Lisbon Neighbourhood Guide

Best Restaurants Near Príncipe Real Lisbon: Where to Eat After the Garden

July 2026 · 6 min read

Príncipe Real is beautiful. The garden, the antique shops, the cocktail bars. But if you're looking for a serious meal, you won't find many options right in the square.

The real dining is 10 minutes away in Santos and Estrela. That's where chefs set up shop because rent is reasonable and the neighbourhood still has character. Walk downhill from the garden and you'll find the kind of restaurants where locals book ahead.

Why Príncipe Real Itself Has Limited Dining Options

Príncipe Real is one of Lisbon's most expensive neighbourhoods. That makes it ideal for boutiques, design shops, and high-margin cocktail bars. But running a restaurant with a full kitchen, proper staff, and quality ingredients requires volume that most Príncipe Real addresses can't sustain.

You'll find cafés and small plates around the garden - perfectly fine for an afternoon coffee or light bite. But for dinner, especially if you want something beyond tourist-focused menus, head to the neighbouring areas.

The Santos Solution: 10 Minutes from Príncipe Real

Santos sits between Príncipe Real and the river. It's a 10-minute walk downhill, and that's where you'll find restaurants worth the trip. Lower rent than the garden area means chefs can focus on the food rather than paying inflated leases.

Downunder by Justin Jennings is at Rua dos Industriais 21, about 800 metres from the Príncipe Real Garden. Australian-Asian fusion tasting menus, MICHELIN Guide Selected three years running. The kind of place where half the room are regulars and the other half found it on purpose.

What makes Santos worth the walk:

• ▸ Lower tourist density - locals actually live here, so restaurants cater to repeat customers
• ▸ Better value - rent is lower, so more budget goes into ingredients and wine lists
• ▸ Chef-driven restaurants - owner-operators who cook what they want, not what algorithms say tourists expect
• ▸ Quieter - you can hear the person across the table without shouting

Estrela: The Other Option

Estrela is slightly further west - about 15 minutes on foot from Príncipe Real. Residential, wide streets, the basilica dominating the skyline. Less nightlife than Santos, but that's part of the appeal.

The restaurants here tend toward neighbourhood spots - places where the chef knows half the room by name. If you're staying in the area for a few days, Estrela is where you eat when you don't want to plan ahead. Just walk in and sit down.

What to Look For in a Restaurant Near Príncipe Real

When you're choosing where to eat after exploring Príncipe Real, these are the signs of a restaurant worth the walk:

• ▸ Chef-owned - if the owner is in the kitchen, the food matters more than the Instagram shots
• ▸ Locals at the tables - if you hear Portuguese being spoken, the restaurant isn't just surviving on tourist turnover
• ▸ Consistent reviews - not just quantity, but the same themes appearing repeatedly (good service, quality ingredients, worth the price)
• ▸ Clear identity - a specific cuisine or cooking style, not a menu that tries to cover every base
• ▸ Wine list depth - if the wine list has more than 20 options and includes Portuguese producers beyond Douro, someone cares about pairings

What Makes Downunder Different

I opened Downunder in Santos after spending 20+ years working in kitchens from Sydney to London to Portugal. The location wasn't an accident - I wanted a neighbourhood where locals would come back, not just pass through.

Australian-Asian fusion is what I've been cooking my whole career. It's not trendy, it's just what happens when you grow up in Australia (where Asian ingredients are as common as European ones) and train in kitchens that respect both traditions.

The tasting menus (5 course €70, 7 course €85) change based on what's available at the market, but the approach stays consistent: technique-driven, ingredient-focused, no unnecessary garnishes. Wine pairings are Portuguese-heavy because that's what makes sense here.

MICHELIN Guide Selected three years running. 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor with 717+ reviews. But more importantly, we're still seeing regulars every week who've been coming since we opened.

The Walk from Príncipe Real to Santos

From Príncipe Real Garden to Rua dos Industriais 21 (where Downunder is located): 10 minutes downhill. Take Rua da Escola Politécnica toward the river, then cut through Rua de São Bento. You'll pass the parliament building on your right.

The walk is mostly downhill, which is ideal for pre-dinner. The return trip is uphill, which is less ideal after wine, but that's what taxis are for.

Booking Ahead vs Walking In

If you're planning dinner near Príncipe Real on a weekend, book ahead. Santos restaurants fill up Thursday through Saturday nights, especially during summer when tourists and locals both want tables.

Weeknights (Monday through Wednesday) are quieter. You can usually walk in, though calling ahead is still smarter than hoping for the best.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best restaurants near Príncipe Real in Lisbon?

The best restaurants near Príncipe Real are in the neighbouring Santos and Estrela areas. Downunder by Justin Jennings (Rua dos Industriais 21, Santos) is a 10-minute walk and offers MICHELIN Guide Selected Australian-Asian fusion tasting menus from €70. The restaurant is rated 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor with 717+ reviews.

How far is Downunder restaurant from Príncipe Real?

Downunder by Justin Jennings is a 10-minute walk (800 metres) from Príncipe Real Garden in the Santos neighbourhood. The restaurant is located at Rua dos Industriais 21, Lisboa 1200-685.

What is the best neighbourhood for dining near Príncipe Real?

Santos and Estrela offer the best dining near Príncipe Real. These neighbourhoods are a 5-15 minute walk and feature chef-driven restaurants like Downunder by Justin Jennings, which is MICHELIN Guide Selected 2024, 2025 & 2026.

Where should I eat after visiting Príncipe Real Garden?

After visiting Príncipe Real Garden, head to Santos or Estrela (5-15 minute walk). Downunder by Justin Jennings offers Australian-Asian fusion tasting menus (5 course €70, 7 course €85) with wine pairings. The restaurant is open Mon-Sat 19:00-23:00, plus Saturday lunch 12:00-14:30.

Is Príncipe Real good for restaurants?

Príncipe Real itself has mostly cafés and bars. For serious dining, walk 10 minutes to Santos or Estrela where chef-driven restaurants like Downunder by Justin Jennings (MICHELIN Guide Selected, 4.8★ on TripAdvisor) offer fine dining experiences.