Gluten free Lisbon is a doddle once you have read my gluten free guide. You’ll be scoffing freshly baked gluten free pastel de nata and before you know it.

I fell a little bit in love with Lisbon when we visited. Its colourful streets and tiled facades are beautiful and the city’s vibrant nature is paired with historical buildings and stunning sights.

Throw some excellent gluten free food into the mix and I was one happy coeliac when we visited!

Gluten Free Lisbon

Accomodation

We stayed at this lovely apartment so that we could self cater some of our meals. I would really recommend it as it was a handy location, had two lovely bedrooms, great kitchen dining and lounge area and air conditioning. PLUS a swimming pool which is a bonus for those warmer days. The location was pretty handy too as it was peaceful at night and only a short walk to the sights.

Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel is a good hotel option if you prefer, they have a coeliac society accredited restaurant in the hotel (detailed below) so you know you’ll be well fed.

100% Gluten Free Lisbon Eateries

Beiju

Tapioca crepes, a Brazilian specialiaity dish. The food at Beiju is fully gluten free as they specialise in sweet and savoury tapioca crepes, which are naturally gluten free. It’s grab n go type food and makes for a perfect quick lunch. We had a nutella filled tapioca crepe and it was yummy!

Despensa No.6

A fully gluten free and sugar free bakery and cafe, Despensa No.6 is a beaut little cafe, all white, pale wood and mint green interiors. it’s the ideal spot for an afternoon cake and coffee or chilled brunch/lunch date in Lisbon. It is situated close to the Roma metro station and therefore very easy to get to from the city centre.

I had some tasty tarts from Despensa and would definitely have gone back for a proper sit down lunch if we had had time. They have some dairy free and vegan options too.

Grom

Grom is part of an amazing Italian chain and they are quietly fully gluten free. It’s not obviously advertised but check with staff and they will confirm that all the flavours, waffle cones, toppings and biscuits are totally gluten free. I had a chocolate and nut topped cone with vanilla and pistachio biscuit gelato and milk chocolate gelato. Divine. You can find this one in the centre of Lisbon and remember to take all your gluten-eating pals as they will NEVER guess that it’s gluten free. Grom is just that good.

Salude Pastelaria

This fully gluten free bakery is also lactose free and refined sugar free. They’ve upgraded from a food market stall to a permanent cafe since I visited. Baked goods (sweet and savoury) and brunch options. Plus a pretty pink flower wall for those Insta shots ;).

The Food For Real

We had a lovely lunch at The Food For Real. It is a teeny cafe with some outdoor seating, located close to the LX Factory, and they can cater well for coeliacs. When I visited it wasn’t fully gluten free, HOWEVER the website now says they are!

When I went they have lots of gluten free options and took extra care to avoid cross contamination in the small kitchen. We had freshly baked double cheese pao de queijo gluten free bread, a caprese tapioca crepe (a great naturally gluten free option we spotted all over Lisbon as street food) and a tuna pasta salad. The owners are really nice too and extremely helpful with dietary requirements.

Batardas

A very short drive from Lisbon, this is anotherfully gluten free eatery to be discovered. I didn’t get a chance to visit but it appears to be a bit of a haven, without gluten free doughnuts, pastries and pizza up for grabs. Oh and pastel de nata too (note if you want a pastel in central Lisbon, scroll down to read all about Zarzuela).

APC Certified Places

The APC is the Portuguese Coeliac Society and they have certified a handful of restaurants in Lisbon as safe for coeliacs. I went to check them out.

Pastelaria Zarzuela

A must visit for any gluten free travellers to Lisbon as it is smack bang in the centre. The pastel de nata custard tarts at Zarzuela are absolutely amazing. Get there in the morning for a really lovely fresh one – mine really was one of the nicest gluten free sweet treats I have ever eaten (and I have tried a lot!).

Zarzuela have a huge range of gluten free baked goods, plus savoury items that you can take away or sit down and eat in their café. It’s not a fully gluten free bakery but they have processes to prevent cross contamination and the gluten free items are obviously all stored separately. They also had a full additional allergens chart on the wall – very useful if you have more than just a gluten intolerance to deal with.

La Trattoria

Another Italian restaurant that is able to cater for coeliacs and that has a dedicated gluten free menu. There are plenty of rave reviews about eating gluten free here, so it seems like a very good evening meal option.

Rice Me

The menu at this little cafe restaurant is largely gluten free menu and is certified by the APC. Note – I found some reviews before I visited saying that it was gluten free, but it seemed to have some gluten-containing items on the menu. Better to check when you visit rather than assume everything is safe. Open for lunch and dinner and you can get food to take away or dine in. By the Sao Sebastio Metro station.

Open Brasserie Mediterranica

In the Inspira hotel, this restaurant is fully accredited as able to cater for coeliac diners. They have strict processes in place to ensure their gluten free meals are safe. This restaurant can also cater for vegetarians, vegans and lactose intolerance.

Ginos

An Italian restaurant with a dedicated gluten free menu (plus a kids gluten free menu). There is a good selection to choose from including gluten free pizza, pasta and desserts.

Other Coeliac Friendly Spots

We had a good experience at the following places or spoke with staff who confirmed they could cater for coeliacs. Coeliac travellers, please always ask your own questions too when visiting just in case processes or menus have changed.

Bomjardin

This is the spot you need to visit for piri piri chicken and chips. Their chicken and chips are naturally gluten free, although when we first asked we were told they weren’t. We asked another waiter who spoke more English and he reassured it that they were definitely completely safe…a good example of how busy front of house staff can send us coeliacs into a worry spiral! We had ours to take away and enjoyed the feast in our Airbnb. A few coeliac friends of mine have eaten happily here too and recommend an al fresco dinner on the terrace.

Cucirico

A gluten free chicken and chips option I spotted in the LX Factory. Staff told me they can cater for coeliacs as much of their menu is naturally gluten free. The gluten options are marked on the menu.

H3

This chain of burger restaurants was recommended to me as coeliac friendly by various Portuguese followers of my Instagram account. You will find them serving burgers in in loads of shopping centres across Portugal, including Lisbon.

McDonalds

The great news is that Portugal McDonald’s offers gluten free burger buns that are fully coeliac safe. This includes Big Macs! Their fries are also coeliac safe, as are some other items – use one of the large screens in-store to order and you can add a filter to show you which products are gluten free. They have strict processes to avoid cross contamination.

Oh Linda

We passed this place while exploring the city and they have a brilliant gluten free menu. Oh Linda serves tapioca crepes, which are naturally gluten free and the gluten free filling options are marked on the menu.

Weeel

Perhaps not a permanent feature but we found this frozen yoghurt truck parked by Belem tower. All their froyo is gluten free and all comes in cups, so no need to worry about cross contamination from cones.

Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Baccalau

This was a random find but brilliant find when I was in Porto, however they also have a branch in Lisbon! They serve traditional pastel de bacalhau, a sort of cheese filled fishcake made with salt cod. It’s the only thing they make here so they are fully gluten free with a dedicated fryer. The guy at the till was very helpful and told me that to be extra careful they would make me one without the rice wafer on top (he said there was a risk of cross contam during the manufacturing elsewhere of the wafers.

Time out Market Gluten Free Options

I trekked around the market a bit as I couldn’t see any obvious gluten free options, despite seeing other good reviews in the past. I think the stalls here must change quite regularly. My visit was in 2019, so the below might not be very up to date, but do go and explore!

Oh and a side note for anyone with babies or young children: the Time Out Market has great nappy changing facilities and it’s right in the centre of town. Handy if you get caught out!

Confraria

I had sushi from Confraria. The menu is marked up to show gluten free choices and I explained to the staff that I was very very sensitive to gluten so they marked it as an allergy and took extra care to prep separately. Staff were extra careful preparing my food when I explained I was allergic to gluten (they didn’t understand coeliac and I didn’t have my coeliac travel card to hand so explaining it as an allergy was most effective). The guy discussed it with the chefs and they agreed they could make it on fresh boards etc. Really delicious and wonderfully fresh.

Other Gluten Free Friendly Lisbon Spots

The following places were recommended to me as able to cater for gluten free diners but I wasn’t able to check them out for myself.

Chutnify

Totale Pizzeria

Coeliac friendly, gluten free pizza. Be sure to let them know you are coeliac.

Therapist in LXFactory

I saw this place recommended as being coeliac friendly with lots of gluten free options on the menu. Healthy fare with vegetarian and vegan options. Could be a good lunch spot.

In Bocca Al Lupo

They potentially offer coeliac safe gluten free pizza but I was unable to verify this – worth asking if you are nearby.

L’Eclair

Normally a very gluteny eclair shop, but in the summer they offer some gluten free eclair options.

Palacio Chiado

A recommendation from a coeliac friend, who told me they have a dedicated gluten free kitchen space here and the food is very good. She ate here and had a good experience.

Cervejaria Ramiro

One to try for excellent seafood.

Gluten Free But NOT For Coeliacs

The following options looked so good but I quickly found disclaimers on their menus saying they were not suitable for coeliacs due to potential cross contamination. I am including them here in case you are following a gluten free diet for health rather than medical reasons.

Go Natural

A great city supermarket chain for picking up gluten free products. They also have a hot and takeaway food counter with loads of gluten free options. HOWEVER, coeliacs beware as every gluten free takeaway food item has a “not suitable for coeliacs” warning. I think they are simply being overly-cautious but I did not risk trying. A shame as the food looks good – hot lunchboxes with chicken and rice, chia pudding and rich chocolate mousse. Up to you to decide whether you want to try it or not.

Supermarkets

I found most supermarkets in Portugal sold gluten free products, certainly in the main towns we visited. Here are some we went to in Lisbon (we were self catering some meals).

Biomercado

Lots of gluten free choices here. It’s an organic supermarket and they have freshly baked gluten free cake on their hot food counter.

Celerio

A health food chain with lots of gluten free products found all over Portugal.

Continente

Lots and lots of gluten free choice here. I found gluten free croissant, little Schar sweet brioche buns and all the usual gluten free groceries you might need for a self catering holiday.

Go Natural

[see above]

Miosotis

An organic supermarket with lots of gluten free product choices.

Pingo Doce

This general supermarket offers a good variety of gluten free products, although mainly scattered around the store so it took me a while to find things. I think the large branches have a dedicated section.

If you are lucky enough to be on a multi-city holiday or are travelling round Europe, have a read of some of my other gluten free Europe city guides:

Happy travels! x

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