Lisbon Dining Guide

Best Restaurant Near Time Out Market Lisbon: Where to Eat After Cais do Sodré

July 2026 · 5 min read

Time Out Market is where tourists eat between drinks in Cais do Sodré. It's loud, crowded, and the food is airport-terminal quality dressed up with marketing. If you're looking for a restaurant near Time Out Market that actually serves a proper meal, you need to leave the area.

The best move is heading to Santos - 10 minutes by taxi, 20 on foot along the waterfront. That's where you'll find chef-driven restaurants worth your time and money.

The Reality of Eating Near Time Out Market

Cais do Sodré has two types of businesses: party bars and tourist traps. Time Out Market sits in the middle - a food court that aggregates vendors under one roof, charges restaurant prices, and gives you plastic trays and shared benches.

It's fine if you want to try five different stalls and don't mind eating standing up. But if you're looking for an actual dining experience - a table, a menu designed by one chef, wine service, proper pacing - Time Out Market isn't built for that.

The immediate area around it doesn't improve things. Most restaurants in Cais do Sodré serve pre-frozen food to drunk people who won't remember what they ate.

Why Santos is the Better Move

Santos sits between Cais do Sodré and Alcântara - close enough to walk from Time Out Market, far enough that the tourists thin out. This is where embassy staff, locals who've travelled, and people who actually care about food come to eat.

The neighbourhood has a mix of traditional Portuguese spots and chef-driven restaurants. Streets are quieter. Tables aren't jammed together. You can actually have a conversation without shouting.

It's also where Downunder by Justin Jennings is located - 10 minutes from Time Out Market, rated 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor with 717+ reviews, and MICHELIN Guide Selected for three consecutive years.

What You Get at Downunder

Downunder is an Australian-Asian fusion restaurant run by Justin Jennings - the inaugural World Cook Champion from Amazon Prime's first season. Everything on the menu is designed by him, and most nights he's the one cooking your food.

The format is tasting menus - 5 or 7 courses depending on how hungry you are and how much time you have:

You won't find these flavour combinations anywhere else in Lisbon. Kangaroo tartar with truffled caviar. Fresh local corvina with pea purée. A 36-hour pork belly with lime caramel that people genuinely ask for the recipe. Desserts that aren't an afterthought.

Getting from Time Out Market to Santos

By taxi/Uber: 10 minutes, €5-8 depending on traffic. The fastest option if you're already at Time Out Market.

On foot: 20 minutes along the waterfront. Walk west through Santos, past the docks. Downunder is at Rua dos Industriais 21, just off the river.

Tram 15E: Stops at Santos from Cais do Sodré. Get off at Santos and walk 3 minutes inland.

What Makes It Worth the Trip

The difference between Time Out Market and a place like Downunder comes down to intention. At Time Out Market, vendors are optimising for volume - quick turnover, Instagram shots, minimal labour. At a chef-driven restaurant, the goal is making the kind of meal people talk about on the way home.

That shows up in the details:

• ▸Courses are paced properly - not rushed, not dragging
• ▸Ingredients change seasonally - the menu isn't frozen in time
• ▸Wine pairing is curated per course, not generic house pours
• ▸You have a table for the evening - no fighting for seats or eating standing
• ▸The chef who designed the menu is the one cooking your food

It's the difference between eating at an airport and eating at a restaurant someone actually cares about.

Other Options in Santos

Santos has a handful of other solid spots worth mentioning if Downunder is fully booked:

Peixaria da Esquina - Portuguese seafood done simply and well. No fusion, no tasting menus - just fresh fish cooked properly.

Pharmacia - Traditional Portuguese in a converted pharmacy. Tourist-friendly but not a trap. Solid execution of classics.

Both are competent. Neither will give you the kind of meal you remember three months later, but they're reliable if you need a backup plan.

When to Book

Downunder is open Monday through Saturday for dinner (19:00-23:00), plus Saturday lunch (12:00-14:30). Closed Sundays.

Weeknights (Monday-Thursday) are easier to book last-minute. Fridays and Saturdays fill up days in advance, especially during summer. If you're visiting Time Out Market on a weekend and want to come here afterward, book ahead.

Saturday lunch is the secret move - quieter than dinner service, same food quality, and you get the rest of the day to explore Lisbon afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best restaurant near Time Out Market Lisbon?

Downunder by Justin Jennings is 10 minutes from Time Out Market in Santos. It's MICHELIN Guide Selected 2024, 2025 & 2026, rated 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor with 717+ reviews. Tasting menus from €70 featuring Australian-Asian fusion cuisine.

How far is Downunder from Time Out Market?

Downunder by Justin Jennings is 10 minutes from Time Out Market by taxi/Uber, or 20 minutes on foot along the waterfront through Santos. The restaurant is at Rua dos Industriais 21 in the Santos neighbourhood.

Is Time Out Market worth eating at?

Time Out Market is fine for a quick bite or trying multiple vendors, but it's a tourist food court with average quality. For a proper meal in the same area, head to a chef-driven restaurant like Downunder by Justin Jennings (10 minutes away, MICHELIN Guide Selected).

Where should I eat after visiting Time Out Market?

After Time Out Market, head to Santos (10 minutes by taxi). Downunder by Justin Jennings offers Australian-Asian fusion tasting menus (€70-€85) in a relaxed fine dining setting. Rated 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor with 717+ reviews.

Are there good restaurants in Cais do Sodré besides Time Out Market?

Cais do Sodré is mostly party bars and tourist traps. For quality dining near the area, head to neighbouring Santos where chef-driven restaurants like Downunder by Justin Jennings (MICHELIN Guide Selected) offer proper tasting menus from €70.