Are restaurants closed on Mondays in Lisbon?

Lisbon restaurants to eat Portuguese food on Sunday and Monday. Working in the hospitality industry is hard and everyone deserves a day off. That's why many of Lisbon's restaurants are closed on Sunday and also on Monday, after having a busy weekend.



While many restaurants in Lisbon do close on Mondays, it is a common misconception that all of them do. Traditionally, Monday was the day off for many family-run "tascas" and traditional eateries to recover from the busy weekend. However, in 2026, the rise of international tourism and a more competitive dining scene means that many modern establishments, especially in high-traffic areas like Chiado, Baixa, and the Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira), remain open seven days a week. Most fine-dining and Michelin-starred restaurants still tend to favor a Sunday/Monday or Monday/Tuesday closure. If you are looking for authentic Portuguese food on a Monday, you might need to wander slightly further from the main squares, or check apps like TheFork or Google Maps, which are kept highly up-to-date in 2026. Pro tip: many museums in Lisbon also close on Mondays, so it is often considered the "quiet" day for the city’s service and cultural industries, making it a great time for a day trip to Sintra instead.

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OPENING HOURS IN LISBON Some offices and smaller businesses close for lunch, usually between 1 and 3 o'clock. The shopping malls open their doors at 10 in the morning, and only close at midnight. On Saturdays, small shops generally open between 9 in the morning and 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and are closed on Sundays.

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In smaller cities of Portugal, the majority of traditional shops are closed on Sundays. In large cities, retail malls and centers typically stay open later every day of the week.

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Lisbon is one of the best places for a cheap holiday in Europe. Hotels, attractions and restaurants are all reasonably priced.

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But to the contrary, Portugal does not abide by the same rules – except in cafes and pastry shops. Although typically lacking a host or a “Please Wait To Be Seated” sign, you will almost always have a server spot you, waiting for you to give the ubiquitous hand gesture as to the number of people in your party.

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Portuguese tend to dress modestly with a sense of quality and elegance. It is important to dress in a respectful manner, particularly when entering formal spaces such as a church. Casual attire (e.g. barefoot, beachwear) is inappropriate in public and can make one seem unsophisticated.

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The answer is almost always yes, as dinnertime in Portugal happens between 9pm and 10pm on average. This is later than the European average, and only rivalled by Spaniards who usually have dinner between 9:30 and 10:30pm.

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Red zone: it is in the streets of Baixa, Chiado and in some main avenues, such as Liberdade, Berna, Joao XXI and part of Republica. It has a maximum time of 2 hours and is €1.60 per hour.

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