BAHR & Terrace — Restaurant in Lisbon

I came across this restaurant in the Michelin guide and decided to go for dinner today. The restaurant is located in the Bairo Alto hotel and has a spectacular view from the terrace overlooking the river. The service is quick and the server was mindful of my dietary requirements however not without noticeable glitches - As soon as I was seated the server asked if I would like to read something to which I opted for the NY times. The server brought an old newspaper and not the one from today. When I inquired he acknowledged that it is from before which I find strange because why would someone want to read an old newspaper. Then he went around looking for today’s paper and returned saying that some guest had taken it. At this point I thought he would ask if I would want to read something else but he instead proceeded to share the food menu with me. For some bizarre reason there was no plate on my table. I was eating from the serving dishes and I had to ask for a plate close to the end of my meal. I ordered the peri peri chicken snack which was hugely disappointing considering we are in Lisbon, Portugal where you would expect peri peri chicken to be top notch. The tuna ceviche was beautifully served and the flavours were good but nothing spectacular. The highlight of the meal was the combination of sweet potato and orange puree which is unique and full of flavours. The couvert bread was also flavourful and good quality. The server asked a couple of times during the meal how the food was to which my response wasn’t enthusiastically positive. You would expect them to enquire then if there is something they could do better but nothing was asked and they moved on. This just seemed like an administrative task for them. When the bill came, I paid in cash and when picking up the cash the server asked me if I would like the change. Another strange question that you would not expect in a restaurant like this. All in all the experience was decent but nothing you would expect from a restaurant that gets mentioned in the Michelin Guide. I have lived in 6 countries and have had the privilege of trying some of the finest restaurants in the world and that is why I find it strange that this place lacks the attention to detail that such an institution should have. I seriously doubt if I would go back but it would be nice to hear from the GM of this restaurant (you can contact me on my cell phone number which is the same number through which I called to make a reservation ). Meanwhile I will also be sharing my experience with the Michelin team. Overall I would...

My husband and I have dined at fine dining restaurants all over the world, including many with Michelin stars, so we arrived at BAHR with a sense of curiosity and high expectations. To be fair, our judgment may be slightly influenced by the fact that we had dined at EPUR the night before, which offered an exceptional Michelin-starred experience well worth its price. Unfortunately, BAHR fell well short by comparison.

BAHR is located in a hotel and certainly benefits from a beautiful view, but the audacity to charge prices on par with Michelin-rated restaurants without holding such a rating was frustrating (note it is only mentioned in the Michelin Guide which is different). . We booked a table weeks in advance, specifically requesting outdoor patio seating, yet were told on arrival this could not be accommodated.

The service was, frankly, one of the most disappointing aspects. It took nearly 25 minutes from sitting down to even receive a drink, as we were first only given a cocktail menu and had to specifically request the wine list. Dinner menus came even later. While we appreciate leisurely dining, this was excessive. Our server seemed far more attentive to other tables, and we repeatedly had to request basics such as sparkling water refills or another round of drinks. There was little warmth or engagement. When we were ready for the check, she avoided eye contact, forcing us to flag down the sommelier to request it. Even then, it took another ten minutes to receive the bill and process payment.

As for the food, there were some highlights. The grilled squid was a standout. It was beautifully prepared with excellent flavor. The couvert of bread, seaweed crackers, and artisan butter was also delightful. The suckling pig was flavorful as well, though the portion size was on the small side. The tuna with shiso was our least favorite dish; the overpowering flavors completely masked the taste of the fish.

On the drinks side, the wines were delicious but undeniably overpriced. My mezcal cocktail, intended as a twist on a Mezcalrita, was overwhelmed by jalapeño dust on the rim. While I love spice, the balance was off—similar cocktails I’ve had in Mexico City have been far more harmonious.

Overall, BAHR offers a nice view and some creative dishes, but the service missteps, inconsistency in food execution, and inflated pricing make it impossible for me to recommend—especially when Lisbon has so many exceptional dining options...

I am very sorry to say that I had a different experience than most that review here. My husband and I went for our anniversary, which was not recognized by anyone aside from the hostess. Not completely necessary but when you spend just under 300€ somewhere I’d be nice to get some extra effort. Sadly we were rushed through our meal and were completely finished our 3 apps, 2 entrees, dessert and coffee in 1.5 hours, much different than most of my other European experiences. We ended up rushing through our bottle just to free up the table. The pre-dinner cocktail I had was incredible! I forget the name but it was the cider and sake drink and my husband had a wonderful martini. The wine with dinner was fine, but was not what we asked for. We wanted to try the white wine that came from a terracotta cask but we were presented with a red to taste which is not our preference. We quickly made a random pick because when we asked for advice we were told “wine tastes different to each pallet” and they couldn’t advise. That’s true to an extend but we were asking for anything out of the ordinary. I looked up the wine we ordered and it is 18 a bottle from a shop and we were charged 75, which I believe to be an egregious mark up. The view and exposure into the kitchen is wonderful. They are a well oiled machine and operate as incredible professionals. Also the esthetic is beautiful and chic. The crab app is great, bread and butter were standard, the tiger shrimp was good with the green curry and tiny salad both bright and fresh. Both the pork and aged beef were underwhelming and had no char or texture to either protein, my steak was very rare when I requested medium. The chocolate soy dessert was very creative and fun.

If you’ve made it to the end here my overall point is - I am not sure if Bahr recently developed into what seems like a money grab, tourist trap but the icing on the cake was the assumed 8% tip that your server asks you to accept or decline while they’re holding the card reader waiting for you to tap your card. We usually tip, and prefer it, but once it’s added to a check without our prompting is when things really start...