Even though several areas of Portugal produce outstanding oysters (some of which are actually exported and sold as “French oysters”), until recently, it was hard to find a fresh, raw one anywhere in the country. That’s changed in the past few years, and now Lisbon is having a full-on oyster moment, with the bivalves available everywhere from food trucks to classic seafood restaurants to light night cocktail bars. Following is our list of the Best Oyster Bars in Lisbon.
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Palácio Chiado
An art-filled room on the noble floor of an 18th-century palace has long been a lavish setting for enjoying fresh oysters—served au naturale at the gorgeous Palácio Chiado. In 2021, the bivalves also made their way downstairs, when the ground-floor bar got a trendy makeover, complete with bright, poppy colors, resident DJs, craft cocktails, and a bar food menu that includes snacks like lobster taquitos and burrata wit pesto, as well as the same oysters you’d find upstairs.
Rua do Alecrim 70 | +351 210 101 184
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Vila Bica
(Photo at top as well.) This small spot opened quietly during covid, in a prime location beside one of the most famous funiculars in the city. Its oysters from the Ria Formosa are fresh and beautifully presented, whether completely natural (served with plenty of lemon, and hot sauce on request) or in one of the restaurant’s most interesting preparations, such as with spicy sauce, pickled red onion, and coriander oil. Follow the bar’s Instagram to find out about its Oyster Weeks, during which they go for 1€ apiece (if you send them a note in advance and sit in the handsome dining room rather than on the terrace).
Rua dos Cordoeiros 2-4 | +351 930 697 404
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Rocco
Of the three environments at Rocco, the super-glam restaurant in the stylish Ivens hotel in Chiado, the crudo bar is most appealing to seafood lovers. It’s a small, intimate affair, with a few chairs arrayed a counter where the fresh fish and shellfish are displayed. The oysters come from the Sado Estuary, and can be ordered in sets of 3, 6, or 12, or as part of lavish seafood towers that also include king crab, lobster, dressed brown crab, and prawns.
The Ivens Hotel, Rua Ivens 14 | +351 210 543 168
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Oficio
Going to Oficio and eating only the oysters would be missing the point (and chef Hugo Candeias’s inventive booking), but a plate of the bivalves—in this case, Neptune Pearl oysters from Setúbal—makes a fine start to any meal. They’re served completely bare, with lemon on the side and hot sauce on request, or with a rotating set of toppings. Recent offerings include the restaurant’s signature (and surprisingly delicious) lettuce vinaigrette, and “brasa” smoked and citrusy sauce.
Rua Nova da Trindade 11 | +351 910 456 440
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Cervejaria Liberdade
The city’s most glamorous cervejaria (traditional seafood and beer hall)—with white tablecloths and flattering lighting—offers oysters from the Ria Formosa and from Setúbal, both as a snack during off-hours (it’s open continuously from lunch until late) and as the prelude to a larger meal of Portuguese classics like grouper rice and John Dory fillets with creamy tomato rice. A plate of five oysters is even a possible starter on the lunchtime executive menu.
Tivoli Avenida Hotel, Avenida da Liberdade 185 | +351 933 001 457
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Imprensa
Back in 2019, the five bartender-founders of Imprensa were the first to bring a “Brooklyn-style” oyster bar to the Portuguese capital. They visit oyster producers in Setübal several times a week to make sure their product is always fresh, and they open them at the bar, right in front of customers. There are a few non-oyster snacks on the menu, as well as natural wine and clever craft cocktails. The Principe Real original was so successful that they opened a second location in Baixa in 2022, this time with a terrace.
Rua da Imprensa Nacional 46 | Rua de São Nicolau 24 | +351 917 711 619
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Ostras Sobre Rodas
Sometimes you want to eat oysters in a low-lit cocktail bar, but sometimes you want to snack on them in the sun beside the river. Ostras Sobre Rodas (“oysters on wheels”) satisfies the latter. It’s a 100% self-sustainable, solar-powered food truck parked beside the Discoveries monument in Belém (along with another in Setúbal and a third that moves around for events). The oysters, from Setúbal, are purified for 24 in special tanks and opened just before serving, ensuring that they’re safe to eat even in the summer sun.
Avenida Brasilia | +351 924 123 985
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Oyster & Margarita
As improbable as it sounds, the name of this chic Principe Real spot sums up the offer: oysters that are brought in daily from Setübal and a crowd-pleasing cocktail menu that leans toward easy-drinking favorites like margaritas, gin and tonics, and Aperol spritzes. For diners who want more substantial fare, the menu includes dishes like tuna tartare, plus an interesting selection of wines, with an emphasis on Portuguese producers of white and sparkling vintages.
Rua da Palmeira 28C | +351 925 514 812
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Lota d’Avila
Opened in late 2022, this new-school marisqueira in the business district of Saldanha aims to take diners on a journey that parallels that of the fresh fish and seafood that arrive daily. That means that the front room is dedicated to serving shellfish in its simplest and freshest form, while the main dining room in the back has the breezy feel of a beach club. In both settings, they serve a variety of oysters from Portugal’s main regions for cultivation: Aveiro, Setübal, and Ria Formosa, both natural in the house preparation, with dashi, ikura, chives, and celery purée.
Av. Duque de Ávila 42B | +351 925 906 950
THE BEST OYSTER BARS IN LISBON
Sea Me Peixaria Moderna
This “modern fish restaurant” specializes in Portuguese fish and seafood with elements of Japanese fusion. Live crab and lobster are kept in tanks, and super-fresh shellfish is displayed on ice. This includes a variety of oysters, from Aveiro, Ria Formosa and the Sado Estuary (Setúbal). Along with the main restaurant in Chiado, there’s also a stall in Time Out Market, and a new, more casual concept up the street from the original, called Sea Me Next Door, which opened in late 2022.
Rua do Loreto 21 | Mercado da Ribeira | Rua do Loreto 59 | +351 213 461 564