Image by Erik Lassche

Pois Café is owned and run by a couple of Austrian ladies. And it shows! The pies and cakes are absolutely fantastic. The interior looks like a huge living room, filled with comfortable sofas and chairs.

A nice detail are the books and magazines. It is full of them! All clients are encouraged to leave a second hand book or magazine, so you can spend all afternoon reading and eating Apfelstrudel!

This is a great place to have lunch or just a cup of coffee. It is close to Sé and the castle, so why not stop here after walking around in this historic part of town?

Better visit soon, the place is currently “for sale”. So let’s see how long we will be enjoying these apfelstrudels.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pois Café | Bars, Coffee & tea | Sandwich € 6.00
Rua S. João da Praça 93-95 | Alfama & Graça | +351218862497
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 20:00

Image by Bart van Poll

Located right in the middle of Alfama, at the lovely little square of São Miguel. Santo Antonio has an original interior decoration consisting of hundreds of black and white photos of famous people. A nice and intimate setting for a great dinner.

In the summer you can sit at on the terrace, below the vine grapes.

It’s a great place to enjoy Alfama. Because let´s face it: it is not that easy to find a good restaurant in this charming neighborhood. The food is good. But I normally don’t order a main course.

Tip: stick to the starters. Order a whole bunch and share them. You’ll see it’s worth it!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Santo António de Alfama | Restaurants (International) | Dinner € 25.00
Beco de São Miguel 7 | Alfama & Graça | +351218881328
Wed – Mon 12:30 – 19:00 & 20:00 – 02:00

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Meat lovers and enthusiast, this is a place for the carnivores. I go to Carvoaria Jacto when I miss a good beef, ribbs, entrecote or other kind of meat. Here your order comes perfect. There’s no mistakes and no overcooked meat (except if you ask for it). Besides the fantastic and delicious food coming from the grill, the place is affordable and the atmosphere friendly and casual.

“Carvoaria”, the place formely known as Grill de Santa Cruz, was renewed last year and reopened in a more trendy steakhouse, still cosy and unpretencious. The place has some fame among locals, but remains unknown, and that’s perfect. Despite being hidden, it gets crowded because of the meat quality - “The meat is Perfectly cooked!” I can imagine Chef Ramsay saying it loud.

Salads are included in the price and served “buffet” style, and everything from starters to desserts is delicious. Try the “Posta Mirandesa” and it should be enough for two. The concept is easy: Choose the type of meat, the size and weight: 200g or 300g… and go!

The place is now my favorite steakhouse. When asking for rare (English style) be sure of your desire, your order is respected and if you like your meat red, still with blood and soft center, it will come as you asked… Watch out veggies, this is the perfect spot for the vampire in you.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Carvoaria Jacto | Restaurants (Portuguese) | 400g Steak € 10
Rua Maria Andrade 6 B | Alfama & Graça | +351218147555
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 22:00

Image by KatyP

Through an inconspicuous hole in the wall on the steep climb down from Castelo de S. Jorge you will find a clown school! With a restaurant and bar, and an esplanade attached to it! Who would have though it!

This restaurant/bar is one of my favourite places to take visitors in Lisbon because it’s possible to show off the view (similar to the one from the castle, just a little lower down) whilst sipping glasses of wine and chatting. It provides a welcome break from a lot of walking if you have already been around the castle or will give you sustenance for the climb to the castle if that is where you are headed.

This spot is situated precariously on the side of one of Lisbon’s hills and affords yet another wonderful view of the river and April 25 Bridge. There are tables inside next to the bar where it is possible to have drinks and snacks and still take in the view on a cold, wintery day and there is a restaurant upstairs, as well as a spacious outside area with sheltered tables where you can eat lunch/dinner or just have a snack and a drink. If you wish to secure a table with a view on the esplanade it is advisable to book, especially around lunch/dinner hours.

If you go there in the evening, you may be able to to catch one of the performances that takes place at the theatre of the clown school.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Chapitô | Bars, Restaurants (International) | Main meal € 18
Rua Costa do Castelo 7 | Alfama & Graça | +351218867334
Mon – Fri 19:30 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 02:00

Image by KatyP

Another one of my favourite haunts – Graça, and another notable, typically Portuguese restaurant. Directly across the road from O Piteu is Churrasco da Graça. This restaurant has recently been refurbished and is now painted a cheerful yellow which adds to the lively atmosphere and the noisy chatter of Graça residents as they greet each other and the restaurant staff of a Saturday lunch time.

The dishes are typically Portuguese and the portion sizes are enormous and relatively cheap (a main dish will cost, on average €7). The fish dishes are always good – the fish is fresh and they also have the traditional patiniscas (kind of fish cakes lightly fried in batter) accompanied by tomato rice.

In my opinion, one of the best items on the menu (when feeling hungry) is the picanha steak which is served with black beans, french fries AND rice (very typical Portuguese combination) as well as some slides of orange and pineapple.

The service is good and very quick, the portion sizes are healthy and tasty and the atmosphere is lively – what more could you ask for . This is a good place to sample typical Portugal.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
O Churrasco da Graça | Restaurants (Portuguese) | Whole meal € 12
Lg. Graça 43 | Alfama & Graça | +351218860547
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 00:00