Café de São Bento — Restaurant in Lisbon

As you approach Café de São Bento, a charming restaurant nestled amidst taller buildings, you'll notice a distinctive green door. Before you can reach for the handle, a small sign politely requests you to ring the bell. This simple act sets the stage for a dining experience that is both nostalgic and unforgettable.

Upon the bell's gentle chime, the door is opened by a waiter who exudes an air of professionalism and old-world charm, a fitting introduction to the restaurant's refined ambiance. As he guides you to your table, you'll be captivated by the interior's symphony of warm wood tones, plush velvet seating, and soft lighting, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere.

Despite the restaurant's popularity, our waiter gracefully accommodates us without a reservation, a testament to their exceptional service. He effortlessly takes our coats and guides us to a cloakroom, a relic of a bygone era that adds to the restaurant's charm.

The menu, a concise and elegant affair, is a love letter to traditional Lisbonian cuisine. Each dish is carefully crafted using the freshest ingredients and time-honored techniques, promising an authentic taste of Portugal's culinary heritage.

For the main course, the Bife à Café, the restaurant's signature masterpiece, is an absolute must-try. This culinary gem features a perfectly grilled fillet mignon steak nestled in a rich and velvety sauce infused with the essence of Portuguese coffee. The steak, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, melts in your mouth, while the sauce adds a harmonious blend of flavors that dance on the palate.

To complement the Bife à Café, I indulged in the Steak Tartare, a culinary spectacle prepared tableside with an artful flourish by our attentive waiter. The tartare, a blend of finely chopped beef, egg yolk, and a medley of spices, was a revelation in its simplicity and exquisite flavors.

The Creamy Spinach, a seemingly unassuming side dish, proved to be a delightful accompaniment to the steak. The spinach, cooked to perfection, retained its vibrant color and freshness, while the creamy sauce added a touch of richness without overpowering the natural flavors.

With each bite, I was transported back to a time when dining was an art form, a leisurely affair savored with every sip and morsel. The impeccable service, the refined ambiance, and the symphony of flavors on my palate created an experience that transcended mere sustenance, becoming a journey through Lisbon's culinary history.

As I stepped out of Café de São Bento, the green door closing behind me, I felt a pang of nostalgia for the bygone era I had just experienced. But I also carried with me the lingering taste of exquisite cuisine, the memory of impeccable service, and the warmth of a place that embodied the true essence of Lisbon's culinary spirit.

Café de São Bento is more than just a restaurant; it's a portal to a time when dining was an experience to cherish, a celebration of flavors, and a testament to the enduring power of...

The food and the ambience is awesome. It’s has very small place and not so many tables, since we didn’t get this sense from the pics online we did not make a reservation and stopped by around 20.30 on a Monday night, and we had a casual dress. There are two experienced waitresses who had glasses, first when we rang the doorbell, one of them opened the door and told us that at earliest they can accept us in an hour, we said we will think about it and two minutes later when the rang the bell this time Lobo(the other experienced waitress with glasses, who is a little bit shorter in length) and we told him we can hang around for 1 hour and come back, Lobo said they have room and accept us. In those 2 minutes between our doorbell ringing there was nobody leaving the cafe, which was weird. When the guy who did not let in at the first place saw us, he had a very sullen face and disparaging look at us. When I was passing by told him that I guess we were lucky, he did not even talk to me and kept the sullen face. So I guess that guy checks your dress and look before he lets you in . Now let’s talk about the nice parts, Lobo and the young waitress whose name is Bruno, they are AWESOME. Perfect suggestions and explanations, sufficient command of English, and perfect service, and smile at their faces all the time. Ambience is perfect, the music is like they play gramophone records. The classic beef of Cafe de Sao Bento is wonderful with its special sauce. For the wine you can try 2019 Soalheiro Alvarinho, it’s the nicest white wine I had in Portugal so far, not so strong but nice aroma. It’s a must go place at Lisbon, if you don’t make reservation in prior, try to have Smart Casual dress code at least. Warm regards to Lobo...

10/10 must go!!

What can I say about this place?!

So it’s our final night in Lisbon having spent 12 days exploring Portugal we were already sad to be leaving.

We were recommended this place by our local guide and we both fancied a nice steak (having eaten so much fresh fish throughout the week!)

Firstly , we didn’t know how to get in but when we then realised we stepped into a decadent area. Beautifully furnished restaurant we were sat upstairs.

Now onto the food. For starters we ordered the duck foi gras & tiger prawns. Both incredible. Tiger prawns was the winner for me as the sauce it came in was tangy/ spicy and so flavoursome!

Now usually when we dine out we like to share but we both went for the traditional Cafe Sao Bento Steak - filet mignon medium rare. It was genuinely the best steak I’ve ever had. The meat was buttery and tender and just so easy to eat and the cream sauce was unbelievable. So much so I’m not sure how to describe it other than to say - order it!

Would’ve been nice to be able to swap salad instead of the fries but I’m kind of full rubbish because the way the fries perfectly soaked up that sauce - chefs kiss!

Now also, the creamed spinach. I can’t say anything other than I’m so annoyed I’ll have to fly all the way to Lisbon just to have it again. It was the best thing ever. Reminded me of an Indian saag without the spice and lots more creamier. 10/10

We then ordered cheesecake and the tarte tatin which was lovely.

Absolutely must visit if in Lisbon! (Ps I realised now how blurry the pictures are… more reason for you to go and experience...