The Michelin Guide revealed its new selection of restaurants in Portugal for 2026, in a ceremony held at the Savoy Palace hotel, in Funchal (Madeira), awarded a Michelin Key. The new edition highlights 210 restaurants across the country, including 34 new entries in the Recommended category, reflecting the growing dynamism of Portuguese gastronomy.
According to the guide, “Portugal continues to reinforce its clear commitment to gastronomy as a key tourist attraction, with increasing dynamism and quality”. The document also says that, although Lisbon and Porto continue to be the main centers of attraction, there is a growing interest in lesser-known destinations, which provide more complete experiences connected to the territory.
The international director of the Michelin Guide, Gwendal Poullennec, highlights that “the Portuguese gastronomic scene is experiencing a moment of effervescence, as established chefs open new, more informal restaurants, and the hotel sector is firmly betting on gastronomy as a fundamental axis of its loyalty offer.” He also adds that “we witnessed a wonderful balance between modern, or more innovative, cuisine and respect for traditional recipes, taking, in both cases, a local product of unequivocal excellence as a reference.”
Algarve reinforces its presence in haute cuisine
Among the new features of this edition, the Alameda restaurant, in Faro, stands out, which won a Michelin Star, reinforcing the recognition of Algarve gastronomy on the national scene.
According to the guide, “this restaurant, with a contemporary atmosphere, pays permanent homage to the Algarve, through the use of native fish and seafood.” Chef Rui Sequeira combines modern techniques with tradition, through a gastronomic proposal that includes a concise menu, a tasting menu inspired by local legends and a vegetarian option.
The selection also highlights the country’s gastronomic diversity, with new distinctions awarded to restaurants in cities such as Évora, Porto, Cascais, Amarante, Montemor-o-Novo or Peso da Régua, reflecting the growing dynamism of Portuguese restaurants.
Fifty Seconds wins two Michelin Stars
One of the notable moments of the 2026 edition was the entry of the Fifty Seconds restaurant, in Lisbon, into the group of establishments with two Michelin Stars.
Located at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower, the restaurant led by chef Rui Silvestre stands out for its gastronomic experience based on a tasting menu inspired by the sea, which combines creativity, technique and references to the chef’s Mozambican and Indian roots.
With this distinction, Portugal now has nine restaurants with two Michelin Stars, while the one-Star category now includes 44 establishments, after the entry of 10 new restaurants.
The selection also includes 26 Bib Gourmand restaurants, a distinction that values the best value for money, and 131 recommended restaurants, of which 34 are new.
The also highlighted the growth of restaurants located in hotels and the expansion of fusion gastronomic proposals or those inspired by Japanese cuisine, demonstrating the diversity and evolution of Portuguese restaurants.
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