Football: The Restaurants of Cristiano Ronaldo and Company

James Rodríguez shone at FC Porto, where he helped win three championships and a Europa League, and he liked the region so much that he decided to open this restaurant on the Leça da Palmeira waterfront. Given the area in which it is located, fish and seafood are naturally highlighted, but grilled meat is also in high demand, with Costeletão à James being the star of the menu. There are shirts from the Colombian playmaker, boots and there are also references to the "white and blue" club.

It is a kind of “sanctuary” for sportinguistas (fans of the Sporting Clube de Portugal) and this is very noticeable at the entrance, with so many elements alluding to the "green and white" emblem. The walls are also full of football jerseys, mostly from Sporting, but not only. However, this restaurant of traditional Portuguese cuisine is sought after by fans of all clubs, precisely for the quality of the food and the family atmosphere. One of the attractions is its biscuit cake covered with chocolate mousse.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a winner by nature and likes to be successful wherever he invests, which is why the restaurant he opened in the centre of Lisbon does not claim to be just another one. It is inserted in the Pestana CR7 Hotel and, as expected, “breathes” football with allusive decoration, in addition to having a giant screen and premium table football. The food favours genuinely Portuguese flavours, but with a different presentation. Take the opportunity to take an interactive photo with the ace.

An admirer of Italian food, Adrien Silva bet on this project located in the Parque das Nações area, in Lisbon. Pastas or pizzas are the speciality of this space that bears the stamp "Ospitalità Italiana - Italian Restaurants around the World" and which is usually frequented by several footballers. The atmosphere is relaxed and there is no shortage of shirts from many stars, with a natural emphasis on those of the former Sporting captain and player of the Portuguese National Team.

Have you ever imagined having lunch or dinner inside a football stadium? This is what happens to those who visit this restaurant, opened in 2019 at Estádio da Luz, where SL Benfica plays. The man behind this project is Chef Chakall, an Argentinian who has lived in Portugal for many years and is a well-known fan of the Lisbon team. The menu makes a fun connection with football, using terms like warm-up, kick off or extra time, and combines flavours from Portugal, Argentina and Italy, where pizzas are highlighted.

There are iconic fans: where their club plays they usually follow. This is what happens with António Ramos or "Barbas", a historical supporter of SLB and the owner of this restaurant, who updated the name of the establishment with the addition of "Catedral", a term used by many Benfica supporters when referring to Estádio da Luz. Open since 1981, it is known by its fish and seafood dishes, as well as by the decoration alluding to the owner's passion for the team. Its location, right on the beach in Costa da Caparica, is another strong point.

Roasted piglet in a wood oven is the speciality of this restaurant in Negrais, which is part of the municipality of Sintra. The space belongs to Marco Caneira, a former Portuguese international who was in two World Cups and played for Sporting and Benfica. Other dishes include piglet gizzard and liver rice and a dessert called “bacorinho”, served in a suggestive way. In the same location is the renowned O Caneira, also famous for the piglet, which belongs to a cousin of the father of the ex-footballer.

Marek Cech was born in Slovakia, was a three-time champion for FC Porto, fell in love with Portugal and, after playing in other countries, decided to accept the challenge of a friend and venture into the world of catering with this space located in Mindelo, close to Vila do Conde. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food is traditional Portuguese, like cod, steak or rojões (fried pork bits) and, hopefully, you can even find the old player, who also represented Boavista and his country in a World Championship.

Do you like the idea of dining or snacking in an environment similar to a stadium? This restaurant-bar in Gaia is the right place, with its 16 TVs and even a spot for boxing. The space opened in 2020 and one of the three partners is André Simões, a midfielder who played for the youth team of FC Porto and who emigrated to Greece in 2015, where he was crowned champion by AEK in Athens three seasons later. Steak tartare or Australian angus steak are some of the most popular dishes.

A large panoramic room that offers a magnificent view over the Cávado River is just one of the pearls of this Barcelos restaurant. The quality of the food is another of the attractions of this project, in which one of the partners is Carlitos, former player for Benfica, Sporting de Braga and Gil Vicente, among other clubs. The menu is very diverse and includes suggestive dishes such as rooster on bread or rice with cockles. It is usual to see public figures among the customers.