a great dinner option, they even advertise it on the standing board outside!
For more Europe Food & Drink content, check out some of my other posts below 👇
Cat x