SEEN by Olivier - Lisboa — Restaurant in Lisbon

I recently had dinner at your restaurant with a friend, and while we enjoyed a delightful meal with attentive and friendly waitstaff, our overall experience was unfortunately overshadowed by an encounter with your hostess, Margarida.

The service throughout our dinner was exceptional. The waitstaff were polite, engaging, and even shared some lighthearted jokes with us, which added to the positive atmosphere. However, towards the end of our meal, Margarida approached us to inform us that we had exceeded the 2-hour seating limit by 40 minutes. While we understand the importance of managing table turnover, her tone and wording were unnecessarily harsh and hostile. It felt as though we were being unfairly targeted, especially as she appeared far more pleasant with other patrons.

When I addressed her rudeness, she responded in a stern manner, raising her voice and denying any inappropriate behavior. This escalated what could have been a simple conversation into an uncomfortable situation. At one point, I lightly touched her arm to express my frustration, and she shouted, "Don’t you dare touch me." This overreaction left me feeling humiliated in front of other guests.

Although another staff member apologized for her behavior, we were relocated to the bar, where Margarida continued to stare at us as we gathered our things to leave. It was clear that this staff member’s conduct fell far below the otherwise excellent service provided by the rest of the team.

It’s disappointing that one person could tarnish what could have been a wonderful dining experience. Margarida’s entitled attitude and lack of professionalism are not reflective of the international reputation your restaurant is trying to maintain. We hope that management takes steps to ensure future guests do not have to endure...

I had high expectations for Seen, especially as it came highly recommended, and I wanted it to be a memorable send-off from Lisbon. Unfortunately, my experience was overshadowed by disappointing treatment at the entrance.

When I arrived, dressed nicely in a chic top, jeans, and elegant Tory Burch leather sandals (with straps at the back), the hostess asked if I had a reservation to which I responded that I did not, then she looked me up and down before telling me my footwear didn’t meet their “chic” dress code. I was taken aback, especially since my sandals were far from casual. The security staff agreed with her, saying I could only be admitted if I changed shoes. Hoping to still enjoy the evening, I asked if sneakers would work because I saw some folks wearing sandals, and they said yes—ironically, sneakers are far less stylish than the sandals I was wearing.

I took an Uber back to my hotel, changed, and returned. To my surprise and disappointment, a white woman directly ahead of me was wearing slippers and was allowed in without question. When I raised the inconsistency and clear double standard, the hostess brushed it off, saying she had just switched desks and wasn’t the one who turned me away earlier. The security staff who witnessed it all said nothing other than confirming it was “a different lady.”

This inconsistency and discriminatory treatment left a sour taste. While the food itself was delicious and the restaurant’s setting is beautiful, the experience of being singled out and unfairly treated overshadowed everything else. In 2025, it is deeply disappointing that such behavior happens at a restaurant of this caliber.

I cannot recommend Seen Lisbon, not because of the food, but because no dining experience no matter how good should come...

Outstanding!

When on holiday, we often eat late so that we can get the most out of our days even if it’s just sunbathing.

Took a 22:30 table last night, arrived a little early to enjoy a cocktail at the incredibly cool Sky Bar then back upstairs to take our table in SEEN.

Everything about this place is stylish. A real opportunity to get dressed up into your best threads.

We were greeted by Ricardo, taken to our table then introduced to our waitress Lara.

Ricardo was such a good guy and even took my phone to put on charge while we ate.

Lara was superb and absolutely knows their menu inside and out. Offered great advice and suggestions and was able to explain how each dish is created. She was able to offer far more detail than I expected. Top marks there.

We had an amazing fusion style taco and a few sushi options to kick off. The presentation of each dish was painstakingly beautiful but more importantly, the flavours literally stop you in your tracks. Unbelievable creations.

For mains we opted for Sliced Wagyu and a portion of taglialini gratin with porcetta and truffle. My wife and I just shared and the two dishes worked amazingly together and again the flavours were out of this world.

Lastly, we had some homemade ice cream and an outstanding speciality dessert, I can’t remember the name but translates to ‘Guilty’ something. It was amazing.

A couple of espresso martinis and we were done!

Cannot recommend this place highly enough. The decor, the music, the service, the view over Lisbon’s rooftops and of course the food. Top marks all round!

Thank you SEEN for an unforgettable night, cannot wait to come...