When a friend of Portugal.com recently visited Lisbon from Tokyo, he had a single question: where can I get the best African food? Despite living in one of the best food cities in the world, he knew that Lisbon has access to an impressive array of African food, which reflects the city’s deep historical connections with the continent. Influences from Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, and other nations shine through in rich, flavorful dishes. From slow-cooked stews, fresh seafood, or aromatic curries, these seven African restaurants in Lisbon promise a delicious dining experience.

1. Cantinho do Aziz – Mozambican Excellence in Mouraria

Address: Rua de São Lourenço 5, 1100-530 

Opening Hours: Every Day, 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Cantinho do Aziz has delighted diners for nearly four decades with bold Mozambican flavors. Located in Mouraria, one of Lisbon’s most diverse neighborhoods, this family-run restaurant is known for its welcoming atmosphere and hearty dishes.

Start your meal with chamuças, Mozambican-style samosas packed with meat or vegetables. The lamb chacuti, slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices, bursts with deep, satisfying flavors. Another standout is galinha zambeziana, a roasted chicken dish marinated in lemon and a creamy coconut sauce. To finish your meal, try passion fruit mousse or bebinka, a homemade goan cake.

The restaurant’s lively terrace offers a perfect spot to enjoy warm evenings while savoring authentic African cuisine.

2. Roda Viva – Mozambican Comfort Food in Alfama

Address: Beco do Mexias 11 R/c, 1100-349 

Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am, Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am, Tuesday, closed

Roda Viva specializes in home-style Mozambican cooking with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. Tucked away in the historic Alfama district, this restaurant is a hidden gem for those seeking authentic African flavors.

The star dish here is the shrimp curry served with coriander, paprika, and other spices. If you’re in the mood for something hearty, order makofo, a delicious combination of cabbage, coconut, and peanuts. You can also try cachupa from Cabo Verde, a delicious mix of sweet corn, beans, beef, pork, and chicken. Wash it all down with some 2M, a delicious Mozambican beer.

3. Tambarina – The Soul of Cape Verdean Cuisine

Address: R. Dr. António Cândido 15C, 1050-075

Opening Hours: Sunday, 1:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Monday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Tuesday – Saturday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Cape Verdean cuisine blends Portuguese, West African, and Brazilian influences, and Tambarina captures this mix beautifully. Its name derives from the Cape Verdean name for Tamarind fruit. Located just a 6-minute walk from El Corte Inglés, this small but lively eatery serves up some of the best Cape Verdean food in the city.

Don’t be put off by its humble appearance. The food is delicious and comes in big portions. Cachupa, Cape Verde’s national dish, takes center stage. This slow-cooked stew combines corn, beans, sweet potatoes, and either meat or fish, creating a deeply flavorful and comforting meal. Another highlight is muamba, a satisfying stew with chicken so tender that it’s falling off the bone. Pair your muamba with funji, a manioc puree that soaks up the flavors of the muamba heightened even more if you add in some of the roasted chili sauce.  

The restaurant frequently hosts live music nights featuring Cape Verdean music, making your visit even more memorable. Friday and Saturday nights are your best chance for a dance party. 

4. Mambo – A Celebration of West African Cuisine

Address: R. da Silva n8, 1200-447 

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Mambo serves up dishes from across West Africa, including Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola. Entering Mambo is like stopping by a friend’s house for dinner and having other neighbors stop by to chat from time to time. 

Try the mafe, a Senegalese peanut-based stew with tender beef, served with rice. The thieboudienne, Senegal’s famous fish and rice dish, bursts with flavors from eggplants, carrots, cassava, and cabbage. You can also try the fungi de peito alto, an Angolan beef stew with okra, palm tree oil, beans, and cabbage with peanut butter.

Mambo’s drinks menu features a variety of African-inspired cocktails, including Cape Verdean rum punch and Luanda lemonade. 

5. Casa Mocambo – A Journey Through Lusophony Gastronomy 

Address: Rua do Vale de Santo António 122A, 1170-378

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am, Saturday – Sunday, 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Casa Mocambo emphasizes Lusophony Gastronomy, which blends flavors from Angola, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, India, Brazil, and São Tomé and Príncipe.  The restaurant regularly hosts live music and its charming interior design is decorated with African artwork.

Try the peanut curry, a typical dish from Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Mozambique, the chicken moamba from Angola, or the moqueca de peixe, a coconut-based fish stew, brings Brazilian and Mozambican influences together. 

On weekends, it would be best to reserve a table in advance, which you can do directly through Google Maps.

6. Sofia’s Place – African Comfort Food in São Bento

Address: Rua de São Bento 67, 1200-816

Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Saturday – Sunday, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am, Monday-Tuesday, closed

Sofia’s Place is a cozy restaurant that showcases the warmth of African comfort food. Tucked away in the São Bento neighborhood, Sofia and her your staff will win you over with  their delicious food paired with incredible hospitality.

Start your meal with some perfectly seasoned chicken wings and yummy plantains. Move on to the main course of chicken moamba, an Angolan speciality served with peanut sauce, onion, garlic, and rosemary, served with black rice marinated in ginger. You can also treat yourself to Grilled lamb chops West-African style served with homemade BBQ and peanut sauces. There is even a “Happiness Board” for 4 people here that comes with lamb chops, picanha steak, and Black Angus, moamba, handcut fries, white rice, and black beans. Have we made you hungry yet?

Sofia’s Place is a bit pricier than some of the others we’ve mentioned, but the flair and plethora of homemade sauces make it all worth it along with the Kizomba music.

7. Restaurante Chiveve – Mozambican Excellence

Address: R. Andrade Corvo 5D, 1050-007

Opening Hours: Monday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Saturday-Sunday, closed 

We’ve saved the best for last with Restaurante Chiveve, which has received generous praise across the board for its delectable Mozambican cuisine. Chiveve hits the sweet spot between cozy and lively, which you will understand the moment you walk through the door when you meet the incredibly friendly owner. 

Try the beef samosas and the chicken cooked in coconut milk with piripiri for that extra kick. In our opinion, the shrimp curry with okra is the superstar, but the shrimp matapa is also a standout. There are also vegan and vegetarian options available along with your choose of Mozambican dessert including cassava jam with coconut and coconut ice cream. 

Final Thoughts

Ready to taste all that Lisbon’s African food scene has to offer? If you’ve never tried African cuisine before, we encourage you to dive into a new incredible culinary world. Whether you’re a longtime lover of African cuisine or a newcomer eager to explore new flavors, these seven Lisbon restaurants will take you on a tour of Africa without even leaving the Portuguese capital.