Stepping into a restaurant with children without any previous research can be a little scary, I think we’ve all been there when you ask for a table and suddenly feel all patrons’ eyes on you – cue sighs and eye rolls. Doing a bit of research to trying and find child-friendly restaurants before you step out of the hotel is time well spent, so here are my recommendations for the best child-friendly restaurants in Lisbon.
Things to keep in mind when dining out with children in Lisbon (or generally in Portugal):
Restaurants only tend to open for dinner around 7.30pm at the earliest, but there are plenty of other places where you can grab something to eat before going back to your hotel. I’ve included opening hours below to help you organise your day.
A small note to say most traditional Portuguese restaurants will serve kid-friendly food, including steak and chips (bitoque), fish with rice (filetes com arroz – ask for chips if your child doesn’t like rice) and if like mine your kid is like mine…vegetable soup! The restaurants below all have a special kid-friendly feature, but if you’d like to get some great seafood in a large (but not necessarily pretty restaurant – Nunes Real in Belem is fantastic and spacious), for great fresh fish in an outside space (esplanada) we love Pateo 13 in Alfama and for everything else Time Out Market is wonderful, with a huge variety of gourmet eateries in one place (tip: there is a cafe with a playground outside, so take your coffee there)
BEST CHILD-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS & CAFES IN LISBON FOR BRUNCH
Palacio Real
For a truly unique location for your Lisbon family brunch, make sure you head to Palacio Real, a five star hotel which offers a fantastic brunch and show cooking for an excellent price. The chef shows the kids how to prepare the different recipes at the weekend, which will be a treat for budding chefs. The palace has a beautiful courtyard for little ones to stretch their legs.
LOCATION: Alfama
FOOD: Portuguese regional breads and pastries, eggs, scrambled eggs, pancakes, a wide variety of small bites and salads.
PRICE: €22 adults | €11 children over 6-12ys |Free for under 6yo
KID-FRIENDLY RATING: 5* | BABY-FRIENDLY RATING: 5*
TIP: Make a reservation
OPENING HOURS: 10:00 – 16:00
Sheraton Hotel – Lobby Bistro Brunch
Brunch at the Sheraton Hotel will be a relaxed affair, with a babysitter on hand to give you some time to enjoy the buffet.
LOCATION: Saldanha / Metro Saldanha
FOOD: Excellent quality buffet cooked breakfast style brunch as well as burgers & hot dogs, pasta, risotto, meat and fish dishes. Be warned the dessert section is a dream.
PRICE: Under €30 / children under 6yo free
KID-FRIENDLY RATING: 5* | BABY-FRIENDLY RATING: 5*
FACILITIES: Child area with babysitter
OPENING HOURS: 12:30 – 23:00
Restaurante Museu do Oriente
Perfect for those visiting the Oceanarium or the Science Museum.
LOCATION: Parque das Nacoes / Metro Parque das Nacoes
FOOD: Gorgeous buffet in a modern location with an extraordinary view over the river.
PRICE: €20pp
KID-FRIENDLY RATING: 5* | BABY-FRIENDLY RATING: 3*
FACILITIES: Babysitter
TIP: Make a reservation as it does get very busy at the weekend
OPENING HOURS: 12:00 – 18:00
Pao de Canela
If you’re looking for something more charming than a hotel chain or modern spot, and dare we say it more Portuguese, then we wholeheartedly recommend this cute restaurant in one of Lisbon’s most treasured small squares. It has a small playground, so you can keep an eye on the little ones.
LOCATION: Principe Real / Metro Rato / Chiado
FOOD: A good selection of Portuguese dishes, quiches, and typical brunch foods like salmons, eggs and salads.
PRICE: €18 adults | €7 children over 4ys |Free for under 4yo
KID-FRIENDLY RATING: 5* | BABY-FRIENDLY RATING: 4*
TIP: Make a reservation
OPENING HOURS: 10:00 – 16:00
BEST CHILD-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS & CAFES IN LISBON FOR LUNCH & DINNER
Sud
Dreamy location overlooking the river, with a massive bonus of a pool that you can pay to visit for half a day (€30), or a full day (€45).
LOCATION: Belém | next to MAAT museum
FOOD: Great variety of Italian kid and adult friendly food, including pizzas and pastas, fish and meat and veggie dishes. See the full Sud menu here.
PRICE: Main courses range from €14 to €41
KID-FRIENDLY RATING: 5*
OPENING HOURS: 10:00 – 18:00
A Cafetaria Village (LX Factory / Alcantara)
Located in Village Underground, the Village Coffee Shop is a great spot to stop for lunch, and refuel, especially if you’ve just visited the Carris Tram Museum. Not the first place that comes to mind when it comes to child-friendly in terms of facilities, but this bus-turned-café is sure to impress any transport fan! The menu has a wide variety of toasties for fussy tummies, or several dishes of the day if you and the kids fancy a complete meal.
LOCATION: Belém
FOOD: Toasties / Vegetarian / Salads
PRICE: $$
KID-FRIENDLY RATING:
BABY-FRIENDLY RATING:
OPENING HOURS: 12:00 – 18:00
Este / Oeste (Belém)
This surprisingly well-conceived mix of a sushi restaurant with a pizza restaurant has turned out to be one of our family staples when in Belém. The restaurant is in a fantastic location in Lisbon’s Cultural Centre, a refuge from the crowds right in the middle of all the Belém action. The large oriental-inspired interior is perfect for families with buggies, and if the sun is shining try to get a table outside from some drop-dead gorgeous views over the Tagus as the kids explore the gardens.
Read my full review of Este / Oeste.
LOCATION: Belém
FOOD: Pizza &+ Sushi
PRICE: $$
KID-FRIENDLY RATING:
BABY-FRIENDLY RATING:
NEGATIVE: Service can be slow, so come prepared.
OPENING HOURS: 12:30-23:30
Bom apetite!
