The Best New Restaurants in Portugal You Need to Know About

The Best New Restaurants in Portugal

Portugal’s culinary scene is evolving faster than ever. For travellers who value authenticity, craftsmanship, and unforgettable food experiences, there has never been a better time to explore the country through its newest dining establishments.

From refined seafood temples in Lisbon to soulful kitchens in the Douro Valley and bold new concepts in Porto, these are the new restaurants redefining how Portugal tastes today. At Wine Tourism in Portugal, we curate experiences around places like these, restaurants that feel personal, rooted in place, and deeply connected to local producers, wines, and stories.

Here are the new openings you truly need on your radar:

New Restaurants in Lisbon

JNcQUOI Fish

Under the guidance of Chef Filipe Carvalho, JNcQUOI Fish is an immersive journey through Portugal’s coastal identity. Each dish celebrates the purity of seafood, allowing the ingredient to speak with precision and elegance.

The menu is built around respect: for the ocean, for seasonality, and for Portuguese maritime heritage. Expect pristine fish, thoughtfully balanced flavours, and plates that feel both contemporary and deeply connected to tradition. It is a restaurant designed for those who understand that simplicity, when executed with excellence, is the ultimate sophistication.

Bonança

Bonança is more than a dining room; it is an atmosphere. Inspired by Portugal’s great maritime voyages, the space evokes a grand vessel: nautical relics, starry ceilings, warm golden light, and a layout that evolves from intimate dinners to vibrant evenings.

With 150 seats indoors and capacity for 200, including the terrace, Bonança offers scale without losing soul. The menu follows the same philosophy: guided by a wind rose, it moves between ocean and land, fire and freshness, memory and imagination. Each dish feels like a reflection of Portugal’s identity, interpreted with a contemporary Iberian lens.

Almina

From Alentejo’s fertile fields to the fishermen and butchers of Cascais, Almina’s narrative begins with proximity and respect for origin. Here, cooking is a celebration of seasonality, ethical sourcing, and ingredient-driven creativity.

The open fire is the heart of the kitchen, enhancing vegetables, daily catch, and market produce with depth and character. Inspired by ports as cultural crossroads, the menu connects local Portuguese bounty with subtle influences from across the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The result is honest, soulful cuisine that feels both grounded and worldly.

Santa Joana

Santa Joana is the independent restaurant at Locke de Santa Joana and the personal project of internationally acclaimed chef Nuno Mendes. Rooted in Portuguese flavours and shaped by global experience, the menu is a contemporary expression of Portugal’s culinary heritage.

Dishes such as slow-cooked skate with fennel and smoked butter sauce, grilled Alentejo pork presa, heritage breads, fresh shellfish, and vibrant seasonal vegetables showcase the strength of local sourcing. Every ingredient comes from a trusted network of farmers, growers, and artisans across the country. 

New Restaurants in the Douro Valley

Cozinha do Douro – Six Senses Douro Valley

Set within the serene landscape of Six Senses Douro Valley, Cozinha do Douro is a destination in itself for food and wine lovers. The kitchen honours the traditions of northern Portugal while embracing contemporary refinement.

Menus evolve with the seasons, highlighting fresh Atlantic fish, aromatic olive oils, regional produce, and comforting dishes inspired by Portuguese culinary heritage. The wine list is an exceptional journey through the Douro Valley, featuring both renowned estates and emerging producers. With guidance from expert sommeliers, every meal becomes a cultural and sensory exploration of the region.

New Restaurants in Porto

Éon

Located in the historic Palacete Severo, Éon marks a new chapter for Chef Tiago Bonito, formerly awarded a Michelin star at Largo do Paço. The concept is built around “intemporality”, cuisine that transcends trends and focuses on memory, emotion, and narrative.

Here, guests are invited on a sensory journey through the chef’s gastronomic memories, interpreted with technical precision and emotional depth. The setting itself enhances the experience: an elegant early 20th-century palace that offers intimacy, calm, and a strong sense of character. Éon feels like Porto’s quiet new reference for thoughtful, contemporary dining.

Why these restaurants matter now

These new openings represent more than fashionable addresses. They reflect a broader movement across Portugal: a renewed respect for producers, a stronger connection between food and territory, and a desire to offer guests something meaningful rather than performative.

For travellers seeking food and wine experiences with authenticity and depth, these restaurants are not simply places to eat; they are destinations worth travelling for.

At Wine Tourism in Portugal, we integrate reservations at exceptional restaurants like these into tailor-made itineraries, private wine experiences, and curated journeys across the country. Because the right table, at the right moment, can define an entire trip.