Dining Out Restaurants in Lisbon

If you're looking for some good restaurants in Lisbon, here are a few suggestions:

"Eleven" is one of the top picks in Lisbon. The food is exciting, cutting-edge and delicious. The ambience is exceptional and the view at night from the tables by the windows just adds to the experience. We were there just a few months after the restaurant had opened and, at that time, the service left a little bit to be desired (well-intentioned, but confused). Hopefully, by now, that has long since been taken care of.

"Olivier Restaurante" is another one of the dining hot spots in Lisbon. The place is dark and sometimes quite noisy, but it is alive with energy and the food is very good.

If you like Japanese food and you want something "quirky," try "Restaurante Japonese Tomo," a little hole-in-the-wall place on the outskirts of Lisbon (near Belem). (It's not the easiest place to find, so make sure your cab driver knows the area.) Once you've arrived there, you'll find excellent sushi and traditional Japanese dishes that rival any of the best Japanese restaurants on the continent, at prices that are small fractions of those others.

If you want to enjoy fantastic FADO in a very lively and exciting environment, try "O Faia - Casa de Fados." The singing is wonderful and the service is very friendly and efficient. The food is just average but, of course, you go there for the Fado and not for the food.

One of our favorites in Lisbon is "Casa da Comida." The atmosphere is wonderful, the food delicious and the overall experience delightful. You start off by having drinks and appetizers in the library, at a very leisurely pace. When you're ready, and after you've ordered what you'd like to have as your main course, you're escorted to the lovely dining area, where you'll dine in luxury and comfort. (Try the house wines! Every time we've been there, they've been exceptional.)

We're going back to Lisbon next May. When we return, I'll plan on letting everybody know if I have any more suggestions!