Antikuario Cafe — Restaurant in Lisbon

Meeting some friends for dinner in Lisboa while here on vacation meant finding a place with good local cuisine...but also room for a party of 7 and a menu flexible enough to suit some picky kids.

Antikuário Cafe was just such a place. Located on a quiet street in the city center, it's completely walkable from Avenida da Liberdade. The interior is warm and charming and the owners welcomed us promptly as we arrived.

The takeaway if you don't read everything here is that the entire experience exceeded our expectations - from the food to the wine to the service.

Priced modestly, this destination provides both a great experience on an absolute scale but also as a value. The wine list was limited - with just a few white, red, rose, and green options...but the local Green Wine we selected was absolutely delicious (so much so that we ordered a second bottle).

The shrimp appetizer was in a not-too-rich creamy sauce with pastry triangles you will appreciate as you soak up what remains of the sauce after devouring the shrimp. The kids enjoyed the bruschette and the steak in mushroom sauce (perfectly cooked, but note that it's a thin cut if you care about that kind of thing). The adults liked the appetizer ceviche of tuna but the entrée tuna was a standout - seared and just so fresh and good.

I feel like this could be a regular family destination if we were living in Lisboa, but there were plenty of couples as well - no other young kids when we were there. As for desserts, there were no traces left of the cheesecakes or chocolate tortes that the kids ordered. The adults skipped dessert in favor of going out for some fresh Pastéis da Nata....

A Hidden Gem with Exceptional Flavors – Antikuario Café

We had the pleasure of dining at Antikuario Café, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, every dish brought out the rich, authentic flavors of Portugal with a unique twist.

We started with the prawns, bruschetta and the mushroom appetizers, which were absolutely delicious. The prawns were perfectly cooked, fresh, and juicy, complemented by an amazing sauce that made every bite a delight. We had extra bread to finish it all that sauce. The mushrooms were earthy, tender, and bursting with flavor, and the stuffing well balanced. The bruschetta was eaten with gusto too —a fantastic way to start our meal.

For our main courses, we tried the pulpo (octopus) and bacalao (cod). The pulpo was expertly prepared—super tender, slightly smoky, and served with just the right amount of spices to enhance its natural flavors. Best we had ever. The bacalao was another standout, beautifully presented with a balance of savory and subtle flavors that perfectly highlighted the fresh fish.

The ambiance at Antikuario Café added to the experience, with its warm, inviting atmosphere that made us feel right at home, as our mom has similar antiques at home. The service was impeccable; Pedro was attentive and made wonderful recommendations, making our meal even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a restaurant with outstanding food, ambiance, and service, Antikuario Café is a must-visit. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared. Highly recommend!

Make sure to call ahead and reserve a table, as it was busy even on...

Having dinner at the Antikuario Café was one of the highlights of our trip. The owners and staff were all outstanding, as was the food. The Antikuario Café doesn’t need sidewalk hawkers soliciting your business; their superb food, fantastic service and truly friendly and welcoming atmosphere is all it needs. We were so happy we were able to get a reservation on the last night of our stay. The Antikuario Café is not that big; it can seat maybe 24 to 30 at a time, so if you want to be assured a table, a reservation is suggested. It is located on a small side street; R. São José 168. The easiest way to find it is to head north on the main boulevard; Av. Da Liberadae. Turn right at the Michael Kors store at Rua das Pretas Turn left on to R. São José. The Café will be on your right. It has an art deco menu on the wall. If you get to Stanislav Brunch, which is another very good place to eat, you have gone too far. I had the steak with mushrooms. The tender steak was buried under a mountain of gorgeous mushrooms. It was topped with a suburb sauce. My partner had the salmon. It too was generous in portions and was perfectly cooked. We want to thank the staff at The Antikuario Café for such a wonderful dining experience, you did Lisboa proud. When you are there, ask about the portrait hanging above the China cabinet at the front...