Taberna da Rua das Flores — Restaurant in Lisbon

Delightful taverna serving up phenomenal Portuguese food on a rotating menu in an adorable, cozy space! I came to Rua das Flores for dinner a few days after Christmas and immediately fell in love with the bustling, hole-in-the-wall energy. There are no reservations, so you should aim to arrive just around when they open; we got pretty lucky and only had a ~15-minute wait even though we got there around 7:30. As we were waiting, our host also kindly reminded us that they are cash only and pointed out the nearest ATM if needed; I would recommend having at least 20-30 euros per person -- the dishes are each 10-20 euros each and pretty small, so you probably need 1.5-2.5 dishes per person.

Once you do manage to get inside with cash in hand, though, the restaurant is gorgeous. We were seated at a small table in the back, right next to the server's kiosk where they pause after grabbing dishes from the kitchen to add utensils, etc. It was super fun to be so close to all the action, and we also got plenty of inspiration from the beautiful, mouthwatering dishes coming out of the kitchen. They bring around a lovely chalkboard menu, which includes about 10-15 dishes of the day; they only have menus in Portuguese, but the servers are super helpful and are ready to translate / explain everything.

My mom and I decided to split three dishes between the two of us. I would recommend getting four or five for two people -- we didn't feel ravished by the end, but we could definitely still eat a bit more. Everything on their menu is also incredible, so it's certainly not challenging to pick a couple more dishes to try out! The dishes also came out as they were prepared, so you can easily start with a smaller number of dishes and add more if you feel like you need to.

We decided to triple down on the seafood and got the miso scallops, fried squid sandwich, and ginger garlic shrimp. The miso scallops were some of the most incredible scallops I've ever had -- the scallops were SO tender, and they were packed with a delightful earthiness and saltiness from the miso. The four scallops are served with a bed of seaweed in the center, which is also tasty and really amps up the flavor of the sea; do be careful as you sample the seaweed, though, as it's all resting on a bed of salt, so the bottom layer will be extra salty.

Next came the fried squid sandwich, which was probably the one and only time I've LOVED a sandwich. The squid was fried to golden perfection, with such an incredible crunch on the outside and tender, slightly chewy squid on the inside. It was paired with mayo and a few other sauces that have escaped me, which amped up the flavor and also helped prevent the sandwich from feeling too dry. What really impressed me, though, was the bread; the squid came sandwiched between two slices of Portuguese cornbread, which were slightly sweet, slightly salty, and simultaneously both soft and pillow, as well as strong and hearty enough to hold the sandwich together. It was truly a work of magic.

Our last dish was the ginger garlic shrimp, which came with six plump, tender shrimps poached in a lovely ginger, garlic, and chili sauce, and topped with toasted coconut flakes for a bit of a crunch. The shrimp were phenomenal, and I loved the added texture and hint if sweetness and fruitiness that the coconut offered.

All in all, can't recommend Taberna da Rua das Flores enough! So delicious, with a mix of both traditional and fusion Portuguese dishes, and such great vibes. Do bring cash and come early, and also be prepared a bit more for this meal compared to some other...

Warning - be prepared to wait if you don't come before opening.

We didn't come early enough and we were second in line for the 2nd seating at 7:30pm. They do seatings for every 2 hours so if you didn't make it for 5:30pm seating then you will make it for the 7:30pm and so on. They also have a sister restaurant that is not far from here.

The service is impeccable. They come around with a blackboard of what is on the menu and they let you know how many dishes you should order depending on your party. The service is very friendly and nice. They know their dishes really well here. We ordered the razor clams (14), scallops (14) and steak sandwich (15). We had the flourless chocolate cake (5) to finish. We actually wanted to order more but we knew our stomachs would not hold all the food.

The razor clams and scallops were VERY ADDICTIVE. They tasted super fresh and were simply seasoned but tasted complex. The scallops were so creamy. Not fishy at all but SO CREAMY. The steak sandwiches was very hearty and way too big for 2 people to finish. It comes with 2 and cut into 4 so it would be perfect for a group of 4. I wanted to try practically everything else on the menu but we were already so stuffed at this point.

The flourless chocolate cake was recommended by the server and boy does she have good taste. It was creamy and rich. Not overly so that you didn't want to continue eating it. It looks thin but is enough for 2 people. The decadence of the dark chocolate was the perfect finish to the meal and went really well with the wine that we had chosen.

Overall - I want to keep this place as a hidden secret but so many people already know about it. The food is delicious and it's not overly priced for what it is. A lot of tourists come here so it's obviously no longer a secret. I would definitely recommend this place to others (try as much as your stomachs can hold)

Tips: Depending on when you want to eat - I would say come early. Come before they open so you can get first seating. We got there exactly when they opened and unfortunately didn't make the 1st seating. They take down your name and give you a time when you should return. They told us to come back at 7:30pm which worked for us. They only take cash and it's best to come as a group of 4 so that you can try more...

Dining at Taberna da Rua das Flores is not merely a meal—it is a transportive experience, a symphony of taste, ambiance, and impeccable hospitality that elevates the very notion of what a restaurant can and should be. Tucked away in the charming streets of Lisbon, this culinary gem delivers not only on flavor, but on the rare art of making each guest feel like the most important person in the room.

From the moment I stepped through the door, the service was nothing short of spectacular. The staff embodied grace and precision, with an almost scholarly attention to detail. Every question I posed was met with thoughtful, articulate responses that revealed a profound knowledge of both the menu and the culinary philosophy behind it. It was clear—this was no accident. This was a team trained not just in service, but in care.

The manager’s personal visit to my table was a particularly refined touch. His genuine inquiry into my experience was not performative, but deeply sincere—a reflection of a leadership culture that values excellence not as a goal, but as a baseline.

As for the food: the Polvo à Lagareiro (Octopus à Lagareiro) was a revelation. Perfectly tender, kissed by the char of the grill, and delicately draped in golden olive oil, it carried the briny depth of the Atlantic with the elegance of a Michelin-starred dish. Every bite whispered of tradition, refinement, and balance. Sublime is the only fitting word.

The ambiance matched the culinary caliber—warm, intimate, and unpretentious, with just enough rustic charm to root you in Lisbon’s vibrant soul while elevating the senses with quiet sophistication.

In all respects, Taberna da Rua das Flores is a masterclass in fine dining. It is where culinary artistry, genuine hospitality, and thoughtful detail converge. I would return without hesitation, knowing full well that each visit promises not just a meal, but an experience of rare and...