A stone’s throw from the Portuguese Parliament, Café de São Bento has been a favourite lunch and dinner spot for government officials, members of parliament, and political leaders since 1982. These days, running into a top Portuguese political figure inside this Victorian-style restaurant is less likely, but two things have remained unchanged: the friendly staff and the greatest steak in the city. Bife à Café de São Bento, swimming in its creamy sauce, is still the dish worth hunting this institution out for.

Opposite the Portuguese parliament is a little red door on Rua de São Bento where you have to ring the doorbell and wait until someone lets you in. Once inside, you’ll see the color red is a major player in the decoration, similar to their famous medium rare steak that’s been bringing locals back to this spot for the past 40 years. Add a side of their creamed spinach, and definitely finish your meal with the tarte tatin.

Decorated in a classic and inviting style, Café de São Bento serves one of Lisbon’s most famous steaks. It has been open since 1982, having gathered quite a reputation, particularly thanks to the quality of its meat, which you can savor leisurely until 2AM. You can also find Café de São Bento inside Time Our Market, where you could also try bife à Portuguesa, a thin pan fried steak served with cured ham and a fried egg Portuguese style, or the even more iconic bife à Café de São Bento, their original recipe since 1982, which is also inspired by bife à Marrare, the most typical way of cooking steak in Lisbon during the 18th century, just like Brilhante’s steak above.

When Café Sao Bento opened in the early eighties, the aim was to resemble the traditional Portuguese cafés, which have become increasingly rare over the years. With the décor reminiscent of a Victorian parlor, and a menu offering a delectable rump steak in a unique pepper sauce, this is a dining experience you don’t want to miss. Although it is pricier than your average Lisbon restaurant, the quality and service are excellent, so much so that TIMEOUT magazine voted it the ‘Best Steak in Lisbon’.

If you’re looking for a very local neighborhood off the main tourist map, Sao Bento is another quieter neighborhood that would be ideal for a long term stay. It is definitely off the beaten tourist path, yet still within close proximity to restaurants in Principe Real and cafes in Santos. Sao Bento is actually also considered the political center of Lisbon as it contains the Assembly of the Republic, Portugal’s own parliament.

This old-school classic residing near the National Parliament is ideal for a hearty dinner after a day walking Lisbon’s legendary hills. Café de São Bento is the definition of a classic steakhouse, with a tight menu full of top quality, no-frills meat. Stepping into this establishment will take you back in time, with large red sofa booths and dark wood furniture, which feels decadent and elegant.

With over 40 years of history within its walls, Cafe de São Bento offers diners an intimate dining hall inspired by Victorian interior style. Diners are spread over two floors, which offer lunch and dinner until late at night. The highlight of the menu here is their steaks, which we highly recommend any meat-eater orders when dining at Cafe de São Bento.

The Café de São Bento is located, as the name implies, in Rua de São Bento, next to the Assembleia da República, in Lapa district, Lisbon. This restaurant is a true Lisbon institution for those who appreciate steaks. It opened in 1982 with the aim of recreating the atmosphere of the old cafés of Lisbon and serving the famous "steak à marrare".

Minutes later and we are outside nearby Café de São Bento, settling into peixinhos da horta — or tempura green beans — which are strikingly good: a crisp jacket on the outside, a comforting sogginess on the inside, and the familiar taste of fresh beans. The name means “fish from the garden”, as they resemble (albeit green) fried fish.

There’s nothing quite as Portuguese as eating a steak, egg and chips at two in the morning. West of the city center, Café de São Bento is a time warp that takes diners back to a romanticized version of the 1920s. Plush couches, wooden interior, soothing instrumentals playing in the background; a late night diners dream.

Restaurante Café de São Bento – For a truly memorable steak experience, head to Restaurante Café de São Bento. This iconic steakhouse has been serving the finest cuts of meat since 1982. Their famous Café de São Bento steak, cooked to perfection on a charcoal grill, is a must-try for any meat lover.

Open since 1982, this very Portuguese spot has a reputation for its high-quality steak. The most famous is the bife à Café de São Bento, which is steak with a creamy sauce. 📍São Bento – Rua de São Bento 212⏱️Sunday dinner, Monday lunch & dinner

Dining at one of Lisbon's top classic restaurants is like stepping back in time, I recommend legendary steakhouses such as Cafe de Sao Bento and old-school bars like Pavilhao Chines.

Hours: Monday – Friday 12:30 – 2:30, Dinner from 7 pm – 2 am. Saturday and Sunday, dinner only from 7 pm – 2 am. They also have a stall at the Time Out Market