Discover where to experience Portugal’s best food, from coast to countryside
Portugal’s food is as diverse as its landscapes. From Atlantic seafood and Michelin-starred restaurants to rustic regional cooking and world-renowned wines, every destination serves up its own distinctive flavours.
While summer brings an abundance of seasonal produce and vineyard harvests, the culinary calendar only gets richer as autumn and winter arrive, making now the best time to plan a food-focused escape.
Amazing Evolution, the hotel management experts behind some of Portugal’s most distinctive stays, shares its insider guide on where to discover Portugal’s most iconic flavours.
For Portugal’s most iconic dishes, head to Lisbon
From perfectly flaky pastel de nata to Portugal’s most famous salt cod recipes, Lisbon is where visitors can savour the dishes that have defined the country’s culinary identity for generations. The capital’s vibrant food scene blends traditional tascas with contemporary restaurants, neighbourhood wine bars and bustling food markets, making it an essential stop for anyone wanting to experience authentic Portuguese cuisine.
No visit is complete without trying bacalhau à Brás, the much-loved dish of salted cod, finely shredded potatoes and egg, or enjoying a warm pastel de nata fresh from the oven from the Pastéis de Belém bakery where they first originated. Beyond the restaurants, food lovers should explore the Time Out food market and neighbourhoods including Mouraria, Intendente and Príncipe Real, where independent cafés, wine bars and traditional taverns sit side by side.
Place to stay: Located in the heart of Intendente and with a coveted restaurant, 1908 Lisboa Hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring Lisbon’s thriving culinary scene. Its restaurant, Infame, has become a destination for Lisbon locals and creative types, serving modern Portuguese cuisine inspired by seasonal ingredients from local producers, while the adjoining bar offers inventive cocktails and an impressive selection of Portuguese wines.
Main dishes start at Infame from €15.00.
Rooms at 1908 Lisboa Hotel start from €140 per night.
For Michelin-starred dining, discover Amarante
Hidden between Porto and the Douro Valley, Amarante is one of northern Portugal’s best-kept culinary secrets. Set in the heart of the Vinho Verde region, it’s the destination for travellers seeking exceptional food paired with equally impressive wines.
At the heart of the town sits Casa da Calçada, home to the Michelin-starred Largo do Paço, one of Portugal’s most celebrated fine dining restaurants. Here, beautifully crafted tasting menus showcase the finest seasonal ingredients from northern Portugal, combining traditional flavours with contemporary techniques. At the helm of the Michelin-starred Largo do Paço, 27-year-old chef Francisco Quintas has been recognised by the Michelin Young Chef Guide 2026, celebrating his talent, creativity and rising influence in the culinary world.
Beyond the hotel, visitors can explore local Vinho Verde estates, enjoy leisurely riverside cafés or wander Amarante’s charming historic centre, where independent bakeries, wine shops and artisan producers celebrate the flavours of the region.
Largo do Paco’s exclusive tasting menus start from €150.
Rooms at Casa da Calcada start from €230 per night.
For timeless Portuguese cooking, head to Alentejo
If there’s one region that captures the soul of Portuguese cuisine, it’s Alentejo. Here, timeless recipes, exceptional local produce and slow, seasonal cooking come together to create some of the country’s most memorable dishes.
Signature dishes include porco preto, the region’s prized acorn-fed black pork, and açorda alentejana, a rustic bread soup flavoured with garlic, coriander and olive oil.
Visitors can spend their days discovering family-owned wineries, sampling acclaimed Alentejo wines made from local grape varieties such as Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez and Antão Vaz, alongside exceptional olive oils and the region’s traditional cuisine, before exploring picturesque whitewashed villages where long, leisurely lunches remain a way of life.
Place to stay: Surrounded by nature near Montemor-o-Novo, Sleep & Nature Hotel provides an ideally base for exploring the region’s celebrated food and wine scene. The hotel’s Monte do Vagar Restaurant celebrates the flavours of Alentejo, showcasing regional dishes filled with artisan cheeses, traditional breads, exceptional olive oils and the region’s renowned wines, inspired by the surrounding landscape and the hotel’s philosophy of wellbeing.
Main dishes at Monte do Vagar Restaurant start from €12.00.
Rooms at Sleep & Nature Hotel start from €115 per night.
For the freshest Atlantic seafood, escape to the Azores
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores are a paradise for seafood lovers. From freshly landed tuna to just-caught fish served overlooking the water, the islands offer some of Portugal’s freshest and most distinctive flavours.
The volcanic landscape also produces the renowned Queijo São Jorge cheese and unique mineral-rich wines grown in volcanic soils, creating a food and wine scene unlike anywhere else in the country. Beyond the coastline, local markets and waterfront restaurants celebrate the islands’ exceptional produce, while Angra do Heroísmo provides a beautiful setting for discovering Terceira’s culinary traditions.
Place to stay: Overlooking Angra’s marina, The Shipyard Angra, is ideally located for discovering the island’s vibrant food culture. Its restaurant A Oficina champions local seasonal island produce, while the carefully curated wine list introduces guests to the distinctive wines of the Azores such as Verdelho and Arinto dos Açores – alongside favourites from mainland Portugal.
Main dishes at A Oficina start from €12.00.
Rooms at The Shipyard Angra start from €150 per night.
