10 Great and cheap places to eat in Lisbon
Finding a great place to eat in Lisbon shouldn’t be hard and it should not be expensive, however it can be hard if you’re new to the city. Here is my list of my favorite affordable places to eat in Lisbon. If you are interested in authentic and cheap Portuguese restaurants check my other list here.
Ponto Final
This restaurant has one of the best views of Lisbon; this is because it’s on the other side of the Tejo facing the city! While it will require you to take a boat from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas I guarantee it will be worth the effort. The restaurant serves traditional Portuguese food like clams, soup, fried fish, and stews. I also recommend having some wine and olives while the sun sets over the bridge. Ponto Final is one of the priciest restaurants on this list, however, for the view I do feel like it is underrated and the food is good for the price. Make sure to book a table in advance as it is a popular place and they only have a few tables.
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R. do Ginjal 72, 2800-285 Almada, Portugal
As Bifanas do Afonso
If you want to eat on the go, or just have a quick bite to eat before going up the slopes of Alfama, this is the pit stop to make. Located in the neighborhood of Baixa, this place is easily missed but is known by the locals for the place to have Bifanas: a Portuguese hamburger, usually a slice of pork served in a bun. If you want to make the meal more complete you can have a serving of eggs, salad, soup or fried fish. Prices are one of the lowest in town despite its location!
R. da Madalena 146, 1100-340 Lisboa, Portugal
Farès
If you like Middle Eastern food and exotic and spicy cocktails this is your place! They make Labneh, Falafel, roasted Cauliflower, chicken Kefta and more. The cocktails are also very good: whiskey sour, espresso martini, Moscow Mule etc. The interior is tasteful and the restaurant has tables on the street right next to the 25E tram. The place is located on the street Rua de S. Paulo which is next to Cais do Sodré and is perfect to go before heading to the bars or seeing the sunset.
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Rua de S. Paulo 200, 1200-429 Lisboa, Portugal
Javá Rooftop
Located close to the Tejo, this restaurant is located on top of a building with a breathtaking view of the city, especially during the night over a drink! The entrance is not obvious as it is shared with a hotel (it’s facing the park Jardim D. Luis), however once inside a gentleman usually is there to help you out and sends you up in an elevator to the restaurant. Javá serves Mediterranean food and they have a few dishes that are composed of grilled meat or vegetables. They also serve finger food like nachos if you are feeling for something lighter.
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Praça Dom Luís I 30, 1200-275 Lisboa, Portugal
Café Janis
If you are not able to make it to Javá you can opt for the charming Café Janis located 30m away. While the name might make you think otherwise, this is a brunch, lunch, and dinner restaurant with tasty shakshuka, burgers as well as evening cocktails. The café also has a fantastic brunch with pancakes, open sandwiches, and bowls. If you are not sure where to have your lunch in Cais do Sodré, don’t think twice and go here. The café is right next to the park Jardim Dom Luis.
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R. Moeda 1A, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal
Zé da Mouraria 1 & 2
If you are curious to try Portuguese food but are weary of tourist traps: don’t worry, I have a great place for you. Zé da Mouraria serves the best of Portuguese food with their take on Bacalhau and amazing barbecue you will find something to satisfy anyone’s palette. They have two places in Lisbon, one next to the square Martim Moniz and another one on the street Rua Gomes Freire (called “Zé da Mouraria 2”). These are usually only visited by Portuguese and the interior is just like how a Portuguese restaurant is supposed to look like. If you want to have a true Portuguese culinary experience and not have to burn thru your travel budget, try one of the Zé da Mourarias.
Nr.1: R. João do Outeiro 24, 1100-292 Lisboa, Portugal
Nr.2: R. Gomes Freire 60, 1150-175 Lisboa, Portugal
“Chines Clandestino”
While the name might be suggestive, the food is truly authentic in its taste. This might be the best Chinese food in Lisbon. It is located somewhat hidden and you will probably not find it straight away! It is however close to Martim Moniz and only takes 3 min to walk there from the square. The food is spicy, the beer is cold and the atmosphere is great. The last time I was there my friends were surprised by the cheap prices and ordered way too much: we ended up stuffing ourselves and bringing doggy bags. How low are the prices you ask? Criminally low!
R. da Guia 9 1, 1100-132 Lisboa, Portugal
Lupita Pizzeria
When I say that the pizza is too good for its price, I mean it in this case for the pizzeria Lupita. The Neapolitan-style pizzas are fluffy, tasty, and can be had for below 10€. They might only have 6 different pizzas and 2 desserts: but they do them extremely well. Lupita is located close to Cais do Sodré. The restaurant is very small and there are maybe only 20 seats available. However, if you are ready to walk 100 meters you have the fountain on the square Praca de Sao Paolo. Otherwise, if you like to have a nice view, walk for 5 min and you can escape the crowd and sit next to the Tejo like I did last time: see the picture!
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Rua de S. Paulo 79, 1200-427 Lisboa, Portugal
Lisboa, Tu e Eu
This tiny yet charming restaurant offers traditional Portuguese with its own take on it to make it exciting. The tables are set in the middle of the street and the best part is that it’s like an oasis within the city from the people and traffic. If you are next to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia you’ll find a street leading down the hill before the Miradouro das Portas do Sol. When I was there I had a jaw-dropping fish soup and my friend had delicious clams. They also had nice desserts to choose from. Great place to take a break for lunch when visiting Alfama.
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R da Adiça 58, 1100-116 Lisboa, Portugal
Retrogusto84
Lisbon has a lot of communities and the Italian one is pretty big. So where do you think the Italians living in Lisbon go to eat to have a taste of home? They go to Lisbon’s best pizzeria Retrogusto 84. These pizzas cost more than the ones from Lupita, however, the variety of pizzas is larger and the toppings are more generous. The restaurant is located on the street Rua Maria close to the metro Intendente.
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R. Maria 54, 1170-212 Lisboa, Portugal
All you can eat Pizza?
If you are a group of 3 or more friends, then go to Retrogusto Experience close to the metro Anjos. The Pizzaiolo does the job of choosing and serving you pizzas until you can’t eat more! You pay a fixed price and specify any food preferences (vegetarian, gluten, etc.)
Regueirão Anjos 54, 1150-030 Lisboa, Portugal
To sum-up
When in Lisbon, there will be a lot of tempting places to go to. While it can vary a lot, Lisbon is not an expensive city when compared to other European capitals. If you want more places I made a second smaller list of more affordable places to eat in Lisbon here. I also made a list of authentic (and affordable) Portuguese restaurants here. Bom apetite!