Lisbon is quite a special place to be in New Year’s Eve, as the city livens up and becomes even more vibrant. The atmosphere is electric, the anticipation of the night’s celebration is in the air, as the city is filled with people who want to enjoy the last night of the year and dance away into the new one. Restaurants and bars are dishing up delectable menus for the feast. And come midnight, fireworks will set the sky alight in Lisboa.
Compared to Christmas, lots of restaurants are open for New Year’s celebrations, setting you up nicely for the course of the evening. That’s before you proceed to clink flute glasses and drink espumante, or even better champagne, whilst watching fireworks and celebrating with the locals in Praça do Comercio. Or admiring the pyrotechnics from a miradouro, where you’ll get a stunning view of Lisbon’s colourful skyline.
We’ve compiled some of the excellent restaurants Lisbon has to offer to guests who will be in Lisbon for the New Year’s Eve dinner, as well as for New Year’s Day meal. Whether you’re in the mood for a neoclassical evening affair, an exciting contemporary flair of international cuisine, or prefer a traditional Portuguese dining, we have plenty to choose from. All of them are within reasonable distance from our Lisbon boutique hotel suites in Santos that they’re just a short Uber ride away. And definitely within a good reach to the main party venue at Terreiro do Paço, where there’ll be live bands and music till the break of dawn.
Tavares
At over two centuries’ old, Tavares is one of the Europe’s oldest restaurants and definitely Lisbon’s oldest. So why not celebrate the New Year in this romantic venue surrounded by golden rococo style interior, Venetian mirrors and great chandeliers, and a gastronomy that’s been ennobled by time and great renown. Yes, the price is high for a New Year’s Eve meal, but it’s what you get when you’re in this time-tested excellence, combining Portuguese flavours with French haute cuisine.
Address: R. da Misericórdia 37
Food: European
Menu: €250 on 31st, à la carte menu on 1st Jan
Open: Dinner from 7pm, 31st December & 1 January
Drogaria
This restaurant is quite close to our suites in Santos, if you prefer convenience and a place that’s within easy reach. It’s called Drogaria, as it used to be a drugstore, and it’s now a super stylish restaurant offering contemporary cuisine that combines local and international flavours. At New Year’s, they’ll serve you a plate of amuse bouche, duck magret with confit onion for the main course, and crème brûlée with berries, chocolate and chestnuts. It’s a tasteful place for a tasteful evening.
Address: R. Joaquim Casimiro 8
Food: Contemporary Cuisine
Set Menu: €50
Open: Dinner at 8pm, 31st December
Monte Mar
If dining on a seafood restaurant with a river view is your thing, then Monte Mar is a place to be. Originally a Cascais classic, now with a Lisbon brunch, they’re offering a revelatory New Year’s feast that includes a mix of fresh seafood and various meats. Starters that include salmon dill tarts, brie gratin, chicken chives and selection of vol-au-vent. Main course include shellfish cream, braised seabass, stuffed chicken breast and Spanish mussels. Desserts come aplenty. Check out the menu, as you’ll be thoroughly surprised with the wealth of choices.
Address: Rua da Cintura Armazém 65
Food: Seafood
Set Menu: €180, drinks included // 30% discount if you book now
Open: Open for Lunch & Dinner at 31st December and 1st January
Grenache
They serve what they call as “the finest of French culinary dishes”, fusing tradition with modernism, resulting in the new exquisite, high-end gastronomy. That’s Grenache for you. Located in the grounds of Castelo neighbourhood, they serve a New Year’s tasting menu that’s filled with choices of amuse bouches, duck tartare, foie gras, salmon, caviar, lobster, to name a few. Known to have craftsmanship in their dishes, it’s luxury dining that meets sensory overload. Definitely worth trying out.
Address: Dom Fradique Courtyard – 12
Food: International, French Bistro
Menu: €120
Open: Lunch on 31st December // Lunch & Dinner on 1st January
Quintal das Docas
For barbecue lovers, Quintal das Docas is primed to serve high-quality meat. That’s their ethos. If you’re craving for steaks for the New Year, come here for entrecôte, picanha or other fine cuts of dry aged meat. It’s right by the river, and they have a bar with a delicious selection of aperitifs and cocktails that will set you off nicely either for the night, or the first day of the new year.
Address: Doca de Santo Amaro , Armazem 7
Food: Steakhouse
Menu: À la carte menu
Open: Lunch on 31st December // Lunch & Dinner on 1st January
O Nobre
A great classic in the Campo Pequeno neighbourhood, O Nobre is a concept from renowned chef Justa Nobre, reinventing many traditional Portuguese dishes with modern touches. You’ll be dining in a spacious restaurant, one with a fireplace, and a pleasant modern decor. What’s more, the food selection is wonderful, with foie gras, goat cheese and sautéed scallops for appetizer, choices of Bulhão clams duck, ham-wrapped calf escalopes or grilled grouper for main course, and a selection of fruits, sweets and ice cream. There’s a menu for children, too.
Address: Av. Sacadura Cabral 53B
Food: Portuguese
Menu: À la carte menu
Open: Open Lunch & Dinner on 31st December and 1st January
Aprazível
Somewhat hidden along Rua Garrett in Chiado, Aprazível literally means pleasant, set in the enclosed Garrett courtyard. There’s an outdoor terrace, as well as a warm, spacious indoor dining area. For New Year, they’re serving guests a menu that include clams “Bulhão pato” style or loin steak “pica-pau” style for starters, prawn curry with Portuguese-style sirloin steak for main course, and apple and almond crumble or crème brûlée for desserts.
Address: Rua Garrett, 19o
Food: Mediterranean
Menu: €45
Open: Lunch & Dinner on 31st December & 1 January
Palácio Chiado
A palace turned gastronomy destination, Palácio Chiado has drawn guests from all over the world for its unique, multi-cuisine concept. So why not celebrate the New Year in one of the city’s most prestigious palaces, as they offer a tasty menu of foie gras ferrero rocher, yuzu and ginger-infused lobster with caviar, and three chocolate cube with clementine sorbet. Drinks come with every course. Dine in the magnificent Baron’s Room with winged Venetian lion floating above you. And afterwards, head downstairs to the bar, as they’re throwing a party with a DJ spinning some lively tunes until dawn.
Address: R. do Alecrim 70
Food: Contemporary Cuisine
Menu: €190
Open: Lunch & Dinner on 31st December and 1 January
