Alfama Cellar
Authentic Portuguese Cuisine
Alfama Cellar Restaurant: Classic Cuisine with Contemporary Flair
Nestled in the winding cobbled streets of Alfama in Lisbon, this quaint restaurant serves a selection of traditional Portuguese dishes and local fine wines.
Having grown up in Switzerland with his Portuguese mother, owner Yann moved back to Lisbon in 2017 and opened Alfama Cellar. A passion for local produce and flavours is combined with a modern twist on traditional dishes to create unique culinary delights. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and dotted with candles, creating a cosy feel and casual relaxed ambiance. It is the perfect place to share an afternoon or evening with your partner, family or friends.
Alfama Cellar serves only new wines from small Portuguese vineyards, which you won’t find in the shops or any other restaurants nearby. In fact, the wine list is continuously changing to introduce new wines as they become available. Small maps of Portugal are positioned beside every table, so the waiters can show you the origin of your chosen wine.
The waiters have endless knowledge about the food, able to explain how each dish is prepared and with which ingredients. They are noticeably passionate about what they do, making for a lovely and memorable experience. Having asked for recommendations, we tried the Beetroot Gaspacho and Fish Soup to start. Despite Gaspacho not being my typical choice from a menu, the waiter’s enthusiastic description made it hard to ignore (it has olive oil ice-cream in it!) And all I can say is – wow! I’ve never tasted anything like it, nor would I expect to ever again.
After hearing about each of the main dishes created at Alfama Cellar, we decided to try the Fish and Prawn Cataplana, and the Roasted Codfish with Spinach. Both meals were unbelievably delicious! The fish was so tasty, and the prawns just melt in your mouth. The fresh pomegranate and fresh herbs were a lovely addition, bringing a lovely lightness to the dish. The portions are very generous so needless to say, we didn’t have room for dessert.
Not only are the food and wine delicious at Alfama Cellar, but the service makes it more than just a meal out. One of the features that makes this restaurant so special is the small number of tables inside, so we recommend booking a table to make sure you’re not disappointed. We’ve already recommended Alfama Cellar to friends, and it definitely won’t be the last time we visit either.
If you’re in Lisbon, make sure you don’t miss this hidden gem.
