burnessie
Lisbon Solo Travel Guide with everything you need to know about where to eat, drink and what to do during a city break in the Portuguese capital.
Lisbon Solo Travel Guide Contents:
*This blog includes affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me!*
WHERE TO EAT IN LISBON
RESTAURANTS
Taberna da Rua das Flores
Rua das Flores 103, 1200-194 Lisboa
Everyone in Lisbon will recommend this place to you, and with good reason. Phenomenal food served in a tiny restaurant means this place gets full quickly.
It’s a must to get to Taberna da Rua das Flores early to avoid disappointment since there are no reservations taken; by 7/7.30pm there is often no space for the rest of the night, but please don’t let that put you off – it’s totally worth it!
The menu changes regularly – lots of seafood but also a few meat and veggie dishes. The tuna tataki, fried chicken and scallops were all incredible.
TOP TIP: Taberna da Rua das Flores is cash only, so go prepared. There’s a cash point nearby, as well as a kiosk where you can grab a drink for the queue if so inclined.
Faz Frio
R. Dom Pedro V 96, 1250-094
Easily one of my top meals of my time in Lisbon, and with friendly and fun people working there, it was the most enjoyable dining experience of my trip overall.
Excellent quality food – prawns, tuna, steak and more. Save room for their incredible chocolate mousse. 10/10 would Faz Frio again. No reservations.
Magnolia Bistro
Praça das Flores 43, 1200-192
I love stumbling upon a place that turns out to be a total win, and Magnolia Bistro was just that.
Small wine bar vibes with a few tables outside, Magnolia Bistro served the best small sharing plates I ate on my most recent trip to Lisbon – if the burrata is on the menu, it’s a must order!
Taberna Sal Grosso
Calçada do Forte 22, 1100-256 Lisboa
Found in the Alfama district, Taberna Sal Grosso serves local Portuguese favourites. It’s a spot that does take reservations, and you will almost certainly need one – it’s super popular, and for good reason.
Bonjardim
Tv. de Santo Antão 11, 1150-312
You can’t go to Portugal without getting roast peri peri chicken and chips, a simple dish that is done so very well here. I kind of think of it like an elevated Nando’s, but you can free pour your own peri peri sauce, so don’t worry if you can’t take the heat. Great value too – I loved it!
Cervejaria Ramiro
Av. Alm. Reis 1 H, 1150-007
Popular seafood restaurant which luckily you can book, but you’ll have to be organised as it books up fast! Oysters, crab, lobster, giant tiger prawns, clams: Ramiro has it all. A non-negotiable if you’re a seafood lover.
O Velho Eurico
Largo São Cristóvão nº3, 1100-179
Fantastic, small restaurant serving traditional local dishes at very reasonable prices. You can book but don’t strike the place out if you haven’t, I saw a few people get in after a short wait at lunchtime.
Ponto Final
R. do Ginjal 72, 2800-285 Almada
Ponto Final is a famous seafood spot on the Almada side of the Tagus, with tables that sit right on the edge of the river. The restaurant looks over to Lisbon and the bridge, making it the perfect setting for the final hours of daylight into sunset.
TOP TIP: You really want to book Ponto Final as far in advance as possible, especially if you want to get a guaranteed table at sunset (I enquired in May and the next available table for dinner was in August!)
Time Out Market
Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa
No trip to Europe is complete without spending a few hours marveling at the local food market, and Time Out is the place to go in Lisbon.
There is a real range of eateries in Time Out, from Michelin starred chef’s food, local favourites, and everything from seafood, desserts, gelato, sandwiches, burgers, pizza and charcuterie boards.
BRUNCH IN LISBON
Dear Breakfast
Multiple locations
With three locations across Lisbon, Dear Breakfast is an excellent choice for brunch. Eggs every which way, avocado toast, chipotle shakshuka, pancakes and pastries – Dear Breakfast has it all.
They also do an excellent set brunch menu that’ll set you up for a day sightseeing: a hotel drink, mimosa, pastry, granola and an egg or pancake plate for €22.
The Mill
R. do Poço dos Negros 1, 1200-335
Australian/Portuguese cafe known for their all day brunch and speciality coffee. Choosing is hard with a menu that boasts loaded bagels, toasted banana bread, fritters with avoado and bacon, rostis with smoked salmon and blueberry pancakes. A good excuse to go with friends and try multiple dishes to share!
Hello, Kristof
R. do Poço dos Negros 103, 1200-337
Cute coffee shop serving great pastries and huge slices of sourdough loaded with various toppings. Vegan friendly, and have unique and arty magazines to peruse whilst you wake up to the day.
Neighbourhood
Largo Conde-Barão 25, 1200-163
Aussie owned cafe (so you know the coffee is going to be excellent) serving epic brunch plates like jalapeño avocado toast, breakfast burritos and Turkish eggs. In the evening Neighbourhood serves up mouthwatering smash burgers and craft beer made in Lisbon.
Fabrica Coffee Roasters
Multiple locations
Excellent, well known coffee roasters that supplies many other spots in Lisbon. Grab a bag to take home with you!
Stanislav Brunch
1150, R. São José 182
Friendly and sustainably driven brunch cafe serving super fluffy pancakes, excellent eggs on toast, granola and freshly baked croissants. Their coffee is sourced from Fabrica, so rest assured it is excellent.
GELATO, DESSERT AND PASTEL DE NATA
Nannarella
R. Nova da Piedade 64A, 1200-299
Excellent gelateria – highly recommend the pistachio and ricotta combo.
Gelato Davvero
Multiple locations
For ease, you can also find Davvero in Time Out market.
Santini
Multiple locations
Several locations across Lisbon and also in Cascais.
Landeau Chocolate
R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa
Phenomenal chocolate mousse cake. Trust me, just go and have it.
Manteigaria
Multiple locations
My favourite pastel de nata in Lisbon. Also found in Time Out market.
Pasteis de Belem
R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa
The original pastel de nata, Pasteis de Belem have been making these tarts since 1837. Is it the best? Head to Belém to find out for yourself!
Fabrica de Nata
Multiple locations
Another very solid entry in the top pastel de nata in Lisbon.
BARS IN LISBON
ROOFTOP BARS
Lisbon has no shortage of rooftop bars, which definitely helps put it in my top five cities as I am a sucker for them.
Park Rooftop
Calçada do Combro 58, 1200-123
If a particularly cool and fun vibe is what you’re after, Park Rooftop is drinks found at the top of the rooftop classic: a multistorey car park. Great spot for early evening into sunset drinks.
Java Rooftop
Praça Dom Luís I 30, 1200-275
Popular for brunch and sunset drinks alike, stylish Java Rooftop near Time Out Market serves excellent food and drink from morning til 1am every day.
TOPO Chiado
Terraços do Carmo, Largo do Carmo, 1200-288
Next to Elevador de Santa Justa, TOPO Chiado is a great gem at the foot of the ruined Carmo Convent, with a terrace that takes in the glow of the red rooftops of Lisbon at golden hour.
Rossio Gastrobar
Altis Avenida Hotel, R. 1º de Dezembro 118, 1200-360
Often cited as one of the best rooftop bars in Lisbon, you’ll likely need a reservation at the beautiful Rossio Gastrobar, on the top of the Altis Avenida hotel.
Rooftop Bar at Hotel Mundial
Hotel Mundial, Praça Martim Moniz 2, 1100-341
With a DJ regularly playing and 360 degree views of Lisbon, this buzzy rooftop bar at the top of Hotel Mundial is an excellent choice for those looking for rooftop drinks with a vibrant atmosphere.
SEEN Sky Bar
Tivoli Hotel Avenida, Av. da Liberdade 185, 1269-050
Beautiful rooftop bar on top of Tivoli Hotel with sweeping panoramic views of Lisbon. Not only open in the evenings, you can enjoy lunch on the rooftop and stay all day until golden hour and beyond should you wish.
Mama Shelter
Rnet 10236, R. do Vale de Pereiro 19, 1250-270
Enjoy finger food, cocktails and DJ sets are Mama Shelter’s stylish rooftop with views across downtown Lisbon and the Tagus river beyond.
Memmo Alfama
Tv. Merceeiras 27, 1100-348
Views from the terrace of the Memmo hotel in the Alfama area are impressive, as is the cocktail list and mouthwatering tapas menu.
WINE AND COCKTAIL BARS
Foxtrot
Tv. Santa Teresa 28, 1200-405
One of the oldest bars in Lisbon, Foxtrot is a cosy space with ambient music and delicious cocktails.
If you’re in Lisbon in the winter months there is a fire to keep you warm and in the summer you can enjoy your drinks in the garden. Foxtrot also serves steak until gone 1am if you happen to be looking for a late meal!
Imprensa Cocktail and Oyster Bar
R. da Imprensa Nacional 46, 1250-127
Modelled on Brooklyn style oyster bars, Imprensa does what it says on the tin. If oysters aren’t your thing or you need something more substantial, there are a few small plates on offer as well.
Vago
R. Gaivotas 11A, 1200-163
Recommended to me by one of the friendly servers at Faz Frio, Vago is a cosy cocktail bar with a DJ, open until 2am.
Vino Vero
Tv. do Monte 30, 1170-265
Hailing straight from another of my favourite cities, Venice, Vino Vero has a Lisbon outpost! Serving charcuterie and cheeseboards with natural wines, Vino Vero can be found down a quiet scenic street in the Graça neighbourhood.
Black Sheep
Praça das Flores 62, 1200-192
Tiny wine bar with an ever changing curated list of Portuguese wines. Close to Magnolia Bistro, so would serve well as somewhere for a pre dinner drink.
THINGS TO DO IN LISBON
Lisbon is built on and around seven hills, so you are never short of a cracking vista. For iconic sweeping views of Lisbon in its all glory, make sure to check out the amazing view points around the city. Many of these spots have places you can eat and drink nearby or have a kiosk at the miradouro itself. They are well worth seeking out, especially around golden hour and sunset, when people gather to enjoy the last rays of the day.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Lovely shady spot with a pergola running the length of the beautifully tiled wall, with some picture perfect bougainvillea nearby. There is often live music being played here!
Portas do Sol
Perhaps the most iconic of the Lisbon miradouro, Portas do Sol is a great place to take in the beautiful views of red tiled roofs and the sea in the distance. There’s a kiosk here serving drinks if you’re lucky enough to grab a table.
Miradouro Santa Catarina
Excellent spot looking out to the ocean and the iconic Lisbon bridge. Gets busy at sunset with a great atmosphere – grab a drink from the kiosk or pop into the Noobai bar next door, where there is a tiered terrace from which to take in the last hours of the sun.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
You guessed it, another great view! This miradouro looks out the the castle, and one of the funicular trams can take you up to this point. The kiosk at this miradouro does a beautiful white sangria – thank me later.
Miradouro da Graça
Sweeping views of Lisbon and the bridge, a particularly great spot for sunset. Catch the 28 Tram up to here for a quintessentially Lisbon experience.
Elevador de Santa Justa
I’ve never seen anything quite like Elevador de Santa Justa; an industrial era lift dating back over 100 years that takes you from streets in the Baixa area up to the hill at Largo do Carmo. As you would expect, views from the top are excellent!
Tram 28
Lisbon is well known for its 1930s trams, and they are a great way to get around the city. A quintessentially touristy thing to do whilst in Lisbon, you may wait a while for an empty Tram 28 but it’s a great novelty and only around €3 for a one way ticket. Tram 28 runs from Martim Moniz to Campo Ourique.
Bica Funicular Tram
Lisbon has a few funicular trams helping you get up those long and steep hills, but the one at Bica is my favourite. It’s a great place for photos!
Pink Street
Pink Street (named after the colour the pavement is painted – ground breaking) is a hot spot of Lisbon’s nightlight. Even if you aren’t there at night-time, it’s close to Time Out Market so is worth taking a wander under the colourful umbrellas that hang above the pink pavement.
Buy Ceramics
Portuguese ceramics are amongst the most beautiful in the world, and I have big plans for shipping a whole new set of plates and bowls home one day. I always grab something pretty from Cerâmicas na Linha on my trips to Lisbon. The same ceramics will cost you three fold back in the UK.
Sunset Cruise on the Tagus River
If you’ve parked up at one of Lisbon’s many rooftop bars or miradouro for sunset, you’ll see plenty of sailing boats on the Tagus River heading out to sea for a sunset cruise. This two hour sunset cruise includes Portuguese wine on board.
Belem
Belem is a district of Lisbon sitting on the waterfront, well known for great seafood restaurants and the impressive Torre del Belem, a tower that sits in glory at the water’s edge.
There is the beautiful gothic Jerónimos Monastery to explore, and the famous custard tarts from Pastéis de Belém patisserie are worth queuing for so you can make your own judgement as to whether it really is the best pastel de nata in Lisbon.
LX Factory
Arty, industrial spot with lots of places to eat, drink, shop and take in great street art. It’s a little bit outside of the city (not far!) so stays relatively local; would pair well with a trip out to Belém given their proximity to each other.
Castelo de São Jorge
Historic castle that sits atop one of Lisbon’s hills, St George’s Castle (as it is known in English) has archaeological elements dating back before Christ. You can learn about some of the excavations that have taken place inside the Castle, and you guessed it – the views are amazing. Tickets are €15 for adults.
Christ the King Statue
Catholic statue resembling Rio’s Christ the Redeemer which overlooks Lisbon from the other side of the Tagus river. You can either drive over the bridge or take a ferry across the river to explore the statue and the surrounding area.
DAY TRIPS FROM LISBON
Cascais
Perfect for a day trip, seaside town Cascais is a very easy 40 min journey on the train from Lisbon. There are a few different beaches to spend time on, and the town itself has some lovely streets with cool street art, great restaurants and bars.
There’s every reason to enjoy a lazy lunch and stay on for an evening meal after time on the beach in the afternoon, for Cascais’ restaurants are excellent and there will often be someone playing live music nearby too.
Malacopa serve banging Mexican tacos and mezcal margaritas, Santini serve beautiful gelato and Taberna Clandestina Cascais offer fantastic charcuterie board and pasta dishes under pretty festoon lights.
Costa Da Caparica
If you’re looking for long wide sandy beaches that are quite frankly far more impressive than those at Cascais, a day trip to Costa da Caparica is an excellent idea.
You do need a car or to take an Uber to Costa da Caparica, as it’s across the bridge south of Lisbon, but the 45 min – 1 hour journey (depending on traffic) is well worth it. There are lovely chilled beach clubs and restaurants you can spend the whole day at, and the beach is so wide you’ll never feel encroached on.
Praia da Princesa is a popular beach club and restaurant serving fresh seafood, salads and paella. It’s a beautiful place and comes highly recommended from my local friend. An alternative option is Coco Beach Club, Princesa’s neighbour, which a bit friendlier on the wallet. Coco serves sushi, snacks and they make a good white sangria. Two sunbeds with a parasol for the whole day at Coco Beach will set you back €25 total, and food and drinks can be ordered directly to you via an app.
Make sure you stay for sunset at Costa da Caparica, for the beach is perfectly situated, west facing the deep blues of the Atlantic.
Sintra
One of the best tourist destinations in Portugal is Sintra, around an hour away by train from the Portuguese capital.
The most popular pull to this town is Pena Palace, brightly painted in yellow and red, built in the mid 1800s to serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese Royal Family – though parts of it date back to Medieval times. If you’re lucky with a clear day, you can see the ocean and even Lisbon in the distance from the Palace.
Aside from Pena Palace, Sintra National Palace is an example of the Moorish influence in the area, and the Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira is unique and beautiful. If you have a car, Cabo da Roca, the most Western point of mainland Europe is not far away and is a special spot for sunset.
WHERE TO STAY IN LISBON
Lisbon has plenty of excellent Air BnBs which will allow you to really be in the thick of things, though be warned parts of the city can get noisy through the night – particularly the Bairro Alto area. If a hotel is more your vibe, check out the following options.
Modern boutique hotel in an excellent location and rave reviews with regard to the friendly staff who work there. Has the bonus of boasting a rooftop bar with beautiful views of Lisbon’s Alfama neighbourhood and the Tagus river. Book here.
There’s no two ways about it: the Mama Shelter hotels are just really quite cool. Their Lisbon hotel is a little further away from the centre of the action, but given Lisbon is so easy to get around this shouldn’t be a problem. It has a beautiful rooftop bar, stylish rooms and the restaurant on the ground floor has a buzzy atmosphere with a live DJ playing. Book here.
Hotel Valverde Lisboa – Relais & Chateaux
If you’re after a hotel with a pool, look no further than Hotel Valverde; stylish and in a great location on Avenue da Liberdade, the hotel also has its own bar and restaurant, though there are plenty of excellent options in this area of town. Book here.
Beautiful hotel with traditional Portuguese tiles featured throughout the property. The hotel also boasts a sun trap of a rooftop bar with sweeping views of Lisbon, where breakfast is served in the mornings. Book here.
Gorgeous new hotel with beautiful outside space complete with pool to help you cool down in those hot Lisbon summers. The hotel has a fitness centre and is in a great central location. Book here.
GETTING TO LISBON
If you want to use your Avios to book a flight to Lisbon, it’ll set you back 23500 Avios + £1 or 14500 + £35.
Getting from the airport to the city centre is an easy ride on the metro, or a relatively cheap 30-40 minute Uber ride.
GETTING AROUND LISBON
Lisbon is very walkable but it is very hilly. I can’t imagine it’s easy to navigate with children and buggies, but the Portuguese seem very welcoming of children! Luckily, Uber and Bolt is widely used in the city and the rates are really cheap – I have rarely paid over €5 for a taxi journey whilst there!
The metro is also very easy and cheap to use if you want to utilise public transport, and the trains out to Cascais and Sintra are great too.
FOUND THIS LISBON SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE USEFUL? PIN FOR LATER!
Updated July 2025.
Want to receive travel inspiration, tips and recommendations straight to your inbox? Sign up below!
