If you’ve never had the experience of eating one of the best bifanas in Lisbon, especially when the sauce overflows and makes you happier, then follow our itinerary, with one of the most incredible and delicious gastronomic journeys you can make in the city.
It may sound easy, but making bifanas is an art that not everyone has mastered! And the famous English chef Gordon Ramsay can tell you that, in one of his attempts to recreate a Portuguese bifana, he ended up creating a completely different “thing”, which earned him harsh criticism in the comments boxes on social media.
Lucky for you, we know the best places to try succulent bifanas, with no extras or gourmezisses. And you don’t even need to go to Vendas Novas because these places really know what they’re doing to make your mouth water.
Table Of Contents
Afonso’s Bifanas
It’s no coincidence that the article on Afonso’s Bifanas is one of the most read ever on Lisboa Secreta.
Everyone wants to know where it is, why it’s so famous and what the secret is about this tavern on Rua da Madalena, next to Largo do Caldas.
If you’re curious too, the best thing you can do is go there and resist the queues, because the bifanas are really worth it. The meat sauce that soaks into the bread makes this dish seem like a true feast of the gods.
Address: Rua da Madalena 146 (Sé de Lisboa)
Afonso’s Bifanas, at the Lisbon Art Stay Hotel
If you haven’t already heard, you can now try Afonso’s famous bifanas at another address in downtown Lisbon. Best of all, there are no queues there yet.
So hurry up because it won’t be long before the intersection of Rua dos Sapateiros and Rua da Assunção gets a little tighter
We’ve been there before and we loved it. We took advantage of the small side counter to enjoy two bifanas (you can also enjoy the terrace and the interior of the Lisbon Art Stay Hotel) and we can see that the recipe is the same as the one you’ll find in the first location, without a doubt. Could this expansion be a sign that we could have As Bifanas do Afonso in more places in Lisbon? We wish!
Address: Rua dos Sapateiros, 158, corner with Rua da Assunção
Triângulo da Ribeira
This tavern is a real institution in Cais do Sodré, able to gather all kinds of customers at the counter, from the neighbor who has been going there for 35 years to famous chefs and even tourists from the other side of the world.
They’re all looking for the famous bifanas, served on wood-fired bread and with generous portions of sauce.
The owner, Vitor Creado, says that the secret is the quality of the meat, without nerves and all from the same piece, but also the sauce, “based on wine, garlic and a few other things”. And what are those things? That remains the secret of the gods.
If you prefer, the house also serves pregos, samosas, rissoles and codfish cakes.
Address: Rua da Ribeira Nova 48 (Cais do Sodré)
Parreirinha do Chile
Wines. Refreshments. Tobacco”.
The entrance to the house highlights these products, but the great specialty is the beautiful steak that is made there.
Good and cheap, in a dry papo-seco of the day and with the right sauce, it’s served in a small space (around 25 square meters) in Arroios, but with all the friendliness.
As well as fried bifanas, it also sells grilled bifanas, as well as torresmos sandwiches (another house specialty), entremeada, couratos and even some surprising cod fillet sandwiches.
Address: Praça do Chile 14A
The Clover
Anthony Bourdain brought it even more fame, but Lisbon residents have been enjoying it for many years.
“The glory of Lisbon”, as the late host of the show “No Reservations” called it, offers a unique bifana, served on carcass bread, with the meat sticking out and a little sauce for the finishing touch.
The strategic location of this café, at the entrance to Bairro Alto, at the top of Chiado, right on Largo de Camões, is halfway to success, but we’re sure that if it were in Picheleira or Moinhos da Funcheira (on the edge of Amadora) there would still be queues.
There are those who say that the grilled prego is still better than the bifana, but that’s another discussion.
If you fancy a change, there are other options too, such as the Bitoque à Trevo, the omelettes, the garnished alheira or the dishes of the day, which are always different.
Address: Praça Luís de Camões 48
Bifanas House in Praça da Figueira
“Better and with better folklore than the Praça da Figueira steak house??????? I doubt it….”. Whenever we’ve written an article about bifanas we’ve received comments like this, so we decided to go and try them out and they really are good!
Tourists have discovered them too, but old customers tell us that the quality of the bread and meat is the same as ever.
This is just one of the more than 30 options on the menu, such as pataniscas, entremeada, grilled fish or stewed gizzards.
Address: Praça da Figueira 6
Map with the best bifanas in Lisbon, and a list for your cell phone!
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook,Instagram and now also on WhatsApp!