If you’re reading this article, you’re probably looking for the best restaurants in Figueira da Foz to try the local delicacies. I did the same when I was returning from my surf trip to Galicia, and I was amazed to realize there’s no shortage of options in this Portuguese coastal town.

Here, I’ve compiled the five restaurants I visited during my stay in Figueira da Foz. Although they’re numbered, I had a hard time choosing the best one.

Choose your restaurants in Figueira da Foz

1. Tasca Maria

Tasca Maria is all about the details. The paintings hanging on the walls add an artistic touch to the space, while the old books and radios on the shelves create a cozy atmosphere. This establishment’s delicacies are served on beautiful plates, adding to the overall experience.

For this experience, I ordered the fried prawns with ginger (delicious!), but what surprised me was the grouper soup with clams and coriander. It was amazing!

2. Zagallo Kitchen

Zagallo Kitchen provides an intimate atmosphere perfect for a romantic dinner for two. The restaurant’s decor, with its wallpaper and intricate tableware details, draws on the exoticism of the Brazilian jungle. Also, a wide selection of wine will capture your attention as soon as you enter.

Although it offers other dishes, such as crispy cuttlefish strips or crunchy shrimp, which are good if you want to have a tapas dinner with a good wine, the real specialty of this restaurant in Figueira da Foz is the meat. In my case, I ordered a matured Black Angus t-bone, which the chef brought and sliced on the table.

It’s not a restaurant for every wallet, but if you’re a carnivore, this restaurant is a must.

3. Olaias

Leave the city center and go to Figueira da Foz’s Centro de Artes e Espetáculos to find Olaias, a restaurant run by Chef Mónica Gomes, who has found her specialty in Mondego’s rice.

Several dishes use this ingredient, but I chose the octopus rice, which was divine!

Although you’ll want to keep the taste of this rice in your mouth, leave room for dessert and order the sponge cake, which is in direct competition with the famous one from Alfeizerão.

To make the most of the space, I suggest going at lunchtime and taking advantage of the brightness from the large windows overlooking the park.

4. Pé na Areia

I visited Pé na Areia at night but want to return during the day. This restaurant is planted on the sand south of Buarcos Beach in Figueira da Foz and is a great place to be during a summer lunch or sunset.

Seafood and fish from the coast are part of the menu, but when I was there, the Sardine Rice Festival was taking place, and as this restaurant was one of the participants, I decided to try something different.

5. Bijou

They say antiquity is a post, and Bijou is a good example. Established in 1912, it has passed from hand to hand, leaving its mark. They say it was here that the well-known regional sweet “Brisa da Figueira” was created.

Today, Bijou has modernized the interior but continues to recall Figueira da Foz’s past in the old wall pictures.

The food is typically Portuguese and includes seafood açorda or squid and prawn kebabs.

The restaurants in Figueira da Foz I didn’t get to try… until now!

When I first wrote this article, I was on a trip to Figueira de Foz in 2023 and didn’t have time to visit two restaurants that looked great, according to my research.

Returning to Figueira in 2025, it was time to go and knock on their doors. And I’m glad I did! Here they are:

6. Volta & Meia

Very close to Tasca Maria is Volta & Meia. The entrance is through a small courtyard, which immediately catches the eye and makes you want to visit during the summer for a drink and a chat.

Inside, you’ll find a space full of details. The walls are bright and decorated, from handcrafted works to old Anita books and other souvenirs from the past.

The service was exemplary and attentive, and the dishes that arrived at our table were delightful.

In our case, we ordered a vegetarian tagliatelle, which was delicious. As I was on a diet, I ordered chicken steaks. This dish usually ends up being more “dry,” but these were wonderful! They even gave me alternatives to the potatoes that weren’t included in the dish.

7. Palheiro do Avô

I went to Palheiro do Avô for lunch, and I can tell you that at this time of day, you can take advantage of the daily option and have a full meal for a very reasonable price.

The dishes aren’t “typical” daily meals. They are homemade, very well prepared, and generously portioned.

This time, I skipped the dish of the day (meatloaf or ossos carregados) and ordered a bitoque. What a surprise when a huge, tall, and tasty beef steak arrived at the table. In any other restaurant, that would have been a steak presented with a grand ceremony, not a “simple” bitoque.

Confident in his cooking, I was also surprised that, at peak service, the Chef made a point of leaving the kitchen and going to the tables to ask if everything was all right.

With its nautical décor, the restaurant has plenty of tables, but its rising reputation makes it preferable to book before you go if you don’t want to risk being left on the doorstep.

These are my suggestions for restaurants in Figueira da Foz, and I hope they are helpful for your next visit to the city. If you have any other suggestions or experiences to share, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments box.

Best Restaurants in Figueira da Foz, Portugal