#1
Optimista
Cais do Sodré·$$
Bacalao Tartare with Avocado Mousse
€13.50
Raw salt cod cured and diced, served with silky avocado mousse and crispy wonton chips.
Tip: If you're open to adventurous cuisine, this is the dish that shows Optimista's creativity. Order it alongside the oxtail croquettes.
#2
Zé da Mouraria
Mouraria·$
Chocos
€11.00
Cuttlefish sautéed with garlic and served with boiled potatoes.
Tip: If you're comfortable with cephalopods, this is authentic Portuguese cooking at its most traditional.
#3
Maçã Verde
Alfama·$
Grilled Robalo
€22.00
Fresh sea bass grilled whole, served with lemon and olive oil.
Tip: Ask which fish arrived fresh that morning — the menu changes based on the catch. Robalo and dourada are both reliable bets.
#4
Tricky's
Cais do Sodré·$$
Octopus with Chickpeas
€19.00
Tender octopus paired with warm chickpea ragù and aromatics.
Tip: The kitchen returns to octopus constantly — a sign they've mastered it. Try multiple versions if you eat here more than once.
#5
A Travessa
Madragoa·$$$
Moules Frites
€18.00
Fresh mussels steamed in white wine with housemade Belgian-style fries.
Tip: A light, approachable dish that shows the restaurant's range. Moules frites at an upscale restaurant doesn't sound fancy, but the execution matters.
#6
Maria da Mouraria
Mouraria·$$$
Grilled Sea Bass
Fresh whole sea bass grilled simply and served with lemon and boiled potatoes.
Tip: Request the fish whole rather than filleted — the skin and bones add flavor, and filleting tableside is part of the theater.
#7
Bar Alimentar
Príncipe Real·$$
Cod Fish Cannolis
€18.00
Crispy fried shells filled with salted cod cream, served with a light sauce.
Tip: Ask what the nightly special is when you call or arrive — cod cannolis rotate off the menu. If it's available, do not skip it.
#8
A Travessa
Madragoa·$$$
Scallops with Brown Butter
€26.00
Fresh scallops seared and finished with nutty brown butter and lemon.
Tip: Elegant without being fussy. The brown butter is the sauce, which is restraint done right.
#9
Senhor Vinho
Lapa·$$$$
Braised Monkfish
€36.00
Tender monkfish slowly braised in white wine with root vegetables and herbs.
Tip: Pair with a crisp white wine from the restaurant's list — the Douro whites are particularly good with braised fish.
#10
Maçã Verde
Alfama·$
Sardines Grilled with Lemon
€14.50
Whole fresh sardines grilled and dressed simply with lemon and sea salt.
Tip: Sardines are best in the warmer months when the catch is biggest. Sit outside on the terrace if you can — it's where Alfama life unfolds while you eat.
#11
Maria da Mouraria
Mouraria·$$$
Grilled Sea Bream
Dorada grilled over charcoal with herbs, lemon, and potatoes.
Tip: The bream is often smaller and cooks faster than the sea bass, so if you want table time to enjoy the music, order this one.
#1295% recommend
O Velho Eurico
Alfama·$$
Polvo à Lagareiro
€24.00
Octopus crisped on the plancha with roasted potatoes, garlic, and olive oil.
Tip: This is the non-negotiable order — skip it and you'll regret it. The crispy-tender texture and the quality of the olive oil are what reviewers keep mentioning.
#1393% recommend
Canalha
Alcântara·$$$
Squid with Sheep's Butter
€26.00
Line-caught squid grilled and finished with sheep's butter and herbs.
Tip: This is a must-order. It's on the menu for a reason, and reviewers across multiple platforms call it out as the standout course. If you only order one dish, make it this.
#1492% recommend
Tricky's
Cais do Sodré·$$
Octopus with Miso and Cauliflower
€19.00
Grilled octopus paired with miso-spiked cauliflower puree.
Tip: Reviewers consistently call this the best thing on the menu. It defines the kitchen's approach: Portuguese ingredients, global technique, no ego.
#1590% recommend
A Travessa
Madragoa·$$$
John Dory
€32.00
Whole grilled John Dory with lemon butter and seasonal vegetables.
Tip: Viviane recommends John Dory — if it's available when you book, request it. It's the signature dish for a reason.
#1688% recommend
Solar dos Presuntos
Rossio·$$
Arroz de Marisco
€34.50
Seafood rice with lobster, shrimp, clams, and mussels in a seafood broth.
Tip: One order of seafood rice feeds two people generously. The kitchen cooks it to order—allow 15-20 minutes.
#1788% recommend
Senhor Vinho
Lapa·$$$$
Stone Bass Monte Belo
€38.00
Fresh grilled sea bass from the Monte Belo source, a premium Portuguese supplier.
Tip: Ask the waiter about the Monte Belo source when ordering — the staff takes pride in this sourcing and can explain why it matters.
#1885% recommend
Tricky's
Cais do Sodré·$$
Grilled Octopus with Chorizo Puree
€19.00
Sliced grilled octopus with chorizo-enriched puree, chard, cava beans, and quinoa.
Tip: If you're ordering two octopus dishes, this and the miso version show different approaches. This one is richer; the miso version is more delicate.
#1985% recommend
Vibe
Chiado·$$$$
Creole-Spiced Seafood
€72.00
Seasonal local seafood prepared with Creole spices and coconut elements (menu rotates seasonally).
Tip: Call ahead to check which seasonal cuisine Vibe is currently featuring. The menu changes completely every 3-4 months, so returning visitors experience a different restaurant each season.
#2085% recommend
A Travessa
Madragoa·$$$
Monkfish with Saffron
€28.00
Tender monkfish tail with saffron-infused sauce and seasonal aromatics.
Tip: Monkfish is prized in both Portugal and France. This version shows why — the lean texture pairs perfectly with the richness of the saffron sauce.
#2185% recommend
Senhor Vinho
Lapa·$$$$
Octopus with Sweet Potato Purée
€34.00
Grilled octopus served over a silky sweet potato purée with olive oil and herbs.
Tip: This dish is as much about aesthetics as taste — it's one of the most photogenic plates on the menu.
#2285% recommend
Taberna da Rua das Flores
Chiado·$$
Mexilhões à Bulhão Pato
€16.00
Mussels steamed in white wine, garlic, and cilantro.
Tip: Bring bread to soak up the broth. The white wine and cilantro mixture is where the flavor lives, not just in the mussels.
#2384% recommend
Prado
Mouraria·$$$
Grilled Octopus with Olive Oil & Lemon
€26.00
Whole octopus grilled and finished simply with aged olive oil and lemon.
Tip: Pair this with a crisp Portuguese white wine—the house's natural wine list is excellent. Ask the sommelier for a suggestion under €30.
#2482% recommend
O Faia
Bairro Alto·$$$
Octopus, Fava Beans and Chouriço
€32.00
Tender grilled octopus served alongside fava beans and slices of spiced pork sausage.
Tip: Order this in spring and early summer when fava beans are at their sweetest and brightest.
#2580% recommend
Belcanto
Chiado·$$$$
Razor Clams with Lupin Bean Ice
€38.00
Tender razor clams paired with whipped lupin bean foam and crispy shaving.
Tip: This course shines as the first savory moment after snacks—don't fill up on the amuse-bouche bread or you'll miss the delicacy here.
#2680% recommend
Stō
Baixa·$$
Octopus with Paprika Potatoes
€16.00
Tender octopus braised and served with crispy potatoes seasoned with paprika.
Tip: Pair this with a local Portuguese red wine or a crisp white like Vinho Verde. Ask the staff for a recommendation—they know the producers.