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Where can I eat gluten free in Lisbon?
Short answer: Start with the establishments certified by the Associação Portuguesa de Celíacos (APC). They include Rice Me, La Trattoria, Café do Rio, Bali do Cais, the hotel restaurant Open Brasserie Mediterrânica, and Grom gelato. Elsewhere in the city, naturally gluten-free dishes like grilled fish and rice are easy to find, but cross-contamination is the risk.
The details
The APC publishes a certified list on its own site. The version we found is a PDF dated November 2024, so treat it as a starting point. Confirm that a place is still open before you cross town. Here is what that list shows for Lisbon:
- Rice Me (restaurant): Rua Carlos Testa 18, near Saldanha (checked Oct 12, 2026). Its sister bakery-café, Rice Me Deli, is listed at Av. António Augusto Aguiar 124 (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- La Trattoria (Italian): Rua da Artilharia 1, 79 (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Café do Rio (burgers): Rua da Alfândega 114, near Praça do Comércio. This is the easiest certified lunch if you're sightseeing in the Baixa and riverfront area (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Bali do Cais (restaurant and bakery): R. Bernardino Costa 21, in the Cais do Sodré area (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Open Brasserie Mediterrânica: the restaurant at the Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel, Rua de Santa Marta 48 (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Gelato: Grom has a Chiado shop at Rua Garret 42 and another at Docas de Santo Amaro. Gelateria Scoop is at Largo da Princesa 26A (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Other certified spots: the APC's "where to eat" page also lists Totale Parque das Nações, a pizzeria (checked Oct 12, 2026).
For groceries, the APC lists many Celeiro health-food stores around Lisbon as certified points of sale for gluten-free products (checked Oct 12, 2026).
Hours and days closed aren't on the APC list. Check each venue's own page or call before you go.
Tips
- Use certified places for your most important meals if you have celiac disease, and use the rest of the city for lower-risk meals.
- Know the classic traps. A regular pastel de nata uses puff pastry, so it isn't gluten free. Fried food, soups thickened with flour, and marinades are also common hidden sources.
- Lean on naturally gluten-free dishes such as grilled fish or meat with rice or potatoes, then ask about sauces and shared fryers.
- Say it plainly in Portuguese: "Sou celíaco/a, não posso comer glúten" ("I'm celiac, I can't eat gluten"). Then ask whether the kitchen can avoid cross-contamination.
- Check the APC list before you go. Small places open and close, and the APC's own list is the one to trust over older blog posts.
FAQ
Is Lisbon good for celiac travelers?
Yes, with some planning. Certified restaurants, bakeries and gelato shops exist, and the APC lists them publicly. Outside those, many traditional dishes are naturally gluten free, but kitchens may not be set up to avoid cross-contamination, so ask carefully.
Can I find gluten-free pastel de nata in Lisbon?
Some certified bakeries make a gluten-free version, and Rice Me Deli is one place to ask, since the APC lists it as a certified bakery-café (checked Oct 12, 2026). Standard pastéis de nata from ordinary bakeries aren't gluten free, so don't assume.
Where is the official list of certified places?
The APC publishes it on its website. Look at its "Onde Comer" page and its certified-establishments pages for Lisbon (checked Oct 12, 2026). The PDF we checked was dated November 2024, so confirm each venue is open.
Are all "gluten free" menus safe for celiacs?
Not necessarily. "Gluten free" on a menu can mean a dish without gluten ingredients, not a kitchen that prevents cross-contamination. APC certification is a stronger signal. If a place isn't certified, tell staff you're celiac and ask how they prepare the dish.
Is there an easy certified lunch near the main sights?
Café do Rio on Rua da Alfândega is the certified restaurant closest to the Baixa riverfront and Praça do Comércio (checked Oct 12, 2026). Check its current hours first.
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See every question about Lisbon → /answers/lisbon/
Last verified: 2026-10-12. Certified venues and their addresses are the most likely to change; check the APC's list at https://www.celiacos.org.pt/onde-comer/ before you go.
Good to know before you go
. Confirm hours, fees, schedules and road or trail status on the official page before you book or go.
Sources
- https://www.celiacos.org.pt/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Estabelecimentos-Certificados-APC_novembro_2024.pdf
- https://www.celiacos.org.pt/onde-comer/
- https://www.celiacos.org.pt/pontos-de-venda-lisboa/
- https://www.celiacos.org.pt/pontos-de-venda-e-estabelecimentos-certificados-apc-biotrab-lisboa/