Lonely Planet: 2009 should go down in Lisbon history as the "Year of the Chef"

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 00:00

According to travel information company Lonely Planet, 2009 should go down in Lisbon history as the “Year of the Chef.”  They write: “every star chef in the city opened a new restaurant this year, and one of them, José Avillez, earned a Michelin star for the legendary Tavares Restaurant. Among the most promising new openings are Henrique Sa Pessoa’s Alma (February 2009), Ljubomir Stanisic’s 100 Maneiras , and Vitor Sobral’s Tasca da Esquina (June 2009), and since this week you can add Luís Baena’s Manifesto (December 2009).

It’s located in the Santos neighborhood which since being designated Lisbon’s Design District four years ago has attracted a large number of stylish new shops and restaurants. His new gourmet restaurant will accommodate around 50 people and will offer a different menu for lunch and dinner. It will be cheaper at lunchtime, but remain reasonably-priced for dinner. It will present an open kitchen and a glassed wall to the street offering views of the exterior, the garden-park of Largo de Santos.”

There is also the new “Largo” located in Chiado in an old cloister by the opera house. The décor is the creation of Miguel Câncio Martins, mostly known for Paris’ famous Buddha Bar, while the menu is the work of Miguel Castro e Silva, one of Portugal’s most acclaimed chefs that opened recently the De Castro Restaurant (September 2009) at 180 B Avenida Elias Garcia also in Lisbon. Not to be missed are also Aqui Ha Peixe (August 2009) from Chef Miguel Reino, the chick new eatery Feitoria at the Altis Belém Hotel & Spa from Chef José Cordeiro, Suite (February 2009) by the acclaimed chef Fausto Airoldi in the former “Pragma” space at the Casino de Lisboa and Torricado (February 2009) by Portuguese creative Chef Luis Suspiro.