Belém might be packed with tourists, but finding a good spot to eat doesn’t have to feel like a scavenger hunt. I live close by and have spent plenty of time dining in Belém, so consider this your Belém food guide to dodge the tourist traps and actually eat well – whether you’re grabbing a quick bite between sights or settling in for a long lunch by the river.
There’s more to Belém than just custard tarts (though yes, you should absolutely still eat at least two from Pastéis de Belém). From fancy seafood lunches to cheap, no-frills tascas, from pizza to piglet sandwiches – here are my picks for where to eat in Belém.
I’ve split it into three sections – quick snacks, proper restaurants, bars – plus there’s a map at the bottom.
Read next: Local’s guide to Belém, Lisbon: Best things to do with a half-day or more
Quick lunch in Belém
Pastéis de Belém – bakery
Every day, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Belém – some for the monastery, most for the tarts. I say go for both. Pastéis de Belém has been baking its famous custard tarts since 1837, using a tightly guarded recipe passed on from the Jerónimos Monastery next door. Now this pastry shop turns out more than 20,000 tarts a day — and yes, they really are worth the hype.
These custard tarts are different from others you’ll find around Lisbon: the filling is slightly more egg-forward, and the pastry is next-level crispy, flaking into golden shards with every bite. The queue can look intimidating but moves fast. For lunch, I suggest dining in – head through the centre doors to find the line for a table.
For lunch, there’s a menu of savoury snacks (I have a small addiction to the duck pie) and toasted sandwiches, so you can smash down something salty before eating a dozen tarts. Try to order all at once as service here is amazing, but it’s also well-oiled chaos.
📍 Address: R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Not possible
Bonus tarts: It’s worth mentioning that Manteigaria has opened next door and across the road. Most locals will say either the OG Pasteís de Belém or newcomer Manteigaria do the best tarts in Portugal, and now you can try them side-by-side and decide for yourself.
Afonso dos Leitões – piglet sandwiches
Leitão (roasted suckling pig) is one of the most delicious things you can eat in Portugal. Alfonso dos Leitões has a couple of stores in Lisbon serving a delicious piglet sandwich, complete with the classic ultra-peppery gravy. A great quick lunch in Belém.
📍 Address: R. da Junqueira 486, 1300-598 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Not needed
Otsumami & Pita.gr – Japanese & Greek food trucks
In Largo da Princesa, closer to the Tower of Belém, these two food trucks have built a loyal following and solid reputation for serving great food. Otsumami is a mini izakaya with Japanese street food, while Pita.gr is focused on proper Greek pita (with the chips and all).
📍 Address: Lgo da Princesa, 1400-024 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Not needed
Confeitaria Nacional Belém – classic bakery
Lisbon’s oldest bakery has a smaller outlet close to the Belém Tower, set on a small wharf that juts out from the river. It’s a cheap place to stop for baked sweets, a slice of quiche, toasted sandwich or simple lunch. The multiple terraces have amazing views of the river and landmarks, and it’s a relaxed spot for a coffee or a beer
📍 Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa (Belém Tower)
✖️ Reservations: Not possible
Read next: Local’s guide to Belém, Lisbon: Best things to do with a half-day or more
Pão Pão Queijo Queijo – sandwich bar
For a quick fix close to the monastery, this popular sandwich bar always has a queue and you can get shoarma, baguettes, wraps and loaded salads. Pão Pão Queijo Queijo is a no-frills spot so you don’t want to overthink it.
📍 Address: R. de Belém 126, 1300-086 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Not possible
Top restaurants in Belém
Want to spend more time eating, less time sightseeing? ➡️ Book this two-hour Belém tuk-tuk tour and tick off the most iconic sights with João’s Journeys in an electric tuk-tuk. (I highly recommend!)
O Frade – modern take on Alentejo cuisine
Sérgio Frade’s progressive take on Alentejo flavours earned O Frade a Michelin Bib Gourmand back in 2020. Every dish here is fantastic, but definitely order one of the killer rice dishes: rice with lobster, rice with corvina fish, rice with duck. It’s a spot to try Portugal’s talha wines, a special tradition of ageing vinho in terracotta that dates back to Roman times. Book ahead, especially to sit around the U-shaped bar inside to watch the chefs at work.
📍 Address: Calçada da Ajuda 14, 1300-598 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: The menu changes season-to-season, go at lunch for the well-priced daily special
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not
Guelra – chic seafood spot
From the same owner of O Frade comes Guelra, a fish-focused diner that has creativity at the forefront. It’s a two-storey restaurant (with a huge leafy terrace) close to the monuments in Belém. I really love the interior, especially the bar, and I’ll return for the curious seafood snacks, from Bacalhau³ (salted cod three ways) to a tuna katsu sandwich.
📍 Address: R. de Belém 35, 1300-085 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Seafood snacks! Reinterpretations of Portuguese seafood dishes
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not – lots of tables
Canalha – produce-driven Portuguese bistro
Book ahead if you want a table at Canalha, a produce-driven Portuguese bistro from one of Portugal’s top chefs, João Rodrigues. It’s a relaxed neighbourhood spot where you can spend €20 or €200. Expect chef versions of humble, traditional dishes, plus exquisite seafood and steak by weight. It all changes by season.
📍 Address: R. da Junqueira 207, 1300-338 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Daily specials, carabineiro (scarlet prawn) pasta, anything in season
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead online or by phone
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Read next… Where to find the best Portuguese street food and snacks in Lisbon
Ruoto – pizza
I was quite sad when my local Neapolitan pizza spot shut (due to building structural issues), but this spot comes from the same owner. Expect top-tier pizzas made using Italian ingredients, with the exception of the fresh cheeses – mozzarella and burrata – that are made here in Portugal. If there’s no space inside Ruoto, take advantage of the parkland nearby.
📍 Address: Tv. Marta Pinto 12, 1300-390 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Choose from the nine pizzas, or there are a couple of pasta and lasagna options.
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in or takeaway if not
Clube Naval de Lisboa – riverfront traditional Portuguese
There are plenty of riverfront restaurants in Belém, but few I’d highly recommend. Some are too expensive and pretentious without reason, while others fall below the mark. Clube Naval de Lisboa, linked to the naval club, is a waterfront gem for traditional Portuguese food and one of my friends goes here almost every Sunday. Prices are higher than a tasca but the views more than make up for it.
📍 Address: Av. Brasília, 1300-501 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Grilled fish, or from the selections of petiscos (Portuguese tapas).
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not
O Prado – traditional tasca
Go early if you want an outdoor table at this popular traditional tasca. Here you can eat homely and comforting Portuguese dishes, such as grilled fish, seafood rice, and daily specials. Expect it to be busy but very reasonably priced.
📍 Address: R. da Junqueira 472, 1300-341 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: In a tasca your best bet is to go for the prato do dia – ask what the daily specials are.
🗓️ Reservations: Call ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not
Bonus tasca: Try Frazão – an overlooked spot that is truly local. You’ll need Google Translate to decipher the menu here.
Nunes Real Marisqueira – seafood temple
This Belém institution is a glamorous, over-the-top art deco temple with seafood at the centre. You can splurge big on lobster rice and dive into a wine list as deep as the ocean, or keep it calmer with seafood by weight. It’s a worthy spot for some of the best fresh clams, prawns, lobster, oysters, crab, sea urchin, scallops and fish – book ahead.
📍 Address: R. Bartolomeu Dias 172 E F, 1400-031 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Try the lobster bitoque – a seafood take on a Lisbon classic dish.
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not
Read next… How to spend 48 hours in Lisbon
Miolo – brunch café
This light-filled all-day café in downtown Belém is a gem hidden in plain sight. Grab a table within the pretty space and enjoy a coffee or juice with creative breakfast and brunch plates. Miolo is a good spot for more creative vegetarian food in Belém. If you missed lunch, don’t panic as the kitchen is open until they close.
📍 Address: R. de Belém 36, 1300-083 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: the banana bread!
🗓️ Reservations: Walk-in only
Bonus café: Augusto, up the road from O Frade, is another gorgeous café with a brunch menu.
Taberna dos Ferreiros – modern Portuguese
I’m yet to visit this top-rated Portuguese tavern, but judging by the reviews and photos the food is made with a lot of love, adding some modern techniques to traditional Portuguese cuisine. The small space of Taberna dos Ferreiros is tucked down a side street.
📍 Address: Tv. Ferreiros a Belém 5, 1300-085 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Portuguese classics, like bacalhau à Bras or pica pau
🗓️ Reservations: Book ahead if you can, try a walk-in if not
Samurai Belém – all-you-can-eat sushi
Whenever I’m craving basic, cheap sushi, I make an order at Samurai Belém. You can pick up takeaway boxes for around €6.70 and go sit in the park, or go wild with the all-you-can-eat à la carte sushi buffet – just €13 at lunch, or €17 at dinner. Everything is prepared fresh for you, from the sushi rolls to the sizzling plates of prawns.
📍 Address: R. da Junqueira 502, 1300-341 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Box 621 and 625 is my takeaway order! Everything is good though.
🗓️ Reservations: Walk-in is easy
Where to drink in Belém
Adega Belém Urban Winery
Lisbon’s only urban winery is a rustic family-run beauty set in an old mechanic’s workshop. Adega Belém Urban Winery is not open every day and hours are limited, so check the schedule before dropping in for a tasting. Better yet, I highly recommend booking the winery tour and tasting (email or call). I’ve never heard anyone explain the science behind wine like David does and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the work in every drop. Give Lilly the cellar dog a scratch from me.
📍 Address: Tv. Paulo Jorge 9, 1300-444 Lisboa (Belém)
🍴 What to order: Besides trying the wines, don’t skip the snacks – local bread, high-quality Portuguese cheese and charcuterie. Heaven.
🗓️ Reservations: Book a guided tasting, or check the drop-in hours.
Salty Floor
This natural wine bar is hidden in the shadow of Jerónimos Monastery. Salty Floor is an unpretentious space where you can sit in the sunshine with a glass while patting the owner’s dogs and reading a book or chatting with friends.
📍 Address: R. dos Jerónimos 18C, 1400-206 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Walk in
Quiosque Belém
You never go wrong with a quiosque (kiosk) in Lisbon. You’ll find these small, round metal stalls close to parks around the city, and it’s a good spot for a basic beer or wine in Belém.
📍 Address: R. Vieira Portuense 1, 1300-571 Lisboa (Belém)
✖️ Reservations: Walk in
Riverside bars
If you walk along the river, between the Belém Tower and the bridge, you’ll stumble upon dozens of pop-up and permanent bars. One of the cutest is Wine With a View, a tiny food truck that’s always parked up next to the tower. I also love Ostras Sobre Rodas, an oyster and wine truck with freshly shucked bivalves from Setúbal.
Map of where to eat and drink in Belém
That’s my guide covering where to eat and drink in Belém. Looking for a full list for Lisbon? Try here.
Keep reading…
- Local’s guide to Belém, Lisbon: Best things to do with a half-day or more
- Local’s guide to Lisbon’s best restaurants: 41 great places to eat (2025)
- Where to find the best Portuguese street food and snacks in Lisbon
- Best places to eat octopus in Lisbon
- Lisbon restaurants open Sunday and Monday
- 13 best day trips from Lisbon
