We know that Lourinhã is home to some of the best octopus in the country! This town, just over an hour from Lisbon, even has a festival dedicated to this delicacy , which always takes place before the summer.
But if you want to try this mollusc now, take the opportunity to go to one of these restaurants, where they cook it to perfection.
There’s no doubt that octopus is one of the Portuguese’s favorite snacks, especially when you can buy it at more affordable prices in supermarkets, as it’s an expensive product due to its seasonality.
We decided to create a guide to the best restaurants to eat octopus in Lisbon on the occasion of World Octopus Day, which is always celebrated on October 8th.
If you’ve never tried this delicious fruit of the sea, which can be prepared in many different ways, all of them incredible, this could be the excuse you’ve been waiting for to try it once and for all… and we’re sure you ‘ll love every bite.
With a slightly sweet and mild flavor, octopus absorbs all the seasonings, which is why Polvo à Lagareiro is one of our favorite dishes, especially if it’s drizzled with good olive oil and lots of garlic.
Portugal and Spain are probably the Mediterranean countries that consume the most octopus, often starring in dishes as simple as they are complex, from the typical Saladinha de Polvo to Polvo à Galega.
As you can see, octopus is a very versatile food and in these restaurants in Greater Lisbon you’ll find some of the best dishes with this protein.
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Mama Shelter (new starter)
Available at lunch and dinner since Mama Shelter opened for the first time , this Grilled Octopus (27€) is an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
Served with potatoes, peppers, pak choi, green olive oil and a delicate balsamic reduction, each element of the dish combines perfectly to bring out the tender and juicy flavor of the octopus . The contrast between the smokiness of the grill and the freshness of the accompaniments creates a surprising harmony.
It’s a vibrant, delicious dish full of character, a real must if you’re looking for new places to eat this shellfish in the capital.
Address: Rua do Vale do Pereiro 19
Opening hours: every day for breakfast from 7am to 10.30am from Monday to Friday/ 7.30am to 11am at the weekend; for lunch from 12pm to 3pm; and for dinner from 7pm to 11pm from Sunday to Wednesday/ 7pm to midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
Reservations: on the website
Faz Figura (new starter)
There’s an Exclusive Menu for you to try at the Faz Figura restaurant, which is dressing up to celebrate World Octopus Day with a unique gastronomic experience dedicated entirely to this versatile mollusc.
To mark the date, the restaurant’s kitchen will prepare a special menu that promises to surprise the most demanding palates, starting with a mysterious and delicious Octopus Surprise as a starter; followed by two main courses: Confit Octopus with Chorizo Spits, a comfort dish that combines the tender texture of octopus with the intense flavors of Portuguese tradition, and the innovative Octopus in Corn Crust with Red Onion Vinaigrette, a suggestion that plays with the textures and freshness of its ingredients.
Address: Rua do Paraíso 15B (Santa Apolónia)
Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 12.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 12.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Reservations: on the website
Confraria do Polvo
Oeiras is the most recent restaurant to serve good octopus, and here too it is the star of the show, present in various traditional and creative recipes.
Among the most popular dishes are the Pataniscas de Polvo com Arroz de Feijão Malandrinho, the Polvo à Lagareiro and the Feijoada de Polvo. If you prefer other varieties, there are also Octopus Fillets and the options Octopus Frying Pan, Octopus Migas with Roast Octopus, Octopus Balila (octopus salad with chickpeas and egg) and even an Octopus Wrap for warmer days.
Address: Rua Cândido dos Reis 168 (Oeiras)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner; Sundays lunchtime only
Reservations and menu
Solar 31
As soon as you enter this restaurant, sit down and order the Polvo à Solar, the pride and true jewel of this house, which many say is “the best octopus in the world”.
Here, each tentacle is carefully prepared and cooked or grilled with precision until it reaches the point of perfect texture, very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, and then sautéed in olive oil with garlic and shrimp.
Address: Calçada Garcia 31 (Martim Moniz)
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 11pm
Reservations and menu
Adega das Gravatas
According to Taste Atlas, Adega das Gravatas is in the Top 50 of the most legendary restaurants in the world, largely because of its house specialty: Polvo à Lagareiro.
Traditional and authentic are the adjectives that best characterize this establishment, founded in 1908 in Carnide, where they prepare this delicacy in the most classic way possible: octopus roasted in olive oil, garlic and small potatoes.
Address: Travessa do Pregoeiro 15 (Carnide)
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 12.10 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7.10 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Reservations and menus
Bono
Bono has a Tropical Octopus Salad that mixes octopus with vegetables and avocado and mango vinaigrette (€16.5).
If you prefer a more interesting version, try the Grilled Octopus (in the first photo), which is served with vegetable vol-au-vent and bacon demi-glace (32.5€).
Address: Calçada Ferragial 9 (Cais do Sodré)
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 19h to 00h
Reservations and menus
Santa
The Santa restaurant offers two options: the Polvo do Povo, which is a combination of octopus cooked in the Chef’s sauce, served with mini potatoes, quinoa and the famous Romesco sauce (€26), and the Sonhos de Polvo, which are octopus dumplings in the Portuguese patanisca style, accompanied by seaweed mayonnaise (€13). Which one will you try first?
Address: Rua São João da Praça 103 (Alfama)
Opening hours: every day from 10am to midnight
Reservations and menus
Visconde da Luz
At this restaurant in Cascais, octopus is presented both in a light and refreshing salad (€15.80) and in a traditional version of Octopus à Lagareiro (€28.80), which promises to please everyone.
Address: Jardim Visconde da Luz (Cascais)
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, from 12.30pm to 4pm and from 7pm to 11pm
Reservations and menus
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