Bacalhau — salt cod — is the most Portuguese dish there is. Some say there are 365 recipes, one for every day of the year. In Lisbon, I believe it. I grew up eating bacalhau com natas (salt cod with cream) on Fridays, bacalhau à Brás at birthday dinners, and pastéis de bacalhau (salt cod fritters) whenever there was a reason to celebrate — or simply no desire to cook.
But finding the best bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon isn't straightforward. There's plenty of choice, a lot of mediocre tourist-trap food, and some hidden gems that only locals know about.
In this guide you'll find 15 verified choices — from family-run tascas with honest prices to fine dining with Michelin-starred chefs.
📌 What is bacalhau? Bacalhau is dried and salted codfish — Portugal's national ingredient. It must be soaked in cold water for 24–48 hours before cooking to remove the salt. The result is a tender, flaky fish with a distinctive savoury depth. It's said there are 365 ways to cook it.
Quick Reference: Best Bacalhau Restaurants in Lisbon
| Restaurante | Area | Signature Dish | Price/Person | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurentina | Avenidas Novas | Special flaked bacalhau | €30–40 | 🏆 Best overall |
| Adega do Ribatejo | Bairro Alto | Bacalhau rice (arroz de bacalhau) | €15–20 | 💰 Best value |
| Cervejaria Ramiro | Intendente | Bacalhau com natas | €30–90 | ⭐ Most famous |
| 100 Maneiras | Bairro Alto | Bacalhau confit | €70–120 | 🎨 Most creative |
| Zé da Mouraria | Mouraria | Bacalhau with cornbread (broa) | €18–25 | 👨👩👧 Best family spot |
| Casa do Bacalhau | Beato | Bacalhau à Brás | €18–25 | 📍 Worth the trip |
| Enoteca de Belém | Belém | Confit bacalhau | €35–45 | 🍷 Best wine pairing |
| Cervejaria Trindade | Chiado | Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá | €22–30 | 🏛️ Most historic |
| Solar dos Presuntos | Restauradores | Bacalhau com natas | €35–50 | 💎 Most elegant |
| Tasca da Esquina | Campo de Ourique | Pastéis de bacalhau | €25–35 | 👨🍳 Gourmet casual |
Prices per person including starter, main course and drinks. Always confirm on the restaurant's website or by phone before visiting.
Top 15 Best Codfish Restaurants in Lisbon - In Details
Baixa, Chiado and Beato: Bacalhau in the Historic Centre
Three historic Lisbon restaurants — two right in the centre, one in a palace in Beato that's worth the journey.
1. Casa do Bacalhau — Palace Setting, Legendary Bacalhau à Brás
The Casa do Bacalhau is housed in the former stables of an 18th-century palace belonging to the Duke of Lafões, in the Beato neighbourhood — outside the historic centre, but absolutely worth the trip. The Bacalhau à Brás (shredded salt cod with egg and matchstick potato crisps) is legendary: the cod is shredded by hand and the potato crisps are extraordinarily fine.
The menu offers 30 different ways to serve bacalhau — from the classics to the more creative. Elegant space with capacity for groups, ideal for special occasions.
- 📍 Address: Rua do Grilo, 54, 1900-706 Lisboa (Beato)
- 🕐 Hours: Daily: 12:00–23:00 (noon–11:00 PM)
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau à Brás €14 | Bacalhau com Natas €16 | Bacalhau Assado €18
- 📞 Reservations: +351 218 865 088 | TheFork (occasional discounts available)
- 🚇 Getting There: Taxi/Uber recommended | Bus 728 (stop: Rua do Grilo)
Dica Santos Lisboa: 💡 Tip: It's not in the tourist zone but it's worth the journey. Book in advance — it has capacity for groups and fills up at weekends.
2. Cervejaria Trindade — Bacalhau in a 19th-Century Convent
The Cervejaria Trindade has been open since 1836, housed in a former convent of the Holy Trinity. The 19th-century azulejo tile work is extraordinary — some people come here just to photograph the walls.
The Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá — a traditional dish of layered salt cod, potatoes, onion, olives and hard-boiled eggs — is prepared the old-fashioned way, in an earthenware dish. It arrives at the table still steaming. The historic experience is as valuable as the dish itself.
- 📍 Address: Rua Nova da Trindade, 20C, 1200-303 Lisboa (Chiado)
- 🕐 Hours: Daily: 12:00–00:00 (noon–midnight)
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá €18 | Bacalhau Assado €20 | Bacalhau com Natas €19
- 📞 Reservations: +351 213 423 506 | cervejariatrindade.pt — essential at weekends
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Baixa-Chiado (Blue/Green Lines)
💡 Tip: Ask for a table next to the large azulejo tile panels. The photos are stunning — and the historic backdrop transforms the whole experience.
3. Solar dos Presuntos — For Special Occasions
The Solar dos Presuntos has been open since 1974 and is one of the most respected restaurants in Lisbon. Politicians, business figures, and chefs from other restaurants come here on their days off — which already says everything.
The bacalhau com natas (salt cod gratin with cream) has a perfectly browned crust and extremely generous portions. The wine list runs to more than 200 references — ask the staff for help choosing.
- 📍 Address: Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, 150, 1150-269 Lisboa (Restauradores)
- 🕐 Hours: Monday to Saturday: 12:00–15:00 and 19:00–23:00 | Sundays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau com Natas €24 | Bacalhau à Lagareiro €28 | Bacalhau à Brás €22
- 📞 Reservations: +351 213 424 253 — REQUIRED, 3–5 days in advance
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Restauradores (Blue Line), right at the door
💡 Tip: Portions are enormous — two adults can share one main course very comfortably. You'll save money and still have room for dessert.
Alfama and Mouraria: Bacalhau with Neighbourhood Soul
Here you'll find some of the most authentic bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon — no tourist staging, just good food and local regulars.
4. Zé da Mouraria — Three Generations, Family Recipes
This family tasca has been in the Mouraria neighbourhood for three generations. The grandmother started in 1978, her son continued, her grandson keeps the secret recipes going. Nothing has changed — and that's exactly what makes it special.
The Bacalhau Assado com Broa (oven-roasted bacalhau with traditional cornbread) is unique in Lisbon. The broa comes from Trás-os-Montes, the bread crumbs are golden and crispy, and the olive oil is from the family's own land. Zero tourist trappings. One hundred percent authenticity.
- 📍 Address: Rua João do Outeiro, 24, 1100-322 Lisboa (Mouraria)
- 🕐 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00–15:00 and 19:00–22:30 | Mondays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau Assado com Broa €17 | Bacalhau à Brás €15 | Arroz de Bacalhau €14
- 📞 Reservations: +351 218 866 525 (recommended at weekends)
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Martim Moniz (Green Line), 8 min walk — note: it's uphill
💡 Tip: Ask for a 'meia-dose' (half portion) if you don't have a huge appetite — portions are genuinely enormous. On Fridays there's also a feijoada (bean stew) that's equally outstanding.
5. A Baiuca — Bacalhau and Authentic Fado in Alfama
A Baiuca combines two of the best things in Lisbon: bacalhau and fado. This is not a tourist performance — it's neighbourhood fado, with local fadistas, in an intimate space of about 30 seats.
The Bacalhau à Brás is very good, but you're really coming for the fado. When someone starts to sing, the silence is absolute — and so are the goosebumps.
- 📍 Address: Rua de São Miguel, 20, 1100-541 Lisboa (Alfama)
- 🕐 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 19:00–02:00 (7:00 PM–2:00 AM) | DINNER ONLY | Fado from 21:00 (9:00 PM) | Mondays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau à Brás €16 | Refeição completa €20–28 | Fado incluído no preço da comida
- 📞 Reservations: +351 218 867 284 — ESSENTIAL, 5–7 days in advance
- 🚇 Getting There: Tram 28E (stop: Largo Portas do Sol) + 5 min walk | Taxi recommended at night
💡 Tip: Arrive at 19:30 (7:30 PM), take your time over dinner, and at 21:00 (9:00 PM) the whole atmosphere shifts. Silence your phone — the fadistas will ask you to, and they're right.
Intendente: The Most Famous Bacalhau Restaurant in Lisbon
6. Cervejaria Ramiro — A Lisbon Institution
The Ramiro is probably the most famous of all bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon. Anthony Bourdain was a regular. Chefs from around the world come here. And Lisboetas consider it an institution that defines the city.
The main focus is seafood — tiger prawns, percebes (barnacles), spider crab — but the Bacalhau com Natas is also exceptional. The Ramiro tradition: start with seafood, have bacalhau as the main, and finish with a prego (steak sandwich) in a bolo do caco (sweet potato flatbread). Yes, the steak sandwich is dessert. Don't question it — just try it.
- 📍 Address: Avenida Almirante Reis, 1H, 1150-007 Lisboa (Intendente)
- 🕐 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00–00:00 (noon–midnight) | Mondays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau com Natas €22 | Bacalhau-only meal €30–40 | With seafood €60–90
- 📞 Reservations: TheFork | +351 218 851 024 — ALWAYS recommended, especially weekends
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Intendente (Green Line) — the restaurant is visible right from the exit
💡 Tip: Wear clothes you don't mind getting messy. The shellfish splashes and is eaten with your hands. That's how it's supposed to be.
Avenidas Novas: Vale a Viagem
7. Laurentina — The King of Bacalhau in Lisbon
The Laurentina has been open since 1976 and is, for many people, the best bacalhau restaurant in Lisbon. Full stop. Customers travel from outside the city just to eat here. Chefs from other restaurants come on their days off.
The Bacalhau Lascado Especial — charcoal-grilled flaked cod with smashed potatoes (batatas a murro) — is the house signature. Simple, perfect, no frills. The cod is processed artisanally, from the catch through to the desalting. It's in the Avenidas Novas district, not the historic centre — but worth every step. Avenidas Novas, não no centro — mas vale cada metro de deslocação.
- 📍 Address: Avenida Conde Valbom, 71A, 1050-067 Lisboa (Avenidas Novas)
- 🕐 Hours: Daily: 12:00–23:00 (noon–11:00 PM)
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau Lascado Especial €24,50 | Bacalhau à Brás €21,50 | Bacalhau com Broa €22,50
- 📞 Reservations: +351 217 960 260 | restaurantelaurentina.com
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — São Sebastião (Blue/Yellow Lines), 3 min walk
💡 Tip: On Thursday evenings there's live fado. A night at Laurentina with bacalhau and fado is one of the most authentically Lisbon experiences you can have.
Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real: From Budget to Fine Dining
8. Adega do Ribatejo — Best Value Bacalhau in Lisbon
The Adega do Ribatejo, in Bairro Alto, is Lisbon's most open secret for eating well without spending much. The Arroz de Bacalhau (salt cod rice) at €12 is unbeatable. Portions are huge. The atmosphere is pure neighbourhood cantina — formica tables, football on TV, animated conversations all around.
There's live fado in the evenings, which makes the experience even more special.
- 📍 Address: Rua do Diário de Notícias, 23, 1200-141 Lisboa (Bairro Alto)
- 🕐 Hours: Monday to Saturday: 12:00–15:30 and 19:00–00:00 | Sundays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Arroz de Bacalhau €12 | Bacalhau Cozido €14 | Bacalhau à Brás €13
- 📞 Reservations: +351 213 468 343 (accepted, but arriving early is safer)
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Baixa-Chiado (Blue/Green Lines), 5 min walk
💡 Tip: The staff don't speak much English — and that's a good sign. You're in a local's place.
9. 100 Maneiras — Fine Dining for Very Special Nights
The 100 Maneiras is for when you want to eat bacalhau as you've never tasted it before. The Confit Bacalhau is slow-cooked for 8 hours in Alentejo olive oil — the texture is butter, the flavour intense but refined.
Tasting menus of 6 to 8 courses. Not for every night — for the nights you want to remember.
- 📍 Address: Rua do Teixeira, 39, 1200-459 Lisboa (Bairro Alto)
- 🎫 Prices: Tasting Menu €85–95 | Bacalhau à la carte €28 | Wine pairing +€45
- 📞 Reservations: restaurante100maneiras.com | +351 910 307 575 — book 2–4 weeks in advance
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Baixa-Chiado + 10 min walk (uphill) | Taxi recommended
Campo de Ourique: The Neighbourhood Lisbonites Keep to Themselves
Campo de Ourique is pleasant, residential, and well away from mass tourism. And it has one of the best bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon for quality without pretension.
10. Tasca da Esquina — Michelin Quality Without the Ceremony
The Tasca da Esquina is the best example of what Lisbon does well: elevated traditional cooking, without any airs. The Pastéis de Bacalhau (salt cod fritters) are legendary — premium Porto-cured cod, ratte potato purée, fried in duck fat.
Campo de Ourique is one of Lisbon's most pleasant neighbourhoods for a stroll. Combine a visit to the market with lunch here — the Mercado de Campo de Ourique is 5 minutes away on foot.
- 📍 Address: Rua Domingos Sequeira, 41C, 1350-119 Lisboa (Campo de Ourique)
- 🕐 Hours: Daily: 12:30–15:30 and 19:30–23:30
- 🎫 Prices: Pastéis de Bacalhau (6un) €15 | Bacalhau à Brás revisitado €18 | Polvo Lagareiro €22
- 📞 Reservations: tascadaesquina.com | +351 919 837 255 — essential at weekends
- 🚇 Getting There: Tram 28E (Campo de Ourique terminus) | Buses 709, 774
Belém: Bacalhau with a View of the Tagus
11. Enoteca de Belém — For Wine Lovers
The Enoteca de Belém has 200+ Portuguese wine references and a Confit Bacalhau that slow-cooks for 6 hours in extra virgin olive oil. The result? It melts in your mouth and pairs perfectly with a full-bodied Alentejo red.
The sommelier will help you choose. Perfect for a romantic lunch after visiting the monuments in Belém — the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is a 5-minute walk away.
- 📍 Address: Travessa Marta Pinto, 12, 1300-394 Lisboa (Belém)
- 🕐 Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 12:00–00:00 | Mondays and Tuesdays: CLOSED
- 🎫 Prices: Bacalhau Confitado €24 | Polvo Lagareiro €26 | Refeição completa €35–45
- 📞 Reservations: TheFork | +351 213 631 511
- 🚇 Getting There: Tram 15E (Belém) | Train from Cais do Sodré to Belém station
Parque das Nações: River Views and Easy Parking
12. Marisqueira Um — For Families or Groups
Spacious dining room, a terrace overlooking the Tagus, and easy parking. Marisqueira Um is ideal for groups or families who want bacalhau and seafood without the stress of the city centre. The Grilled Bacalhau and the Cataplana de Bacalhau com Marisco (bacalhau and seafood clay pot, for two) are the dishes to order.
- 📍 Address: Passeio de Neptuno, Loja 1.03.01, 1990-191 Lisboa (Parque das Nações)
- 🕐 Hours: Daily: 12:00–00:00 (noon–midnight)
- 🎫 Prices: Grilled Bacalhau €24 | Bacalhau & Seafood Cataplana (for 2) €55
- 📞 Reservations: +351 218 956 837 (recommended at weekends)
- 🚇 Getting There: Metro — Oriente (Red Line), 10 min walk along the riverside promenade
3 More Worth Mentioning
13. Taberna Sal Grosso — Cais do Sodré
A well-executed Arroz de Bacalhau in one of Lisbon's most vibrant areas. Full meal €20–28. Perfect for combining with an evening out in Cais do Sodré afterwards.
14. Páteo — Bairro do Avillez (Chiado)
Chef José Avillez (2 Michelin stars) has several restaurants sharing a space in Chiado. Páteo serves creative bacalhau dishes at accessible prices. Full meal €40–60. bairrodoavillez.pt
15. Cantinho do Aziz (Mouraria)
Bacalhau à Moçambicana — a unique fusion of Portuguese tradition with African and Asian influences. Creamy, lightly spiced, completely unlike anything else. Full meal €20–28. Address: Rua de São Lourenço 5, Mouraria.
How to Eat Bacalhau in Lisbon Without Getting It Wrong
Lunch Always Beats Dinner on Price
At the best bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon, lunch costs on average 20–30% less than dinner. Same quality, half the wait. Go for lunch whenever you can.
Half Portions Are There to Be Used
Portugal is the only country in the world where portions are systematically excessive. Almost every restaurant on this list offers a meia-dose (half portion). Ask without hesitation — it's completely normal, and you'll still have room for dessert.
The Best Bacalhau in Lisbon Isn't in the Centre
The best bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon are mostly outside the most touristy areas. Laurentina is in Avenidas Novas, Zé da Mouraria is in Mouraria, Tasca da Esquina is in Campo de Ourique. It's always worth leaving the main tourist circuit — that's how Lisbon works.
Tap Water and House Wine
In Portugal, tap water is safe and good quality. Ask for 'água da casa' (tap water) and save €3–4. Put that money towards a glass of regional wine instead — the staff will love helping you choose.
Book Ahead, Always
Lisbon is busy. Good restaurants fill up in minutes at weekends. For Ramiro, Solar dos Presuntos and 100 Maneiras, book at least 3–5 days in advance. For 100 Maneiras, allow 2–4 weeks.
Lisbon has much more to discover beyond the plate. Our guide to Lisbon's best viewpoints covers the finest miradouros near Alfama, Chiado and Belém. For a cultural afternoon before your meal, the museums in Lisbon guide has options for every neighbourhood and budget. Getting around the historic centre is easiest on Tram 28 — it stops near several of the restaurants in this guide. And if you still have room for dessert, the Pastéis de Belém guide tells you exactly where to find the best custard tarts in the city.
Where Do You Start?
Lisbon has bacalhau for every taste and every budget. If you want the absolute best among bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon, go to Laurentina. If you want unbeatable value, Adega do Ribatejo is the answer. For a unique historic experience, Cervejaria Trindade. And for a night you'll remember, 100 Maneiras.
But above all: don't be afraid to explore. The best bacalhau restaurants in Lisbon aren't always on the busiest streets. Sometimes they're on a corner in Mouraria or in a residential neighbourhood in Avenidas Novas. And it's in those places that the bacalhau tastes best.
After a good meal, Lisbon has plenty more to offer. See our guide to the best museums in Lisbon for a cultural afternoon, and if you're planning a full day in the city, our other guides on santosdelisboa.pt cover everything from viewpoints to trams to pastéis de nata.