Amélia Lisboa — Restaurant in Lisbon

I visited Amélia Lisboa on a quiet Tuesday evening after a day of wandering through Alfama. The moment I stepped inside, the soft glow of overhead lights and minimalist décor struck me—it felt both contemporary and warmly Portuguese. I came alone, grabbed a seat at the bar, and ordered a glass of white wine along with the daily small dishes.

First up was a seafood tapa—a tender prawn perched on creamy polenta—and I immediately noticed the freshness. Each bite felt thoughtfully balanced: clean seafood flavors, a hint of citrus, nothing overpowering. Next came a seasonal vegetable plate with heirloom tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil that tasted like sunshine. Nothing screamed “wow,” but everything was gently satisfying.

A few nights later, I returned with a friend who adores wine pairings. We let the sommelier guide us and were treated to a bold Alentejo red alongside a plate of grilled fish and roasted baby potatoes. The fish was a touch over-salted, but the earthy wine and tender potatoes rescued the dish, rounding out the meal nicely.

Service at Amélia is understated but attentive—the kind that anticipates your needs quietly and never interrupts your evening. The only catch? Prices skew slightly higher than I’d expected for what you get. You’re paying for ambiance and a polished experience—three dishes and two glasses of wine can easily tip over €60 each.

If you're after a calm, intimate evening with careful food choices and good wine, Amélia Lisboa is a lovely choice. Just don’t come expecting bold flavors or budget-friendly pricing—it’s more about the mood and...

I heard the wait here is usually long, but I was super lucky which helped towards these 5 stars. I was immediately offered a table outside and when I told them I thought there would be a wait and I was still waiting for my friend they told me there was no trouble in seating me already. While I waited they not only checked up on me, they also came back when a table inside vacated to see if I wanted to take it before they sat someone else there (in the meantime a line had formed). Incredibly thoughtful! (It was winter after all, we did stay outside because the heaters were more than enough) We got the brunch menu, which comes with an orange juice, a coffee, yogurt with granola and fruit and a toast with either avocado or scrambled eggs and pancake (you choose the topping). This was so much food - definitely not cheap on the quantities. They bring them in stages - not sure if purposely or by virtue of kitchen logistics. Because the simplest is often the best, the yogurt was actually my favourite (it could also be explained by the fact that it was the first thing I ate and I was hungry). Lastly they didn't rush us out in any way, which is refreshing specially for a place as crowded as this. Would definitely come back and would recommend - you probably want to go at the 9-10am mark to skip...

Firstly let me say, I write quite a few reviews and they are rarely negative. There are plenty of reviews here about the food at Amelia's, it looks pretty and tastes fine, perfect for your Instagram. Our experience however was not good. It started badly left waiting at the door for over 5 mins with some other customers; ignored by members of staff whizzing past, not even a "good morning", "thanks for waiting" or "we'll be right with you" (and the hand sanitizer dispenser was empty) When finally we were led in to a half full dining room (it was a week day morning) we were again left waiting for ten minutes before anyone came to speak with us or take our order. There were 7 wait staff and 19 guest tables...so it's a long time to be left unattended, but staff pretended we were not there. Another 15 minutes passed before our drinks arrived, mine a simple black coffee! The food came right afterwards...and the final nail in the coffin - the food was cold. This is not a cultural thing or a Lisbon thing. This is just extremely poor service. Do not go here. After we left, we immediately walked past three other cuter, smaller cafés, with a similar offering. It made the diners regret...