Tantura in Lisbon: photos, reviews

About

Tantura in Lisbon is a vibrant and casual spot perfect for any dining occasion, offering a fusion of Israeli and Mediterranean flavors. With its cozy atmosphere and fashionably casual vibe, it's ideal for a family dinner, catching up with friends, or even enjoying a meal solo. The menu boasts delicious options like falafel and hummus, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian dishes to choose from. Whether you're in the mood for a leisurely brunch or a lively dinner, Tantura has you covered with small plates and a diverse salad bar. Enjoy a drink from their impressive selection of cocktails, beers, and wines, or simply savor a cup of coffee. With a Google rating of 4.5, this moderately priced venue is popular among tourists and locals alike, offering a buffet with free Wi-Fi and quick service. From dine-in to delivery, they provide a variety of service options, including reservations and a drive-thru. Plus, they're welcoming to all, including the LGBTQ community, making it a great spot for everyone to enjoy.

Price

$$$$ 15 - 30 EUR

Meals

Branch, Dinner

Cuisines

Israeli, Mediterranean

Services

Delivery, Takeaway, Drive-thru, Reservations available, Dine-in, Reservations required, Reservations recommended

Dietary options

Vegan options, Vegetarian options

Offering

Serving alcohol, Serving desserts, Small plates, Late-night food, Salad bar, Serving cocktails, Serving beer, Serving wine, Serving coffee

How to get here?

The nearest public transport options for your convenience.

Pç. Luis Camões (B. Alto)

Tram stop 163 m walk

Calhariz (Bica)

Tram stop 116 m walk

Sta. Catarina

Tram stop 169 m walk

Baixa-Chiado

Subway station 289 m walk

4.5

based on 2,009 reviews

Google

4.5/5 1,659 reviews

Facebook

4.6/5 350 reviews

ענבל אביב-טל

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

מקום מקסים מקסים . אוכל טעים ומקורי באווירה קלחיסבון. השירות היה מושלם . מומלץ מאוד.

Anat Ran

Food: 5
Atmosphere: 5

One of the best in Lisbon! Coctails and food are so good. Will be back 🙏

Akram El-Fahkri

Service: 2
Atmosphere: 1

Yes, I largely agree with the other reviewers regarding the quality of the food. However, I must express my deep discomfort with this restaurant’s name: Tantura. I wonder how many customers are aware of the historical significance of the town it’s named after. Tantura is not just a coastal village; it is widely recognised—particularly in Israeli historical scholarship—as the site of a massacre during the 1948 Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic). The village witnessed the mass killing and expulsion of its Palestinian residents, an event that has been extensively documented, including through firsthand testimonies in the documentary Tantura. These accounts, many of which come from the Israeli soldiers themselves, are harrowing and undeniable. To name a restaurant after such a place—while serving food that is part of the very culture that was uprooted—without any acknowledgment of that context, feels deeply unsettling. It evokes the sense of erasure, where the cultural symbols of a people are preserved for consumption, while their history is ignored or rewritten. This is not intended as a smear against the food or service, but as a sincere reflection on the atmosphere I felt. There’s a dissonance in enjoying the cuisine of a people whose suffering remains unacknowledged—whose legacy, in this case, is buried (literally and figuratively) beneath modern conveniences like parking lots. One question continues to linger: Why do restaurants like this, especially outside of Israel, often label their food as “Levantine,” “Mediterranean,” or “Middle Eastern” rather than explicitly “Israeli”? It may be because doing so would require grappling with the realities of cultural appropriation and displacement—the erasure of the Palestinian. I expect this review may provoke disagreement or attempts to have it removed. But I invite a more important question in return: Have I said anything that contradicts the scholarship of respected Israeli historians like Ilan Pappé or Avi Shlaim? The answer is a most definitive no.