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On the Menu…Mini Bar Restaurant, Lisbon (Portugal)

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The food scene in Lisbon has seen a resurgence in the past few years, and the chef that has been credited with sparking the revolution in contemporary Portuguese cuisine is José Avillez. His restaurant Belcanto was the first in Lisbon to earn two Michelin stars. He has added a number of new restaurants to his empire since opening Belcanto, and they include everything from pizza, to cafes, to a gourmet bar, to fine dining at its best.

Mini Bar was José Avillez’s third restaurant to be opened in the vibrant Chiado neighborhood. Originally located in the São Luiz Theater, Minibar has moved into Chef Avillez’s multi-venue Bairro do Avillez, in a space that celebrates the glitz and glamour of an earlier era and was formerly a cabaret. Unlike other bars, Mini Bar elevates everything it serves, from its specialty cocktails, craft beers and wines, to its amazing food offerings that are unlike any other food you have eaten in a bar before.  It may be a bar with a relaxed atmosphere, but it’s still a José Avillez restaurant, which means that the food always takes center stage.

Keeping with the theatrical theme of the venue, the food is categorized into “acts” in a play with a variety of small plates offered in each act. The prices per plate range from €5 – €15 per item, with dishes such as Tuna Tartar Temaki Cone, Beef Croquettes, and Wild Mushroom Rice. The beauty of the small plates is that you can either create your own story line and select items from the menu a la carte, or go with the “Debut Menu” or “Now On Menu” of 10 courses designed by the chef.

Chef Avillez trained under Ferran Adrià at the highly acclaimed restaurant El Bulli in Spain, and you can see the influence this training had on him in the dishes he serves at Mini Bar. As it says on the playful menu “…where nothing is what it seems!” The 1st Act on the menu features two “mini cocktails to bite”, such as a Green Apple Margarita that you chew and the whimsical Caipirinha Belcanto delivered in a sphere. They are literally bite sized and a great way to start the gourmet show at Mini Bar, so rather than choose between them, just order both and enjoy. One item listed under the 2nd Act is a signature dish that pays homage to his Spanish mentor, the “El Bulli Olives Xl-LX”. It is a dish that is inventive, indulgent and delicious, and not to be missed.

Mini Bar serves dinner and drinks starting at 7:00pm from Monday to Sunday. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

  • Rua Nova da Trindade, 18
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Phone: +351 211 305 393
  • Website: Mini Bar

Photo credit: Mini Bar

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On the Menu…Restaurant Seen Lisboa, Lisbon (Portugal)

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Seen Restaurant & Bar, located on the top floor of the 5-star Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel, is not your run of the mill hotel restaurant. The very aptly named restaurant is both the place to be “seen” in Lisbon, as well as one of the hottest “scenes” in this buzzing cosmopolitan city. The Lisbon restaurant is actually a twin of the Seen restaurant located at the top of the Tivoli Mofarrej in São Paulo, Brazil.

From the moment you step off the elevator you will feel the vibe of Seen, starting with the sleek Art Deco design of the 360° bar and the panoramic views of the city that can be seen from the bar and the main dining room. Brazilian bartender Lucas Jaques has revitalized classic cocktails on the bar menu he designed. Guests can enjoy their cocktails while listening to the chill music that is curated by the resident DJ.

There is more to Seen than just a cool vibe, a hip crowd and great drinks. Seen is all about the food, and it is the latest addition to the highly acclaimed and expanding restaurant empire of chef Olivier da Costa. Seen’s menu is inspired by local ingredients and authentic Portuguese and Brazilian gastronomy, and you will find Waygu-style beef, fish and seafood from the Portuguese coast, and typically Brazilian ingredients. For those who love traditional Japanese food there is also a Sushi Bar that offers a contemporary twist on Japanese cuisine, along with a wide range of sakes to pair with your meal. Chef Olivier brought in Thalles Boniatti dos Santos, a Brazilian chef with traditional Japanese training, to create the sushi menu at Seen.

  • Hotel Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade
    Avenida da Liberdade, 185, 9th floor
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Phone: 210 965 775
  • Website: Seen Lisboa

Photo credit: Restaurant Seen Lisboa

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On the Menu…Restaurante A Gina, Lisbon (Portugal)

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Restaurante A Gina is a true hidden gem in Lisbon, both literally and figuratively. It is located in an area just off the Avenida Liberdade behind the Hotel Lisboa Plaza that is filled with vacant theaters. In the early 1900s the area, known as Parque Meyer, was booming and filled with theatergoers, intellectuals, and the political elite of the city.

While most of the theaters are now vacant, the one place that remains open and continues to attract a crowd is Restaurante A Gina. This unassuming restaurant draws locals and visitors with its authentic Portuguese home cooking in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. From the moment you sit down, you will feel like you are having dinner at Gina’s house. The restaurant is very much a family affair, with Gina in the kitchen, her son waiting tables, and her granddaughter helping inside.

A Gina is a favorite among locals who come to enjoy the traditional grilled meats and fish dishes, including baked cod. You will likely be surrounded by local families who come to enjoy the types of dishes that remind them of the meals their parents and grandparents used to make at home. The portions are quite generous, and the service is friendly and attentive.

  • Avenida da Liberdade | Parque Mayer
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Phone: +351 (21) 342 0296
  • Facebook Page: Restaurante A Gina

Photo credit: © Christopher Pappas · All rights reserved.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.