Must-see restaurants in Estremadura & Ribatejo

  • Casinha Velha

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    The best culinary experience in central Portugal begins insanely: an epic cow's, sheep's and goat's cheese cart, arranged regionally, along with black…

  • Alcoa

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    You may have seen it in Lisbon, but this heralded pastelaria (pastry shop) hails from Alcobaça, sitting front and centre across from the monastery hawking…

  • Restaurante António Padeiro

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    If the monks had not pigged out at the Alcobaça monastery (their gluttony was eventually noticed), they would have flocked to this wonderful, elegant-but…

  • Ao Largo

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Leiria's most enjoyable spot comes courtesy of friendly wine-lover Miguel, who opened a restaurant with his sister and his girlfriend, combined their…

  • Poço dos Sabores

    Óbidos

    Ditch the tourist onslaught in Óbidos for this village charmer 5km away in Usseira, where Joaquim and sister Angela combine restaurant skills honed in…

  • Ja!mon Ja!mon

    Óbidos

    With the cheery Andre, his family and a young, enthusiastic staff at the helm, the hospitality is oh-so Portuguese (read: happy and generous) at this…

  • Casa Pires

    Nazaré

    Many locals think that this is the only place in Nazaré to eat grilled sardines. Enough said. When sardines are out of season, though (read: frozen), you…

  • A Tasquinha

    Nazaré

    This exceptionally friendly family affair has been running for 50-plus years, serving high-quality seafood in a pair of snug but prettily tiled dining…

  • Estrela do Mar

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    In an utterly memorable position on the water, this classic seafood place scores top marks for location: the dining room is right over the waves above São…

  • Nau dos Corvos

    Peniche

    It's just you and the sea out here at Cabo Carvoeiro, 2.5km from town at the tip of the peninsula. As you gaze out at the Atlantic from the windy rooftop…

  • Burro Velho

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Batalha's best, a bustling place serving up great modern Portuguese fare – seafood rices for two (€28 to €65), fresh catches of the day and a bulhão pato…

  • O Crispim

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    It's worth seeking this place out for an atmosphere full of good cheer without any ostentatious piety. It's a comfortably rustic sort of place serving…

  • O Cabeço

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    This lovely spot, located on a hill behind Alcobaça in Bemposta, is an understated, modern, wooden-and-stone cabana with country-garden surrounds. It…

  • Tromba Rija

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    This recent Leiria transplant occupies an old horse stable on a farm near Centro, where it serves an extensive – if pricey – 'Flavours of Portugal' buffet…

  • Tasca 7

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    A mere block and a half from the main square but feeling like a million miles away, Estrela (don't call her 'Doña!') offers just two dishes per day at her…

  • Senhor da Pedra

    Óbidos

    Behind the striking church of Senhor da Pedra below town, this simple white-tiled eatery (the one on the right as you look at the row of restaurants) is a…

  • Taberna do Ganhão

    Peniche

    This 'new-school tavern' is a reconstituted 'old-school tavern' where fishermen bought wine and groceries (plus it was the first in the area to have a…

  • Pousada do Castelo

    Óbidos

    In an austere castle dining room with wide-eyed countryside views through medieval ramparts, the restaurant at Pousada do Castelo is one of Óbidos' few…

  • Os Americanos

    Peniche

    There's no sugarcoating what's going down at this wildly popular restaurant inside Residencial Maciel II – an American couple (with Portuguese and Russian…

  • Amor Lusitano

    Tomar

    This charming spot is part cafe, part wine bar, and celebrates all things Lusitano (Portuguese). This is the place to come for doces conventuais (convent…

  • Casa das Ratas

    Tomar

    One of Tomar's fun experiences, where old meets new. Housed in a former adega (winery), the eatery is lined with wine vats. As grain was once here too, it…

  • Tasca Torta

    Óbidos

    A pleasant hum, appealing aromas and colourful plates sum up this stylish, contemporary spot. There's a cosy line of tables down one side, a kitchen on…

  • Sitiado

    Nazaré

    A modern tasca not content with following the crowd, this pleasant Sítio hotspot does elevated classic tapas along with a fun menu of Portuguese-bent…

  • Sabores da India

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    This unexpected gem is the perfect cure to the Bacalhau Blues. Tucked away 1km or so outside the tourist zone in a residential complex, the flavours and…

  • Manhãs

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Not content to follow the crowd, contemporary Manhãs bet on rattling the culinary scene in Fátima and its modern, internationally tweaked takes on…

  • O Pai dos Frangos

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    'The Father of Chickens’ sits in splendid isolation right on the fabulous sands of Praia Velha, 1km north of São Pedro de Moel. Specialities include arroz…

  • Boca do Mar

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    The slickest of the seafood restaurants, with plastic designer-style chairs, white surrounds and a contemporary feel, this smart place comes recommended…

  • Calça Perra

    Tomar

    At this charming backstreet eatery you can partake in the elegant dining room or the breezy, intimate courtyard below. Speciality, well-presented fish…

  • A Nova Gaviota

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    A modern tasca adorned with photos of VW vans on the walls, this upper village hotspot is a great place to escape tourists and the menus that cater solely…

  • Sabores da India II

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    After raging success in Alcobaça, the Punjabi owner of this excellent Indian restaurant snagged an even more intimate space in Leiria in the heart of the…

  • Dom Lambuças

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    In the small village of Alcaria, this welcoming and very genuine old-school petisqueiria (place selling huge portions of petiscos, or tapas) with its red…

  • Adega do Luis

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Some 3km southeast of Porto de Mós, this delightful (if touristy) place with high ceilings, stone walls and a roaring fire in the brick oven serves…

  • Restaurante Royal Marina

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    A Swiss owner-chef runs the kitchen, and his friendly Portuguese wife runs the floor. This pleasant, unpretentious spot on the quay has a slightly…

  • Conchinha da Nazaré

    Nazaré

    One of the most authentic experiences around, this simple place on a backstreet square serves good-value seafood, including wood-grilled fish and…

  • Pastelaria A Concha

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    In São Martinho do Porto's upper village, not far from the church, you'll find this nondescript little cafe that has served up big, sweet flavours since…

  • Bambi Café

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Portuguese beer on tap, wi-fi, live music and DJs and comfy couches on an outdoor deck overlooking the pine-tree-filled park are the big draws at this…

  • Restaurante Tabuleiro

    Tomar

    Just off Tomar’s main square, this family-friendly local hang-out features warm, attentive service, good traditional food and ridiculous (read: more-than…

  • Tasquinha D'Maria

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    This rustic spot, with traditional paraphernalia from rural workers, is nothing fancy. But it serves up honest fare of great grills with excellent-quality…

  • A Lanterna

    Nazaré

    This cosy, if touristy, place specialises in cataplana (a bouillabaisse simmered with herbs, tomatoes, onions and wine steamed in a domed copper dish),…

  • Mãe d'Água

    Estremadura & Ribatejo

    Close to Buddha Eden is this appealing restaurant in the nearby village. Mãe d'Água does confident, modern Portuguese fare in a contemporary setting…