Sofia's Place — Restaurant in Lisbon

Run, don't walk to this place! It's a small restaurant but that allows for it to have a certain kind of intimacy and attentiveness from the host that other bigger establishments might lack. The moment we entered the spot, Sofia embraced us (literally), gave us a bit of history about the contributions of the Black diaspora that influenced the dishes offered in her restaurant, explained her mission for the restaurant was to educate the masses on the various types of dishes offered across the diaspora, and made us feel at home. We found out about this place from two aunties from the states that raved about finding a Black owned restaurant that had great food and we weren't disappointed. While she's welcoming and warm with everyone that enters in (we watched her customer service throughout the night) she makes it her duty to make sure Black people can find food and an atmosphere where we can be ourselvee, have a great meal, and be in a great atmosphere. By the time we left, our stomaches were full, the laughs were plenty, we were slightly tipsy, and we left with a new friend. I cannot properly emphasize how much I recommend this place. You won't be...

I’ve been to Lisbon many times, and I’ve yet to discover a place as unique and flavorful as this. I met a lovely woman by the name of April on a flight from Seville Spain to Lisbon and we started talking. She told me she lives in Lisbon, she’s originally from Panama and lived in the United States. I asked her as she is a local, if you only had one night in Lisbon, where would you eat? She said Sophia‘s place! I saved Sophia‘s place until my last day in Lisbon and I was so happy I did! Sofia takes a mix of African cultures and rolls it into one very special menu. Most of the food in Europe has a distinct flavor, but Sofia‘s is on its own level! The food was divine, taking flavors from many countries and most, I’ve never tasted before! There was a certain spice that I’ve been craving that you just cannot find in Europe. What made this place very special was Sofia and her daughter, I would definitely come back and visit as they made me feel like family! Oh, yes, they had the best sangria as well! I had a tuna, empanada, and chicken with peanut sauce that...

Sofia’s Place is one of the best restaurants that I have ever visited. The food was beyond delicious. I had the jollof rice and my cousin had the grilled lamb chops. Both dishes were absolutely amazing. The presentation was inviting, the seasoning was perfect and the portions were generous. Sofia was the friendliest, most exuberant and welcoming person that you could ever hope to meet. She greeted all of her guests with a big hug as well as an education of the African culture and dishes on the menu. I felt like I had gone to visit a family member who poured an inordinate amount of love into preparing a meal for us. We arrived at approximately 6:30 pm and left at midnight. The time flew by because we were having so much fun. We met and interacted with every customer in the restaurant except one. We felt like we had attended a party with old friends who came from all over the world to celebrate a special occasion with Sofia. If you are in Lisbon, you must visit Sofia’s place. Do not miss out on this...