Nestled on the sun-kissed hills overlooking the Tagus River, Lisbon is a city where love and gastronomy walk hand in hand.
As locals, we have a unique vantage point to share why this enchanting capital is not just a backdrop for romance but a culinary haven for foodie couples. From the labyrinthine alleys of Alfama to the vibrant Baixa, passing by way less touristy neighborhoods full of food gems such as Alvalade or Benfica, every corner of Lisbon exudes charm and an aura that invites lovers to explore and indulge.
If you are traveling to Portugal with your better half during Valentine’s Day, or during any other time of the year, actually, we would love to suggest to both of you some of the most romantic things food loving couples can do together in Lisbon:
Have an intimate dinner at a Portuguese restaurant
The culinary landscape of Lisbon is dotted with restaurants that are steeped in history and romance. A candlelit dinner at a traditional Portuguese restaurant is not just about the food, it's an immersive experience. Browse the most traditional Portuguese dishes, and start with a selection of petiscos (Portugal’s answer to tapas or appetizers perfect for sharing), featuring delicacies like salt cod fritter, meat croquetes or marinated olives. For the main course, indulge in a fragrant seafood rice, brimming with the ocean's bounty, or savor a stew with mildly spicy chorizo, to get closer to the heart of Portuguese culture and, while at it, soften the heart of your loved one too. Whatever you end up ordering as a main meal, we’d highly recommend ending on a sweet note, as Portugal’s range of desserts is vast and will certainly leave a pleasant aftertaste on your mouth…
To enjoy an ambiance that is both intimate and authentically Lisbon, we recommend booking a table for two at:
Casa do Alentejo
📍Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 58, 1150-268 Lisbon
Gambrinus
📍Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 23, 1150-264 Lisbon
O Nobre
📍Av. Sacadura Cabral 53B, 1000-080 Lisbon
Rossio Gastrobar (pictured above)
📍Altis Avenida Hotel, Rua 1º de Dezembro 118, 1200-360 Lisbon
O Frade (here you eat at the counter, overlooking the kitchen)
📍Calçada da Ajuda 14, 1300-598 Lisbon
Do a wine tasting in the heart of Lisbon
If you’d like to go on a journey through Portugal's history filled wine regions, you could hit the coolest wine bars in Lisbon or take a trip to some of the best wine estates near the city. Either way, the world of Portuguese wine is immensely rich and wine lovers will appreciate the nuances from each region, the several producers and the peculiarities of certain wines. The activity we are here suggesting for you and your partner is not just about tasting the wines but, most of all, about understanding the soul of Portuguese winemaking, making each sip a shared discovery.
If you are a couple eager to explore the diverse palette of Portuguese wines in a romantic setting, we recommend the following venues in Lisbon:
Senhor Uva (pictured above)
📍Rua de Santo Amaro 66A, 1200-804 Lisbon
Black Sheep
📍Praça das Flores 62, 1200-192 Lisbon
Vino Vero
📍Tv. do Monte 30, 1170-265 Lisbon
Holy Wine
📍Calçada da Estrela 15, 1200-661
Insaciável
📍Rua da Esperança 156, 1200-660 Lisbon
Stir the pot together: take a cooking class!
Join us at Cooking Lisbon for an experience that goes beyond just preparing a meal. Our cooking classes are a celebration of love and food, where couples can learn the art of Portuguese cooking. Together, we will prepare at least three petiscos, a main dish and a traditional Portuguese dessert. Our cooking experiences are hands-on (no pun intended), and we cook together as a group with food and fun loving people from all over the globe, while sharing not only recipes and cooking techniques, but also travel stories, laughs and, of course, a bottle of wine too!
Book a cooking class at Cooking Lisbon and engage in a true Portuguese gastronomic adventure!
Bake a sweet for your sweetheart
Here at Cooking Lisbon you could also join us for our special Pastel de Nata class, a perfect activity for couples. Baking these iconic Portuguese custard tarts together is not just about following a recipe, it's about creating sweet memories.
The experience of working together to craft something delicious is a delightful way to bond, making this class ideal for couples looking to add a pinch of sweetness to their Lisbon adventure.
Explore Lisbon's historic markets
For a truly immersive culinary experience, take a stroll through Lisbon’s historic markets, which is something you’d also get to do with our guidance, when you join our Market Tour with Cooking Class in Lisbon.
Visiting the city’s markets is a fun, engaging experience and it gives you the opportunity to sample a variety of local foods, whether it’s ready made bites or ingredients if you wish to go back home and cook together as a couple. This is a perfect way for couples to explore the city's gastronomic roots as, before the food hits the restaurants, it already has a deep story, one which some older time chatty vendors would be happy to share with you if you’re not shy and simply ask away.
If you decide to venture on our own, some of the most bustling hubs where to browse Portuguese produce, the freshest seafood and other Portuguese specialities, include:
Mercado da Ribeira – Time Out Market
📍Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisbon
Mercado de Campo de Ourique
📍Rua Coelho da Rocha 104, 1350-075 Lisbon
Mercado de Arroios
📍Rua Ângela Pinto 40D, 1900-221 Lisbon
Mercado 31 de Janeiro
📍Rua Engenheiro Vieira da Silva, Praça Duque de Saldanha, 1050-094 Lisboa
Mercado de Alvalade Norte (pictured above)
📍Av. Rio de Janeiro, 1700-330 Lisbon
Take a food tour through Lisbon's neighborhoods
Discover Lisbon's diverse neighborhoods through curated food tours. Each district, from the historic Alfama to Baixa, Lisbon’s downtown, offers unique flavors and culinary experiences.
These tours are about way more than just sampling food. They're about understanding the cultural and historical context that shapes Lisbon's food scene. It’s a journey through time and taste, ideal for couples looking to explore the city's culinary landscape. For a more intimate setting, request a private food tour instead of joining a default group experience.
Do a romantic picnic with a view
For a more relaxed experience, why not enjoy a romantic picnic?
Lisbon is graced with numerous parks and viewpoints, offering breathtaking views of the city. Pack a basket with local delicacies, a bottle of Portuguese wine (yes, in Portugal it is perfectly legal to drink outdoors!), and enjoy a leisurely afternoon basking in each other's company against the backdrop of this beautiful city.
Some of the best spots for a romantic picnic (or at least to share a bottle of wine) in Lisbon, include:
Miradouro Monte Agudo
📍PC Novas Nações 42, 1170-175 Lisbon
Torre de Belém gardens
📍Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon
Tapada das Necessidades (and the adjacent viewpoint)
📍Largo das Necessidades, 1350-215 Lisbon
Jardim da Cerca da Graça (pictured above)
📍Calçada do Monte 46, 1100-362 Lisbon
Jardim das Ondas
📍Passeio Neptuno, 1990-192 Lisbon (Parque das Nações)
Indulge during a live Fado show with a culinary twist
Experience the emotional depth of Fado, Portugal's most famous musical tradition. In Lisbon, a Fado show is often more than just a musical performance, it's a culinary event.
Many venues offer a dinner-and-show setup, where you can enjoy traditional Portuguese dishes as the melancholic melodies of Fado envelop you. For a more laid-back experience, visit a Fado bar where the music is more simply accompanied by a drink and, if you get peckish, where you could still order some petiscos. This option is not only more affordable but also offers a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the music and savor local flavors.
These are some of our favorite venues for live Fado in Lisbon:
A Severa (pictured above)
📍Rua das Gáveas 51, 1200-206 Lisbon
Parreirinha de Alfama
📍Beco do Espírito Santo 1, 1100-222 Lisbon
Fado & Wine
📍Rua da Assunção 15, 1100-107 Lisbon
Fado ao Carmo
📍Rua da Condessa 52, 1200-122 Lisbon
Tasca do Chico
📍Rua do Diário de Notícias 39, 1200-141 Lisbon
📍Rua dos Remédios 83, 1100-443 Lisbon
Sip cocktails at a rooftop bar with romantic views over lisbon
As the sun sets over the seven hills of Lisbon, the city's skyline transforms into a breathtaking canvas of hues, creating the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening. What better way to take in this mesmerizing view than from one of Lisbon’s many rooftop bars, cocktail in hand, with your loved one by your side?
Hitting one of Lison’s popular rooftop bars, you can see the iconic red rooftops, the zig zagging of the Tagus River and, depending where you are, even famous landmarks like the São Jorge Castle or other prominent buildings. Enjoy these wonderful views while admiring the golden glow of the setting sun and, as the evening deepens, the city twinkling city lights, mirroring the stars above, adding an extra touch of magic to the atmosphere.
Rely on expert mixologists to craft a variety of concoctions, ranging from classic cocktails with a Portuguese twist to innovative creations that showcase local spirits and flavors. The combination of breathtaking views, exquisite drinks, and the company of your significant other makes for an experience that is both romantic and unforgettable.
These rooftop bars offer an unparalleled perspective of Lisbon:
Topo Martim Moniz
📍Centro Comercial Martim Moniz, 1100-341 Lisbon
Terraço Editorial
📍Rua dos Fanqueiros 276 piso 8, 1149-031 Lisbon
Silk Club (pictured above)
📍Edifício Espaço Chiado, R. da Misericórdia 14, 1200-273 Lisbon
Catch Me
📍Jardim 9 de Abril, 1200-736
Lisbon https://catch-me.pt
Sky Bar
📍Av. da Liberdade 185, 1269-050 Lisbon
Visit a craft brewery
Lisbon's craft beer scene is flourishing, offering a delightful experience for beer-loving couples. Explore one of the city's craft breweries, particularly in the neighborhood of Marvila, the so-called beer district of Lisbon. A little all over Lisbon too these days, not only can you visit trendy craft breweries with a variety of flavors and brewing styles, in some of them, you can even take a guided tour to learn about the brewing process - for instance, you can do that at Dois Corvos, Lisbon’s very first craft brewery, more specifically at their original tap room and production area in Marvila (see address below).
Team up with your lover to share and sample a variety of unique, locally brewed beers. Sharing different brews allows you to explore a wide range of flavors, making for a fun and casual date activity.
Looking forward to getting tipsy on love and craft beer with your partner in Lisbon? Here’s where you should go:
MUSA
📍Musa de Marvila: Rua do Vale Formoso 9, 1950-277 Lisbon (pictured above)
📍Musa da Bica: Calçada Salvador Correia de Sá 2A, 1200-399 Lisbon
Dois Corvos
📍Marvila: Rua Cap. Leitão 94, 1950-052 Lisbon
📍Intendente: Rua dos Anjos 16B 1150-037 Lisboa
Oitava Colina
📍Brewery & Taproom: Av. Infante Dom Henrique 334 Armazém 3, 1800-224 Lisbon
📍Taproom in Graça: R. Damasceno Monteiro 8A, 1170-112 Lisbon
Quimera Brewpub
📍Rua Prior do Crato 6, 1350-261 Lisbon
A.M.O. Brewery
📍Rua Bernardim Ribeiro 53, 1150-069 Lisbon
Spoil yourselves with Lisbon's best tasting menus
For an evening of undisturbed romance, indulge in one of Lisbon’s exquisite tasting menus.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden culinary havens, these curated dining experiences allow you to focus on your partner while the chef takes care of the rest. In between serving and serving, there’s usually plenty of time for holding hands!
At these restaurants, each course is a revelation, offering a harmonious blend of traditional flavors and contemporary techniques:
Cura* (pictured above)
📍Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 88, 1070-051 Lisbon
Âmago
📍Rua da Alegria 41C, 1250-182 Lisbon
Belcanto**
📍Rua Serpa Pinto 10A, 1200-026 Lisbon
VDB Bistronomie
📍Rua Canastras 8, 1100-112 Lisbon
Alma**
📍Rua Anchieta 15, 1200-224 Lisbon
Book a private chef for an exclusive culinary experience
Imagine a candlelit dinner in the cozy confines of your own Airbnb or rental, where the aromas of gourmet cooking blend seamlessly with the intimacy of your private space. Booking a private chef in Lisbon elevates this vision into a memorable reality, perfect for couples seeking an exclusive and romantic culinary experience.
When you book a private chef, he/she will work with you to create a menu that speaks to your personal tastes and dietary preferences, turning your favorite flavors into culinary masterpieces. Whether it's a classic Portuguese dish with a contemporary twist or an international cuisine prepared with local ingredients, the meal is tailored to celebrate your unique love story.
This intimate dining experience allows you to savor each moment without the distractions of a busy restaurant. It's an opportunity to engage in deeper conversations, share laughs, and create new memories in a comfortable setting. This is an ideal way to add an extra touch of romance to your stay in our enchanting city.
Curate your own food crawl
For the adventurous couple, curating your own food crawl through Lisbon can be a thrilling experience. Take turns choosing the next stop, be it for petiscos, pastries, a shot of ginjinha (Portugal’s most typical sour cherry liqueur), or a refreshing drink. This spontaneous journey through Lisbon's culinary landscape is a great way to explore the city's diverse food scene and discover hidden gems along the way, while collaborating and curating together the itinerary.
Browse Cooking Lisbon’s blog for lots of travel and food related tips to get some ideas, and surprise your partner by showing him / her the most delicious tastings Lisbon has to offer.
If furthermore you’re inspired to cook by yourself and treat your loved one, we have put together a romantic Portuguese food menu for Valentine's Day, with easy to follow step by step recipes.
This Valentine's Day, and every day, we invite you to explore these experiences, to fall in love not just with each other, but with Lisbon itself.
Happy Valentine's Day, and we eagerly await your visit to Cooking Lisbon, where every dish is a story of love and every class, a celebration of togetherness. For more deliciousness, follow us on Instagram! #cookinglisbon
