The Top Restaurants in Ericeira
The 6 Best Traditional Portuguese Restaurants & The 6 Best Non-Traditional Portuguese Restaurants
Ericeira has a lot of amazing restaurants. And whether you are looking to sample the local Portuguese food or already got your cravings for garlic and olive oil fulfilled, this guide got you covered. First we give you the 6 best restaurants in Ericeira that serve traditional Portuguese food. Then we go through the 6 best restaurants in Ericeira with a focus on non-Portuguese food. Let’s dig in.
Tasquinha do Joy
Quick tips:
- Where is it: Above Praia dos Pescadores
- Price range: medium
- Specialties: fish and Portuguese
- Vibe: Familiar
Quick description
In Tasquinha do Joy the garlic slices are big and the olive oil is plentiful. Just like you would expect from traditional Portuguese food.
They serve the dishes on rustic clay plates: even the drinks come in clay mugs. Be sure you try the sparkling house wine, vino Verde. It’s traditional Portuguese and particularly good (and cheap) at Tasquinha do Joy.
There is a lot to like about Tasquinha do Joy. It’s a family-run restaurant. Unpretentious and popular among Portuguese as well as tourists. The food is modestly priced and comes in big portions.
Location
As if all this wasn’t enough the location is perfect, in the middle of Ericeira and overlooking Praia dos Pescadores. When the weather is warm (this can happen even in January) their tables on the sidewalk are great for gazing at the Atlantic Ocean while eating traditional Portuguese dishes.
What to order
For a very traditional starter try the chouriço assado. A sausage grilled using the traditional Portuguese liquor Aguardiente. If you are feeling more of a seafood craving, we really like their octopus salad.
Another great recommendation is Tasquinha do Joy’s version of cataplana de marisco. This dish originates from the Algarve. It’s a seafood fiesta. Onions, garlic and tomatoes are stewed with white wine, clams, whole prawns and white fish, it’s both delicious and beautiful. If you want to try Octopus or Bacalhau (dried and salted cod), or both, just order the Telha a Joy. This is a garlicy combination of two of Portugal’s most traditional dishes.
The desserts at Tasquinha do Joy are equally wholesome and rich. We recommend the house dessert, but to be honest, they are all good. When you are finished with your meal a slow walk around the town of Ericeira is recommended.
Tik Tak
Tik Tak is probably the most popular restaurant in Ericeira. This can make the restaurant feel a bit touristy at times. However it was still a restaurant that our Portuguese friends recommended when we asked around for their favorite Portuguese food restaurants in Ericeira.
Tik Taks menu is great for exploring traditional Portuguese cuisine in a slightly elevated way. They also have a more ambitious wine list than other Traditional Portuguese restaurant. So if you want a bottle of great wine to accompany your exploration of traditional Portuguese food, this is the best restaurant to choose.
If you still haven’t tried Bacalhau, Tik Tak does a great version of this traditional Portuguese ingredient. Their version is named after the restaurant, Bacalhau Tik Tak. Expect lots of garlic and olive oil.
Tik Taks menu features two different versions of Arroz De Marisco (Portuguese seafood rice), a typical dish from the coast of Portugal. The rice is cooked in a seafood broth and the end result is plenty of sauce and plenty of seafood taste. Both versions are excellent, one is with octopus. Arroz de polvo. And the other one comes with white fish and prawns, Arroz de tamboril com gambas.
Another good option for traditional Portuguese food is the bitoque or as it is called in the menu, the Bitak. All over Portugal you see people digging into this very typical dish. A bitoque was usually prepared with thin beef slices but nowadays it can also be pork. The meat is fried or grilled and its accompanied by fries, rice and most importantly topped with an egg. Sunny side up.
Another traditional thing not to be missed on Tik Taks menu is their Porco preto. Its Pork Ribs from black pigs. The pigs are raised on a diet of acorns in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
For dessert we recommend the mango mousse.
Enjoy your bites of delicious Portuguese food culture and the cozy atmosphere at Tik Tak!
Avó Restaurante
The creators of Avó took inspiration from their grandmother and grandfather when they created this unique restaurant. Avó means grandmother/grandfather in Portuguese depending on how you pronounce it. The recipes are updated versions of what they ate as kids in their grandparents place. Sounds cool and delicious, right?
It is, no exploration into the culinary scene of Ericeira is complete without a visit to this restaurant.
The menu changes depending on what is in season. We have eaten both tasty lamb and tender duck, the braised pork cheeks is another favourite. The vegetarian alternatives are equally great and if you ask the will give you a vegan dish, no problem.
Last autumn we got the best roasted chestnuts when we had dinner here.
What makes this restaurant such a memorable experience is the thoughtful plating. Ceramics bowls and plates showcase the delicious food in the best possible way. The decor is cozy but with a modern twist that matches the food perfectly.
O Pescador
O Pescador (The Fisherman) is located in the small village of Ribamar, a ten-minute drive from central Ericeira. It’s a good idea to combine a visit to this restaurant with a visit to the nearby beaches of Ribeira d’ilhas and São Lourenço.
The restaurant is very laidback, and with lots of local flavor. It’s popular among visiting surf-pros as well as the local population of Ribamar. The restaurant is owned by a family, so the atmosphere is a bit like stepping into someones home. The food in O Pescador is traditional Portuguese food at its best. Start with a Sagres and a plate of shrimps. Simple but delicious.
O Pescador is particularly popular for their Arroz de Marisco. This dish is made with a combination of shrimps, clams, lobster, mussels, sometimes even monkfish. O Pescadors version comes with an abundance of prawns and part of a crab. If you glance over at the other tables someone probably already ordered a plate. You get a small plastic hammer to crush the crab shells. And if you don’t want crab all over the place, we recommend placing your napkin between the hammer and the crab.
O Pescador makes their own delicious Piri-Piri sauce. It consists of crushed chilies, lemon juice and oil. As its not always on the table you should make sure to ask for it if you like your food spicy.
Other good dishes are Bife a Pescador and Costeletas de Porco (Pork chops). You can also order fish and seafood by the kilo. Just ask Carlos what he has available that day.
The desserts are equally homemade and rich. The one with Nata (crème) are my personal favorite, but most people opt for the chocolate mouse. When you have finished your dinner it’s time for live music at Barzhino!
O Gafanhoto
Sitting down at one of the tables in O Gafanhoto (The Grasshopper) you will know that you are in Portugal. You are surrounded by Azulejos (Portuguese tiles) and wine bottles are displayed on the walls. Just pick (and pay) and you can be drinking one of them. The restaurant first opened in 1968 and it doesn’t feel like the decoration have changed much since then. There is something comforting, in a world of wear and tear, with decoration that clearly have been kept through the years.
What to eat
The menu, matching the interior, features a lot of traditional Portuguese dishes. There are also helpful pictures of the dishes, so you get a good idea of what you are getting before ordering. For example, O Gafanhoto serves the dish Cozido à portuguesa (a platter of slowly boiled meats, sausages and vegetables.) This dish is a deep dive into Portuguese countryside cooking, and it’s a must for anyone interested in exploring traditional Portuguese food.
Seasonal food: During the sardine season (July and August) O Gafanhoto is a good place to go for freshly grilled sardines!
Ask the waiter for the Prato do dia (dish of the day) to get something traditionally Portuguese in accordance with the season.
For dessert the lime mousse is the best insider tips.
Mar das Latas
If you are interested in a more contemporary take on Portuguese food, we recommend Mar das Latas. The menu is small and with an interesting combination of Portuguese dishes and international dishes such as spring rolls and risotto. If you happen to be with someone who doesn’t want to eat Portuguese, Mar das Latas is a good idea. What all dishes have in common is that the flavors are elevated, and they are beautifully plated. Perfect for when you want to snap some pictures of your culinary journey through Portugal. The restaurant in itself is decorated in a cool bistro-like way, blue walls, wood floor and a lot of wine bottles on display.
Many Portuguese restaurants are as rustic as the food they serve, so if you are interested in a fine dining option Mar das Latas is your best bet. The decoration and the food create an upscale atmosphere while the prices are still very much affordable. (Depending on which wine bottle you choose.)
Mar das Latas has a handful of starters and 8 “main” dishes, meant to be shared.
In Portugal, these kinds of dishes are called Petiskos; small plates of food to nibble on while you drink a beer.
Some of them take inspiration from the rest of the world, such as the ceviche and gyozas. (Both excellent versions.)
Other are updated versions of classic Portuguese dishes. Do try their Croquetes de Bochecha de Vaca. Their version of bacalhau a brás is a must, definitely better than the original if you ask me.
For dessert Mar das Latas have their version of Banoffee pie, not really Portuguese, but delicious, so go ahead and order.
When you are finished with the meal all the bars are close by.
Additional Tips for Best Traditional Portuguese Food Around Ericeira
Here are some additional tips collected from various Portuguese friends. If you need a quick meal, Lebre Escondidinho is the restaurant in Ericeira with the best pregos. A prego is a humble dish, thinly-sliced beef that has been covered in a garlicky marinade and grilled. You wash it down with a cold beer.
If you are very hungry or on a tight schedule to eat as much of traditional Portuguese food in the shortest time possible, (and are prepared for a 20-minute drive away from Ericeira), the buffet at Don Pedro Guedes 1 is the right (and only) solution. The food is well prepared for being a buffet and the place is immensely popular and noisy, but with great staff. For 13 euros you can try cheeses, sausages, stews and Petiskos and that price includes a drink and a coffee. Their dessert table is full of classic Portuguese desserts.
If you want a neighborhood restaurant experience, far from the usual tourist crowd, we recommend Tasca da Fonte Boa das Nabos. They serve classic Portuguese dishes as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes, something that’s not always easy to get in a traditional Portuguese restaurant. So bring your non-meat eater friends here and have some Portuguese cuisine.
Top 6 Best Non-Traditional Portuguese Restaurants in Ericeira
Restaurante Prim - Best Brazilian Restaurant in Ericeira
Restaurante Prim serves both Brazilian and Portuguese food, so this restaurant could also have been on the top 5 traditional Portuguese restaurant list. But let’s instead pay them a visit for their Brazilian staples.
According to the rumor this is the best restaurant to visit in Ericeira if you want meat. So for pretending you are in Rio order the Picanha & Caipirinhas, the dish is for two people. If you are alone you can order the same cut by ordering Picanha with garlic. For 2 or 4 people you can order an assortment of Brazilian style grilled beef. Together with all of those dishes you will get traditional Brazilian garnish. The feijoada at Prim is great. You also get your rice served with a healthy dose of Farofa (deliciously fried manioca flour).
For the dessert you should of course have the Caipirinha mousse. The portions are big, so Prim is great if you want to fill up on protein after a surf session. And who doesn’t love a Brazilian barbeque? Just inhale the smell of grilled meat and eat a lot before you hit the Ericeira Night Life.
Pepe Verde - Best Pizza
If you had a particularly rough session at Matadouro we recommend going straight to Pepe Verde to load up on carbs. The outdoor tables are usually bustling with hungry people and it’s a fun place to have a Negroni while waiting for the food to arrive.
The pizza dough in this place is thick, chewy and perfectly crusty. The tomato sauce is sweet and savory and the cheese exactly as creamy as in your fantasies. Among our favorites is Capri and Venezia. The Portifino is another recommendation that is different from all other pizzas you have tried so far in your life.
If you still have space for more, don’t hesitate to order their Nutella Pizza, a real stoner-dream.
Pepe Verde also serve gluten free pizzas. Their vegetarian and vegan options is legendary as well.
It’s usually full so make sure you book a table. And if you happen to be eating at Pepe Verde on a Wednesday, just walk the short distance to Tubo for a street party with DJ set and dance those calories away.
Cucina 37 - Best Italian
Cucina 37 is owned by an Italian couple and the chef is also Italian. Thus this restaurant is your best option for authentic Italian flavors in the middle of Ericeira. Cucina 37 has a great location for people watching, the restaurant is located just twenty meter above the main plaza of the old Ericeira. Have a seat at their sidewalk tables and watch daily life pass by. Inside the space is small and cozy.
For starter you can order an Aperol Spritz and a couple of bruschetta’s and get an Italian vibe right in Portugal, two countries for the price of one.
The pasta at Cucina 37 is homemade, try their Lasagna Bolognese or if you are vegetarian, their eggplant lasanga. Their Linguine with prawns is another of their best seller.s They also have a meat dish as well as a fish dish, and yes, they do have risotto. The portions at Cucina 37 can be a bit on the smaller side. So if you are starving one dish is not going to be enough. And this make sense since they often eat both a pasta dish and a main in Italy.
For desserts, Cucina 37 serves both tiramisu and pannacotta. If you are too full for dessert, we also recommend their version of Affogato (a scoop of ice cream in a shot of espresso.)
When you are finish with your visit in Italy you can just walk back to Portugal again.
Miyabi Sushi by Rodrigo Mattos - Best Sushi
When you are in the mood for fresh fish and clean flavors Miyabi Sushi by Rodrigo Mattos is your best bet. Rodrigo Mattos is famous in the area for being the chef behind several successful restaurants and he has a loyal enough following to give the restaurant his own name.
Miyabi Sushi offers both a buffet option and an a la carte menu. The buffet it seriously good if you are craving a lot of sushi. The sushi served at Miyabi Sushi is beautiful and colorful with lots of attention to small details. Try their uramaki inspired by the various beaches around Ericeira, the Foz do Lizandro sushi is our favourite. They also have a couple of warm dishes, most famously the hot-sushi, do try. Otherwise the Gyosas and the tempura vegetables are equally tasty.
Miyabi Sushi have a balcony overlooking the street life of Ericeira. If the weather allows, drinking sangria and eating sushi on the balcony is a great idea.
The prices at Miyabi Sushi are higher than the other sushi restaurants in Ericeira, but when it comes to flavor and finesse and the freshness of the products you get what you pay for. Miyabi Sushi is a splurge, especially the buffet at 22.90 exclusive drinks, but a fun delicious experience.
For dessert there are not that many options, so better go for a stroll and have an ice-cream at one of the many ice cream parlors around Ericeira.
Calavera - Mexican Food & Tequila Bar - Best Mexican
We all have that occasionally craving for nachos with guacamole, tacos, and maybe a couple of tequila shots.
The place to get all of those Mexican staples is Calvera, the Mexican restaurant in Ericeira. The decoration and the whole vibe of the place is great. You can watch the bartenders mix Margaritas, make sure you try their spicy Margarita. Their strawberry daiquiris are also very popular.
There are not many tables in Calavera, so the feeling is intimate, and the design is dark and eclectic with plenty of fun nods to Mexico. Check out the Mexican vintage movie posters.
The menu is what you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. They have nachos, quesadillas, tacos and burritos. Everything is possible to get in a vegetarian or vegan version. Thus Calavera is great for the non-meat eater.
If you are seriously starving order their Nacho Gordo for a starter. The burritos are tasty and filling and the most bang for your bucks. Their burrito Vegano is the best insider tips.
And for dessert they have a funny thing, you just order a Frida Kahlo and you get all their 3 desserts.
Since we are talking Mexican food here, we feel the different flavors in Calavera could be stronger. Its nothing to write home about, as the saying goes, and the atmosphere is more successful than the food.
Botao- Best BBQ, a must for the meat-lover
Botao smoke their own meet and as all dedicated meat-smokers, they take their craft serious. The result is flavorful, tender, mealt-in-your-mouth, ribs and pulled pork. Now they also added turkey and we hear it is a hit and slightly less heavy than their other kinds of meat.
The owner brews his own beer, he is more than happy to explain and let you try the 6 different brews. We especially liked the Indian pale ale.
Our favorite on the menu is the french fries topped with cheese and home-smoked bacon, it’s a meal in itself. The pulled mushroom burger is a big hit among all vegetarians. You should also definitely order the ribs. Make sure you arrive hungry.
The atmosphere is straightforward with a slight nod to California. The owners are warm and inspired.
Botao is located a bit outside Ericeira, on the road coming back from São Julião, so we recommend stopping here when you explore the area. After a sunset session at São Julião this is the next natural stop.
If you have a craving for meat, it’s worth the short drive from Ericeira.
Additional tips for best non-Portuguese restaurants in Ericeira
Except for the six restaurants mentioned above there are many more great options around Ericeira. If you want Mexican food we also recommend California Tacos.
If you are in the mood for Latin American street food look no further than Ay Mamita! They serve empenadas and arepas and their pisco sours are dreamy. There is a great festive vibe going on in Ay Mamita! and sometimes there is live-music.
Trying GIG (Green is Good) is mandatory for every vegetarian and vegan visiting. Their brunch is especially good. For more info check out our post on vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Ericeira.
We also love the local Indian restaurant, Red Chilli, that’s the place we usually end up eating at, try their Vindaloo curry and Palak Paneer. Pizza Mobile is another great alternative when you need a break from Portuguese cuisine, they do wood oven pizzas and the whole restaurant has a great post-surf atmosphere.
Have a nice stay and enjoy eating your way around Ericeira.