Gambrinus

Where the Chefs Eat: Nuno Mendes's favourite restaurants in Lisbon | Condé Nast Traveler

"This is one of the oldest restaurants in Portugal—I’ve been going for at least 40 years. Gambrinus is a timeless place. There are some serious characters working there, and there’s always a very interesting dialogue when you go. It’s a bit like going home—when I go in, I can smell and feel the old Lisbon. The guy who runs the famous counter seats has known me forever. He seems to know everyone who goes in there. Go mid-afternoon, when it gets hot, and you want to get out of the sun and drink a cold beer and order a plate of ham and croquettes, or some garlic shrimp. It’s like stepping into another world." - Cass Farrar