Cura — Restaurant in Lisbon

Will you get a Michelin level experience? Yes. However, Cura is missing what makes a Michelin level experience truly special: soul and generosity of spirit.

I can compare my experience here to two other Michelin rated restaurants in Portugal: Alma (2 stars) and In Diferente (bib gourmand). Cura was my least favorite.

The cuisine was certainly creative and what you would expect from this type of experience. The service was cordial and the servers were well trained.

We were able to sit at a table right in front of the open view kitchen. It was neat to see the chefs preparing the dishes. Of course, this comes at the expense of intimacy and privacy with servers constantly bustling in front of you. Beware of this as you consider a booking and especially where to sit.

A few things left me leaving the restaurant with mixed feelings:

As others mentioned, Cura's wine pours are more like thimblefuls than glasses. They simply weren't generous. I felt that value for the 110 Euro wine pairing menu wasn't there and the wines paired just okay with the dishes. In fact, presumably the "star of the show," a heavier red wine paired with the main courses, retails for 10 Euro. At this price point Cura ought to be highlighting some more exclusive wines. The wine pairing menu included 6 wines and there were no special pours of any surprise wines outside of what was expected. I wish the staff would have learned a bit from my commentary on the wines and adjusted accordingly, or at least offered to let me try something else. This would have helped to make me feel truly welcome and hosted.

Consistent with my wine experience, Cura seemed to struggle to operate outside of its prescriptive menu and regimen. In lieu of the 6 wine pairing menu, my wife asked for a custom drinks menu that combined 3 wines and 3 non-alcoholic drinks. (They also have a 6 non-alcoholic beverage pairing menu.) Staff did not seem to immediately reflex on this being possible, though they eventually accommodated. I also asked to substitute some seafood dishes with vegetarian dishes on my tasting menu. (The vegetarian dishes are already part of the vegetarian tasting menu, so I was not asking for entirely new dishes.) This seemed to create some challenges for them rather than something that they would expect to be able to handle with some ease and adjustment.

Despite having called the day earlier asking for these menu substitutions and receiving assurance that this would be okay, one of the restaurant managers seemed somewhat annoyed by my requests day of.

You are only provided exactly what you order and see on the menu. There is no surprise amuse bouche, chef's greetings, or other unexpected dishes. This again led me to feel that Cura was not very generous and it made the experience much less fun than other Michelin experiences I've had. There was no surprise or delight to the upside. Along with the wine situation, the general feeling was one of restraint.

Other than the above, the staff were truly professional. I only wish the staff were a bit more personable and fun to interact with. The formality was a bit much for me. Even in 2 star Michelin restaurants, staff have been more open to breaking the barriers of formalism, joking around, and engaging in conversation. There were also a couple details that the staff missed (not a big deal, but in this world details matter): 1) our server was going to write the brand of steak knives on a card for us, and forgot, and 2) the hostess needed to be reminded that my wife left her jacket with her.

I did not feel great about some of the pricing decisions, probably exacerbated by the lack of generosity. I had a mostly vegetarian tasting menu devoid of more expensive items like caviar and fresh fish, yet I was charged the full cost of the seafood tasting menu. (40 Euro more.) My wife was charged for a 110 Euro wine pairing menu, even though half of her beverages were non-alcoholic. I was charged 8 Euro for each 0,75L bottle of Pedras sparkling water, which seemed to...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cura, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Lisbon, and I must say, it was nothing short of a remarkable culinary journey. Having experienced eight Michelin-starred restaurants, I can confidently place Cura in my top three (with no specific order), with their dessert standing out as probably the best I have ever had.

The tasting menu was masterfully curated, with each course thoughtfully paired with non-alcoholic beverages, reflecting their innovative approach to soft pairings. We do not drink alcohol, and this particular offering elevated the experience beyond my expectations. Each drink harmonized beautifully with the dishes, making it an unforgettable feature of the evening. The dessert, in particular, was a revelation, a symphony of flavors that left a lasting impression — one that will be difficult to surpass.

While the cuisine was undoubtedly flawless, the service, though highly polished, left a little room for refinement. The staff, while attentive and courteous, could benefit from a even more meticulous approach to detail, given this is a Michelin star restaurant. For instance, at one point, a server inadvertently touched the part of the spoon meant for consumption, a small oversight that can easily be addressed with additional training. This minor flaw, however, does not overshadow the professionalism and warmth with which they handled the overall dining experience. I’d rate the service 4.5/5, with the potential to reach perfection with just a few minor adjustments.

The ambiance was serene and sophisticated, a blend of simplicity and elegance. However, I felt that the décor, while very tasteful, could be elevated with a more distinctive touch to reflect the restaurant’s Michelin status and the boldness of its cuisine. A slight enhancement in the aesthetic detail could complement the exceptional food and service, creating an atmosphere that is just as memorable as the flavors on the plate. (4/5)

Overall, Cura delivers an extraordinary dining experience, and I would highly recommend it to any discerning palate. From the exquisite dishes to the thoughtful pairings and near-perfect service, this is a place where culinary artistry and genuine hospitality converge. A resounding 5/5 for the overall experience, with just a few refinements needed to truly elevate it to the pinnacle...

We dinned at Cura at the Four Seasons Hotel in Lisbon on a Thursday night, we went for the Percurso tasting menu prepared by the talented chef Rodolfo Lavrador and his team. We weren’t disappointed! The food was nothing short of magnificent: each plate struck the perfect balance between creativity and respect for Portuguese culinary traditions. The dishes felt both rooted in heritage and refreshingly inventive, with thoughtful touches that elevated familiar flavors into something extraordinary. One of the first standout moments was the Oyster. It looked simple, but the flavors were anything but! Paired with cherry, cinnamon, and just a touch of horseradish. The balance was perfect: fresh, sweet, slightly spicy, and deeply flavorful. The cherry in particular struck me, because it instantly reminded me of an Armenian dish I grew up with, Gerasov “Fishna” Kebab (grilled minced meat with cherries), which also plays with that sweet-and-savory combination. From there, the feast unfolded dish after dish, each more impressive than the last. Highlights included the squid paired with bago de arroz bean, elderflower, and kombu, a wonderfully nuanced combination of land and sea. The scarlet shrimp, prepared in the traditional açorda style, carried deep, comforting flavors that paid homage to Portugal’s culinary soul. The Iberian pork with figs and endives was a triumph, rich and succulent, yet balanced with a delicate touch of bitterness and sweetness. Having dinned at Lisbon’s many Michelin starred restaurants (Alma, Belcanto, Eleven etc.) we can confidently say that Cura holds its own at the very top. In fact, it may just be one of the...