Best Restaurants in Lisbon

One thing people don’t talk about enough when it comes to Portugal is its excellent food scene! Its capital city Lisbon is no exception, home to many delicious dishes from caldo verde and bifana sandwiches to the deservedly-iconic pastel de nata. Lisbon always delivers quality food, perfect for a student’s budget!

We’ve compiled five of our top restaurants in Lisbon for students to demonstrate the breadth of amazing places to eat, from sweet little cafes to bustling food markets to trendy lunch spots!

If you’re looking for a trendy, modern, cosy place to enjoy brunch or a light lunch with friends, Hygge Kaffe is perfect for you! Hygge Kaffe is one of the best places to eat in Lisbon for students; the food is presented beautifully and the surroundings are equally gorgeous, the perfect place in Lisbon to take Insta-worthy foodie photos! 

They have an extensive menu of incredible brunch foods, from pastries and pancakes to wraps and smorrebrods. If you love a hot drink to wake you up in the morning, they offer over 27 different types of coffees, teas and hot chocolates! They also have a unique selection of juices and smoothies. 

Hygge Kaffe is open every single day of the week between 9am-7pm so you can enjoy a morning coffee and pastry or an after-uni treat. They also do takeaway options if you don’t feel like sitting in, so you could take a walk in the fresh air while sipping on your delicious coffee. Either way, Hygge Kaffe is one of the best places to eat some brain food ahead of a long day of studying!

It’s a fact: there’s nothing better than tucking into a delicious, juicy burger while catching up with friends after a long week of lectures. Ground Burger is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a world-class burger! 

While they pride themselves on their traditional, handmade American-style burgers, you can choose from a variety of fun toppings, including cheese, bacon, chilli, lobster and turkey! They also have vegetarian options and children’s burgers if you just want a light bite. 

After you’ve finished your tasty meal, you might fancy a sweet treat! Ground Burger has that covered too with a range of incredible milkshakes and delightful doughnuts with classic and inventive flavours (try the Lime Pie doughnut for something new). If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a drink with friends, Ground Burger is also ideal because they have a fantastic range of craft beers, ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks! 

Between their main restaurant and their stall in Time Out Market, Ground Burger are never far away. Eat in, take away, or get some burgers delivered to your uni accommodation for a Friday film night with new friends! This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Lisbon.

Who doesn’t love walking past a patisserie and smelling the freshly baked goods? Girassol Pastry Shop is definitely one of the best places to eat for students! Whether you love freshly baked bread or a delicious sweet pastry, Girassol Pastry Shop has something for everyone.

It’s a wonderful place to go for a traditional Portuguese breakfast or lunch, with a seemingly endless menu including pastel de natas (of course), prego rolls, queijadas, torta laranjas and pampilhos. Their prices are very affordable too, so you can stop by quite regularly without breaking the bank! 

Open every day between 7.30am-8pm, will you grab an early morning pastry or enjoy a sweet treat after lectures? Our mouths are watering already!

We couldn’t create a list of the best places to eat in Lisbon without mentioning one of the many incredible markets around the city – Time Out Market is one of the most popular and diverse markets in Lisbon, full of excellent places to eat!

With a range of authentic restaurants, shops, bars, stalls selling fresh ingredients, and a music venue, Time Out Market truly has it all! Whether you fancy sushi, steak, burgers, pizzas, seafood, cakes or hot dogs, there’s something for everyone.

You can either eat out and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of the market with friends, or pick up fresh ingredients to cook up a storm at home. Time Out Market is open every day from 10am-midnight and is free to enter (you only pay for what you buy).

Trendy, vibrant and very laid-back, Homie’s has created the ultimate student hangout where you can go to unwind and relax with friends! With a colourful yet cosy decor, you can chill out with friends on the weekend while reading a book or playing one of the exciting table games – board games and burgers? Sounds perfect to us!

They have a great menu if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy snacks and lunch foods, including nachos, burgers, quesadillas, hummus and soup. Homie’s also serve a wide selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including a range of tasty cocktails!

If you’re looking for unique and fun things to do in Lisbon, Homie’s often hosts community-led events throughout the year, from volunteering days and hikes to local artists’ exhibitions and live music gigs. What a great way to get to know your new home!

So what takes your fancy? Can you imagine sitting in Hygge Kaffe with your laptop, writing an essay or preparing a presentation, or strolling down to Time Out Market after a lecture for dinner? This is just a taster of the wonderful things Lisbon has to offer. 

If you love the idea of studying in Portugal as much as we do but haven’t sorted out a place to live, you can explore our premium student accommodation in Lisbon! Nido has four buildings in Lisbon, all equipped to meet every need you may have:

Like with all of our Nido accommodations, your wellbeing is at the forefront, which is why we’ve packed our buildings with social spaces, activities and group-study areas to reflect our family-like culture. If you’re studying elsewhere in Europe, we also have locations in Denmark, Ireland, Spain, and The Netherlands. You can check out our blog to learn more about what these countries have to offer and why they’re great places to live!

If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch with us today to ask any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to the Nido family soon!