The international team of inspectors who visited the country highlighted how chefs seek to preserve their gastronomic and culinary legacy, reinterpreting classic dishes with current techniques, never closing themselves off to new international influences, and promoting the highest quality native raw materials.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, also states, in this regard: “Portugal is on a path of growth, and is gradually becoming a gastronomic destination of reference for lovers of haute cuisine from all over the world”.

“The chefs’ commitment to the country is absolute, revealing, in the North, a greater attachment to traditional recipes than in the South, where we can speak of a wonderful encounter between regional Portuguese flavours and those with a more international taste. On the other hand, sustainability continues to gain ground, not only in the local sense but also in terms of excellence, which always seeks to discover for the traveling diner the best raw materials from the different regions of the country”.

All restaurants with two stars renew their distinction

The renewal of all eight of the two-star distinctions in Portugal by the Michelin Guide is considered to be a sign that Portugal remains stable in its offering.

The two-star restaurants in Portugal are: Alma (Lisbon), Antiqvvm (Porto), Belcanto (Lisbon), Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Leça da Palmeira), Il Gallo d’Oro (Funchal), Ocean (Porches), The Yeatman (Vila Nova de Gaia) and Vila Joya (Albufeira).

New stars

Inspectors recognised eight more restaurants with this distinction. With them, there are now 38 establishments that “shine with the coveted and demanding Michelin Star”.

Arkhe – Lisbon

Vegan/vegetarian cuisine continues to gain followers, and Brazilian chef João Ricardo Alves is betting big on this. In the minimalist atmosphere of his restaurant, and always well accompanied by Alejandro Chávarro, who acts as maître and sommelier, he proposes three tasting menus of unusual delicacy, technique and flavor (Lunch, Discovery and Carte Blanche).

Blind – Porto

Anyone looking to be surprised and looking for a different gastronomic experience... here is an excellent opportunity! The proposal by award-winning chef Vítor Matos, defended daily by chef Rita Magro (who received the MICHELIN Young Chef Award 2024), pays homage to José Saramago's work "Blindness", and seeks to play with the diner through a surprise menu.

Grenache - Lisbon

A unique restaurant in Lisbon's Alfama? This is one of those that should always be taken into consideration, as, Pátio de Dom Fradique, is sheltered from the tourist hustle and bustle. The proposal, available only through two tasting menus (Grenache and Experience), is led by chef Philippe Gelfi, who, inspired by his origins, proposes elegant contemporary cuisine with French roots.

Marlene - Lisbon

Just a few meters from the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, this restaurant, with a contemporary atmosphere, surprises with a large open central kitchen, which allows you to appreciate, at all times, the meticulous work of chef Marlene Vieira and her team. Here, you can find two interesting signature tasting menus, with references to both Portuguese tradition and some flavors from other latitudes.

Oculto - Vila do Conde

It is located in The Lince Santa Clara hotel, and honours its name, as, inside the old Monastery of the same name, it has recovered a part of it, which had to be excavated to bring it to light. The gastronomic proposal, led by renowned chefs Vítor Matos and Hugo Rocha, is materialized in two tasting menus closely linked to the marine world and seasonal products.

Palatial - Braga

This unique and elegant restaurant, on the southern outskirts of Braga, surprises with a tasting bar at the entrance, where the region's wines are extolled, and a well-kept dining room. Here, with fantastic service, there is the option of choosing à la carte, or two tasting menus (Tradition and Innovation), returning, in both of these cases, the Portuguese gastronomic tradition from a very creative perspective.

Vinha - Vila Nova de Gaia

The gastronomic restaurant at Vinha Boutique Hotel is one of those places that is essential to visit, as it displays details of unexpected elegance in every corner. The proposal, conceived by the famous chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and executed by Jonathan Seiller, the resident chef, is captivating both in the à la carte option and through its tasting menu (Identidade), always playing with the best Portuguese seasonal products in a contemporary way.

YŌSO – Lisbon

In this restaurant, whose name alludes to the four elements of nature (Earth, Water, Fire and Air), chef Habner Gomes brings diners closer to Japanese cuisine, and the kaiseki style, through a single omakase tasting menu. The proposal, which can be enjoyed at a sushi counter, or at three tables, focuses on a menu that takes gourmets on a journey through different Japanese techniques, using seasonal products.

A Green Star and five new Bib Gourmands

With the new Estrela Verde do Encanto, in Lisbon, there are now 6 establishments that are considered a reference, in terms of sustainability, in Portugal. Run by the famous chef José Avillez, and located right next to his Belcanto, with two Stars, it surprises both aesthetically and gastronomically, as its culinary focus, extremely technical, is completely centered on working with seasonal organic vegetables, sourced both from small local producers and from the Casa Nossa farm, which he himself owns in Alentejo. The proposal is centered on a single tasting menu, 100% vegetarian, which talks about sustainability, biodiversity, full use of the product, reuse of packaging... Eating here is a great experience!

As for Bib Gourmand, the distinction most sought after by gastronomes around the world, recognizing the best quality/price ratio, this year presents 5 interesting new establishments (Canalha and Pigmeu, in Lisbon; Contradição, in Bragança; OMA, in Porto; and Terruja, in Alvados), with which the total number of Bib Gourmand in Portugal rises to 28 establishments.

35 New Recommended Restaurants

In turn, it is a pleasure to see how the selection is refreshed, with 35 new Recommended restaurants (in total, there are 116 in this category), which gives an idea of ​​the culinary dynamism of the country, and the ongoing work that is being carried out to strengthen the offer.

Among them, there are options for all tastes, such as the very interesting Cibû (Leça da Palmeira), the contemporary Mediterranean essence offered at Le Babachris (Guimarães), or the surprising creative cuisine with a traditional base that captivated the inspectors in the isolated Mapa (Montemor-o-Novo). On the other hand, among the new developments, the presence of numerous Asian-inspired restaurants stands out, which demonstrate the growing taste of the Portuguese, and international clientele, for oriental cuisine, in many cases in a fusion with local cuisine: Avista Ásia, in Funchal; Izakaya, in Cascais; Kaigi or Tokkotai, in Porto; Omakase RI, in Lisbon.