Race weekend is here, and you have finally arrived in Lisbon for your Half or Full Marathon. But where should you eat? It’s no secret that Lisbon has a wonderful dining culture, but finding healthy restaurants in Lisbon can be a challenge for runners looking to carbo load.

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After running a half marathon every month in a new country for all of 2023, I realized how difficult it can be to find healthy food options while traveling. The obvious answer might be pasta, but sometimes you want to branch out. This list includes a variety of options and cuisines for all types of runners. I also added my favorite dish at each restaurant if you want a little more help.

Local

This Lisbon chain has healthy food options in almost every neighborhood. With a wide variety of menu options that can meet almost any dietary need or limitation, Local is perfect for your whole group. It has long been one of my favorite places in Lisbon when I want to grab a healthy and vegetable filled dinner.

Local strives to keep patrons in mind of health and natural ingredients, with an interior that is filled with walls of veggies and greenery.

My favorite healthy dish: chicken teriyaki

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Honest Greens

If you are looking for a low cost option this is your best bet. This fast casual Spanish chain has locations across Lisbon serving freshly made food. Every meal comes with a salad and slice of bread, or two servings of salad. 

Since it is fast casual, the atmosphere is a bit busier and you will see lots of people working while they eat. It’s still a great option for a quick bite to eat.

My favorite healthy dish: piri piri chicken

Magnolia Bistrot and Wine bar

The restaurant has perfected the idea that a small menu is better. Last time I went here, there were about ten items on the menu, with two of them including meat. This is a seasonal menu, so the exact ratio may change. However, it is one of my top recommendations in Lisbon. 

The atmosphere inside this restaurant is relaxed, with a fresco ceiling, and mismatched tables and chairs.

My favorite healthy dish: roasted baby carrots

Green Affair

Let me be clear, I am not vegan. But I do love eating at Green Affair. With a few locations scattered around the city, this restaurant is a great choice if you are looking to have vegetables in a completely new fashion. With plenty of seating inside, you can typically always find a table without a reservation.

My favorite healthy dish: quinoa and chickpea al pesto burger

Cafeh Tehran

Located across the road from Magnolia Wine bar, this Iranian restaurant serves amazingly authentic dishes in the heart of Lisbon. I prefer to eat outside to enjoy the ambiance of the park, but the inside is beautifully decorated as well. 

My favorite healthy dish: joojeh a cafeh

Italian Options

While the above restaurants are all around great options, if you want to focus in on the pre-race carbo loading, I have suggestions. These are my favorite go-to Italian restaurants in Lisbon.

Libertá

This upscale Italian restaurant provides some of my favorite pasta dishes in Lisbon with a rotating seasonal menu designed to always have the freshest ingredients. I can’t tell you what my favorite item is, because I don;t know what the menu will look like in the next month. I can tell you that I first found this restaurant while filming House Hunters International. We had just eaten our lunch before filming here and yet I couldn’t stop taking bites of the food. It was just so good. 

A little pricier than some of the other options, book ahead to secure an indoor or outdoor table at this Avenida Restaurant.

Leonetta

Located in the heart of Principe Real, Leonetta is a bustling Italian restaurant with a wide variety of pasta options. I brought my vegetarian mom here and we were both happy with our dishes. She had lots of options to pick from, as about half the menu is vegetarian. The menu here has two steps. First, select your toppings, then you can pick your pasta type. I really love the customization, as a lovely added touch. 

The atmosphere is cozy, despite the large restaurant size. Due to its location, I would call ahead or reserve a table.

My favorite healthy dish: paccheri al nduja calabrese with rigatoni

Fábrica di Pasta

This restaurant is all about the pasta. If you aren’t interested in pasta go elsewhere, but you’re a runner, of course you want pasta. Next door to the Convento do Carmen, this is a great spot for a pre-race carbo load. The menu is easy to read, and each dish is labeled for who would like it.

While this isn’t my favorite Italian restaurant in Lisbon, this is still a great spot if you are already in Chiado or Baixa. After all, you need to save your legs for the race ahead.

My favorite healthy dish: benedetta – for veggie lovers

La Villa

La Villa used to be a problem for me. I lived only a few minutes away and would frequently stop in for some amazingly Italian food in a gorgeous park. The staff is extremely kind and the service is quick, without feeling rushed. It is a bit of a walk up a hill, but that’s just Lisbon. 

While the outdoor seating areas and patio are lovely, the interior does lack a warm atmosphere. I recommend coming here in warmer months so you can sit outside. In my many visits I have only once been turned away without a reservation, and that was one the day of the University graduation on the other side of the park.

My favorite healthy dish: milano

If none of these suit your fancy, that’s okay! I know how picky I can be the night before a race. As long as you follow one simple rule you will have success with any restaurant that you find in Lisbon. Don’t eat anywhere with under 200 reviews on Google, or over 800 reviews. I have a few theories on why this works, but no solid evidence. It just does work. 

If you’re running the Lisbon Half or Full this year, I have built a race hub designed to help runners travel to Lisbon with ease.

Lisbon will always have my heart, and I hope this race weekend helps you see just how amazing Lisbon can be for runners.