BA Wine Bar Bairro Alto

Incredible experience all around. If you're looking for a relaxed way to spend a few hours (seriously, our group of 4 spent 4 hours here the evening we went), while learning about Portuguese wines and enjoying local cheeses and meats, in a low key environment, this is the place to do it. Book a reservation a few weeks in advance, because they only do a few seating per night (only about 4 tables and only a few seatings per night, because you will spend at least 2 hours there if not longer). We booked a reservation via email in advance with a deposit, and were treated so kindly by the owners/staff. They have a small team - just the one sommelier/wine expert/wine server, and a couple others who handle more of the food and service, which makes it a super warm and family-like environment. Prices are super affordable, and you can choose from any regions or types of wine you like, and customize the experience to what you're in the mood for. Highly recommend ordering a cheese and sausage platter, bread and olive oils and jams, and make sure you try the black pig sausage! This is not a place to go for a full meal, but you can fill up pretty easily on the meats and cheeses with your wines. Everything is locally sourced and delicious!

Wow. 100% nailed it. Go here. Staff is amazing (Rui was very knowledgeable and very kind). Everyone was patient and welcoming. They were understaffed when we experienced the place but it didn't take anything away from our experience. I can't give a higher praise for the staff so now to the food and wine. Food was amazing. The chucuterie for 4 was all amazing and displayed very nicely. Rui also nailed it with our wine tastes and even if you have a tough time describing what you like in a wine he will get it out of you and assist you in everyway. The port taster was also very delicious. If in Lisbon again I will 100% go again.

If you are wine lovers, this is the best place in Lisbon to taste a wide range of local wines, form all over Portugal. A very nice and kind lady will let you discover the country through wines and typical Portuguese charcuterie. My hubby and I took a plate for two of different kind of cured ham, cheeses (such as goat, sheep and cow cheeses), red pepper and pumpkin and cinnamon jams and extravirgin olive oil. Absolutely in heaven!!

When we first visited, we were kindly asked to come back later and make a reservation. We came back 2 days later and were not disappointed. We wanted to know more about portugese wine. The owner and kitchen staff made us feel at home and were extremely friendly and professional. We ordered some cheese and meat. Very good quality. Then came the wine. first... tasting and explanation. Together with the owner we made a small journey through Portugal. All the wine was suberb! We where extremely happy and stayed as long as possible. Eventually they had to close. Thank you BA whine bar for this educational tasting evening. Till next year.

You must go here!!! Book it before you visit Lisbon and go early in the week so that they can teach you about Portuguese wine. The host was amazing, knowledgable and generous. We had the port flight to finish and it was amazing

My wife and I have enjoyed a wonderful evening of wine tasting here . The level of service is incomparable. The selections of wines is extensive, and surpassed only by the level of knowledge of the owner/sommelier. His enthusiasm is infectious. We look forward to returning on our next visit to Lisbon. If you love wine, I highly recommend.

The service here is exceptional and the staff know their wine. With so many wines it becomes overwhelming but the host will help you pick by bring two bottles to your table for your chosen wine variety and price range and then you can taste the two and pick which one you would like a glass of. We had a platter of cheese to go with our wine which complimented our wine to perfection. Highly recommend this as a place- either to start or finish your night.

Described in one word: wonderful! The selection of wines covers an incredible variety of all kinds of Portuguese wines. Thankfully, we received a lot of helpful advise in picking the ones that fit our taste. They really take their time to listen to your preferences and figure out how they might best serve them. Tasting a few wines from one kind is free until you decide which one to drink (which is really generous, considering that they will open some bottles just for you...). Prices for the wines are fair, any wine is available by glass or bottle. All of this is accompanied by interesting and fun conversations with the extremely dedicated owners. Oh, and besides that, they serve tasting boards with some of the best cheeses and hams I've eaten so far. Having said that, make sure to book a table in advance as they're a small place. Also, take your time, as they also take their time to provide you with the best service you can possibly get in a wine bar. Thank you for a great evening!

Love love loved this place. We booked here for our first night. The Sommelier was superb to say the least. It is a full on experience choosing the region then the wine style. We did also have some food which was also excellent. There was one cheese on there that is not for the faint hearted though :) I don't think there is anything more heavenly than dipping yummy bread into olive oil and having a fantastic glass of wine to wash it down. Recommend a reservation.

My fiancé and I absolutely loved BA Wine Bar, and it was probably the highlight of our first visit to Lisbon. Rui and his wife are a fantastic husband and wife team who truly want to share the Portuguese culinary experience with you, and it's abundantly clear the enjoyment they receive from serving delicious food and wine to their guests. There was another young waitress as well who was also very kind to us. We came our first night for wine and food, which was amazing. The wine tasting was informative, very affordable, and delicious. I learned I enjoy the northern mountain region wines that are fruity and dry. We also ordered a massive plate of meat and cheese for dinner, along with grilled sausage and sardine, accompanied by home baked bread and olive oil tasting. Yes - it was amazing! We had so much food we had to take some to go and ate it the next day in a park. I thought the sausage was especially delicious, and everything was fantastic. Of course, all of this was incredibly reasonably priced. We liked it so much that we came back a couple nights later for a Port tasting. I found this very informative as well and have developed an affinity for Tawnys! My fiancé and I are so grateful for the hospitality and delicious cuisine we enjoyed here. Thank you so much!! The food and wine was great, but the hospitality was the special touch I loved the most. As mentioned in other reviews, they are more your hosts than anything else. The level of attention and care is so genuine. To the reader - you will not make a mistake dining here. Just make sure to reserve in advance! It is the policy (we were able to reserve our port tasting only 2 days before, so do not despair). I hope you make time to enjoy it!

Be Prepared: this is an EXPERIENCE, not a passing moment. If you want to have a table you MUST reserve it in advance ( parties of 2-6 only). A few mandatory points: * You must reserve a table in advance, there are only 5 so plan ahead if visiting Lisboa- like weeks ahead. * Do not come in to get drunk with friends, this is not for wine snobs either but for true vinophiles. Wines are presented with context, brought to the correct temperature and poured slowly. *Rui is your HOST not your SERVER. He is guiding the 4 other tables so you have time to enjoy before he returns to turn the page to the next chapter of your wine story. * They do not serve hot food. However they serve incredible meats & cheeses. The black pork fed on chestnuts was incredible.. the Bell pepper jam was also amazing and is available for purchase. *This is not a "bargain" you are being exposed to incredibly curated wines as well as meats/cheeses... you are charged what you are because that's what it costs to make it available-no more no less. *This is not a place for children with small tables, intimate dining and coursed wines. Expect to be here for 3 hours, and be glad you are because most will be turned away... only the few are able to be given such attention and service. Cheers!

An experience for the wine education and that is what is is about where. The food is a distraction. I would absolutely recommend this hard to find small family run business. The owner was so knowledgeable and very friendly. Book ahead of time.

So... we may or may not have left here stumbling - a sign of the fabulous time we had "tasting" Portugese wines. BA Wine Bar came highly recommended by my French brother in-law, and we never would have found it if he hadn't tipped us off. It's a tiny place, with about 6 tables, so you'll definitely want to reserve ahead. So worth the effort if you're serious about Portugese wine, cheese, and meat! At first glance, by-the-glass prices seemed much higher than other Lisbon spots (like, 7-10 euros a glass vs. 3-6 in other places). But, we soon learned why: your server will ask you what types of wines you like, then bring a bunch for you to taste before you decide on a glass. So, you get a wine tasting and a glass of wine all in one! A good educational bang for your buck. Save some room for a glass of port (with a tasting to help you decide) at the end. Food-wise, they only offer meat and cheese plates (my ideal dinner!) and the offerings are formidable. 100% Portugese products and hospitality! Lucianna was the most charming server and hostess. Our appreciation of Portugese wine went through the roof after our visit here. Winos, go!

A large group of us reserved the entire (very small) space for the night. There were about 14 of us and we filled the space entirely. So here's the deal. It's not a restaurant. It's a wine (especially Port) experience with tastings of olive oil, jam, died ham, cheese, and chorizo. It was plenty of food to make up for a light dinner but not of you're very hungry. The staff planned a number of wine tastings and paired them with appropriate food tastings as well. All of the wine and food is from Portugal and they explain where each ingredient came from (using a map), why the tastes are different for the wine (grape variety, soil type, aging) as well as the food (location, cut, process, producer, etc.). The staff are extremely passionate about their business and it shines through. We could not have asked for a better authentic Portuguese experience. Highly recommend you make a reservation and give this experience a shot!

Am I missing something? Due to overwhelming reviews on here and tripadvisor, I expected more. Ham and cheese were great but I already had better ones at other places on my tour today :( wine was good but not anything special. Atomosphere isnt local either. People are very friendly and I liked it but it does not deserve 5 star.

This place is AMAZING! If ever in Lisboa, you must head to Bairro Alto to experience this fabulous wine bar. Every wine you see on the list is available by the glass, and the staff is so knowledgeable about the wines that they take you through a journey of the vinhos of Portugal. The descriptions they offer are thorough and they highlight specific characteristics about each region and particular wine. I was very impressed by how educated the staff was and asked the young woman who was helping me if she was a sommelier - she was not, but certainly had the knowledge base to become one. The food is just as wonderful as the wine. Note that this is not a dinner place. They serve small plates (petiscos/tapas) and not full courses. I tried the pickled stickleback fish and it was so delicious! I also had the small charcuterie and cheese plate. I had never tried any of the cheeses they offered and the charcuterie is the best I have ever tried. They serve a cured meat that comes from the black pig. This animal only eats acorns, so the flavor is fresh and a little nutty. Nothing I have tried since visiting BA Wine Bar has come close to being as savory and delicious as what they served at this place. I would like to return to Lisboa specifically to have another experience at this place. Go go gooooo during your visit to Lisbon!

A piece of me is still in Lisbon thanks to the beautiful service offered at this wine bar. My girlfriend and I were traveling to Lisbon for the first time and we're not completely happy with our experience until BA wine bar changed our feelings about the historic city. We were given tastings of Portuguese wines by a gentleman who not only knew a lot about Portuguese wine, but poured forth his love of the subject into our glasses. We were offered several wines to taste before settling on a particular glass (we enjoyed 6 glasses together) and offered spot on recommendations for our palates both with wine and cheese/ham. A glass of reserve port was offered to us by the house to top off our experience. But that wasn't quite the kicker - the best wine I had embobes in a month in Europe plus amazing service cost my date 80 euros. I know tipping is not a custom in Europe as it is stateside, but I could not help but show my willingness to pay above and beyond for their effort and products which go above and beyond. This was back in July, and I am sure the experience at BA continues to play patrons heart strings like a Fado virtuoso. I have some of my fondest memories of Europe in the corner of this unassuming venue. Five stars is not enough! FYI - MUST BOOK AHEAD

We had a great night here with Rui as our sommelier. Beautiful cheeses and meats. Be prepared for a lovely evening with trying some great Portuguese wines and a sommelier with encyclopedic knowledge. Come expecting a several hour wine experience not a quick pop in for a bite or drink. Highly recommend for a nice evening date out

Let me start by saying: you HAVE to have a reservation for this place. I can't tell you how many people walked in off the street during the 2.5 hours I was there. The owner, Rui (sp?) waits on every table personally and has a deep, vast knowledge of each wine. The glasses range in price from 4 to 10 euros, so not expensive by American standards at all. They only serve cold appetizers (a carefully curated selection of meats and cheeses). Very good!

The friendliness and knowledge of the staff at this wine bar are exceptional! It's a tiny little spot which seats about 12 people but it packs a punch. Definitely a wine bar and not a restaurant, here you'll find an excellent selection of wines from across Portugal, olive oil and bread, olives, cheese, canned fish and cured meat. We were very lucky to get a table at about 945pm on a Friday night so I'd suggest booking! Cozy, intimate interior with an array of wines and cheese on display. It's making me hungry just thinking about it..:. An absolute delight!

In the Lonely Planet guidebook they list "Nightlife in Lisbon," specifically in the Barrio Alto as one of the top 25 experiences in Portugal. This can mean a variety of things - crazy drinking in the streets, chic dinner at 100 Maneiras and glitzy shopping. However, my favorite part of any city are the holes in the wall. If you love wine and cheese, BA Wine Bar is for you. The team not only asks about your wine preferences, they give you two rounds of samples (I'm talking 4 wines) to ensure you order something you really enjoy. It's a fantastic experience and you will learn about your own palate. But this place isn't just about wine... The bread. The pumpkin jam. The olive oil. The fried sausages. The cheese. The wine was superb, but honestly the snacks were even better. My boyfriend and I ended up sharing the cheese and meat plate and each had two glass of wine - plenty for dinner. All in all, I highly recommend BA Bar whether you have a short or long stay in Lisbon. Just be sure it make a reservation as this place only has five tables. My only regret is that I didn't take one of their amazing paper place mats. The unique design would have been a perfect art memento on my wall.

Choice Paralysis (noun): 1. The state of over-thinking a situation so that a decision or action is never taken. 2. The situation you will find yourself in when presented with the wine list at BA Wine Bar. The list here is ridiculous. They have so many Portuguese wines in red, white, (and the uniquely Portuguese) "green" that you will definitely have a hard time choosing. What helps is the knowledgeable wait staff that can help steer you towards a choice. They are also quite good at bringing over 2 bottles, giving you a taste, and then letting you choose between them. The wines we had were generally quite good and well-representative of Portuguese wines. My only caveat is to trust your nose and tongue when you taste the samples and don't be afraid to decline something. While they have high turnover, they don't have a good system of preserving the wine, and I tasted one bottle that exhibited the tell-tale metallic taste of oxidation. In addition to the wine, we had an excellent cheese sampler. 5 different Portuguese cheeses were artfully presented on the plate along with breads, a few grapes, and some tasty extras (like membrillo). It was really almost enough food to suffice for 2 people for dinner. The vibe is generally pleasant, fairly tourist heavy as much of central Lisbon is. The waitstaff were friendly and helpful. I did not really enjoy the solo singer-guitarist that tortured us with covers of bad American pop songs. Not that I enjoy Fado, but I would much rather be subjected to local bad music than bad music from home. Overall, a great experience and good value. It was under €20 per person for 2 glasses of wine, cover, and the cheese platter.

First, make a reservation. We lucked out and got in without one, but we watched several people get turned away. The basic format of BA goes as follows, you tell your waiter or waitress your preferred type of wine flavors. You will then be presented with five choices in line with your tastes or requests. Sample all of them, and then choose which you'd like as a full glass. We did this with a red wine and then with a port. It was fantastic. They don't really do food, but the meat, cheese and bread they have is quite extensive. We only got the bread with various olive oils, but it was sustenance enough. The tables around us had meat and cheese and it looks fantastic. This place has so much charm. We were graciously served by Luciana. She was amazing. I was honestly sad leaving her!! She wrote down places I should buy port and restaurants and bars we should try. She was one of the highlights of my trip! I kept all of the wonderful post its she wrote for us! If you are looking to purchase port, per Luciana's recommendation we went to Garrafeira Nacional. It's on the same street as the Elevador de Santa Justa, but at the opposite end. Great for full size bottles, not great if you are looking for smaller gift size bottles. Go to BA. It's a small place for great conversations and big wines!!

Really amazing concept and selection of meat, cheese and, of course, wine. The knowledgeable staff will help you narrow down the almost 200 bottle wine list based on your preferences and ordered food. Portuguese wine only! Then they bring you three types to try and you select one (or none!) and get to drinking. Awesome!

This wine bar is run by what looks like a husband and wife team - they are fabulous! Different concept so make a reservation if you expect to get a seat here. Only 16 seats in the whole place. The owners take time to sample a variety of wines and if you do not like they will select something else. No warmed food here, but this wasn't a turn off, just know before you go. Cheese, bread, canned sardines, and olives of high quality. We had plenty to eat while we sampled and drank our way to dessert. Amazing experience, get out of the bustle of Barrio Alto and have an evening to remember.

This is my favourite wine bar in Lisbon, and top three wine bars I've been to in Europe. As everyone has said, there are only really meats, breads, cheeses, fish, and jams at this place, but they are some of the best top quality products I've ever had. I cannot possibly tell you how great these foods are-- despite the staff always saying they can't make full meals out of these foods, I've come in many a time and left feeling absolutely stuffed and delighted. As has also been said, the staff are generous, helpful, kind, and simply quite wonderful. They're happy to give you anything you want and try as much as you want for free until you find something you really enjoy. I've been several times and it's always my favourite wine bar to recommend to friends visiting Lisbon. Reservations are recommended.

Greatest meal I've ever had. Cheese, wine and meat is all I need in life. We lucked out and walked in without a reservation but I would not suggest that!

Outstanding service from very friendly sommeliers who have an encyclopedic knowledge of Portuguese wine and food. A fabulous experience.

AMAZING! My wife and I went to Lisbon on our honeymoon and because of online reviews this was the first place we went. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing wine, amazing ambiance and setting. Carla was our server. She was perfect. We were a walk-in and because the next reservation wasn't coming in for two hours, she gave us an hour and a half to enjoy this amazing treat of a restaurant. As we are wine-newbies and had no idea what we were doing, she was very patient and worked with us and brought us different wines based on the amature descriptions we provided about what tastes we like. We must have "tested" 5 glasses and she only charged us for the two we "ordered". I could go on for days about this place. Just do yourself a favor and go there if you're within 100 miles of this place. Long story short - the service was so good and we were so pleased that my tip could have been a second bill. I was that happy with this place.

Great wine bar with excellent service and a fun wine tasting experience. Small place with 6 or 8 tables and the owner offers a personalized wine tasting experience tailored to each party and has an amazing knowledge of each wine. We tried and learned about several wines and enjoyed th tastings by pairing with olive oil, cheeses and meats. This is not a restaurant as much as it is a wine tasting experience. My wife and I loved it. A must for wine lovers.

A lovely, calm oasis in barrio alto. The staff were very friendly and helped us pick wines to drink. The cheese boards and sausages were original and tasty. They didn't rush us even though they were turning people away at the door. Great place for a meal in Lisbon and quite reasonably priced for what you get.

I really enjoyed this place because they genuinely seemed to care that you were enjoying yourself. We gave them some ideas about the kinds of wine we usually enjoy, and they let you sample a few before selecting what to have a glass of. We did this first for whites, then for reds. Because of an early morning flight the next day, we didn't repeat for ports, but they gave us a taste at no charge anyway. As has been covered elsewhere, it's only meats, breads, cheeses etc, but it was well done. The food wasn't cheap, but the wines were all very good and seemed reasonably priced. We got lucky by walking in without a reservation and they managed to fit us in but it's a very small room.

We are from the U.S. first time visiting Lisbon. We made a reservation with Best Tables which is similar to Open Tables several months ago and so glad we did because the place is very small and intimate. If you enjoy wine like we do, this is the place to be. We were very fortunate to have Luciana as our server because she was very passionate and knowledgeable about Portuguese wines. She asked us what wine characteristics we were looking for and made very good suggestions until we found the right one that fit the profile. This place was a total gem. Guess what? We made another reservation for Thursday again to see Luciana. I will spread the word in the U.S. about this place and will surely return on my next Portugal visit.

Great little wine bar. Traditional in its setup in that it doesn't do large meals, so this one is for the wine and cheese enthusiast. And the wines are superb! Your wait staff will ask for the type of wine you're looking for and pour you a couple of tasters for you to select from. They don't miss either, I could have easily relaxed with any of the choices. The bar itself is away from the heavy foot traffic of backpackers. It appears to be building a reputation amongst the more "seasoned travellers," given the variety of languages we could hear around us. Well worth a visit if you are looking to explore the rewarding world of Portuguese wines.

great recommendations from the staff & ideal spot to get introduced to Portuguese wines

Wine tasting at BA wine bar was top notch. Somms enthusiastically share knowledge about Portuguese wines and beyond. Only had sardines, cheese and vinho... but what else is there? Space is very small and you will not be allowed to sit there forever. Make the most of it.

The management at BA Wine Bar helped me to reserve and pay for a wine tasting gift for my sister and her new husband while they were in Lisbon on their honeymoon. They were so accommodating as we did this all through email (I live in the U.S.) and got back to me with answers to my questions quickly. My sister and her husband reported back that they had a great night - the wine selections and food pairings were delicious! Thank you to all at BA Wine Bar for making this a great experience!

Incredible! The wine suggestions are customized (even off menu) and through a series of tastings just to get to your glass. The cheese plate for 2 is beautiful and amazing. Staff is lovely--great experience.

Great staff! Great customer service & they were understaffed. The wine and hams were perfect. Thank you for letting me in :)

The best wine experts and offers I have ever experienced.

A fantastic experience! A great way to learn about Portuguese wine along with some great cheeses, olive oils and local charcuterie. You will have the opportunity to taste several wines before you pick one to drink.

It was my first visit to Lisbon and the opportunity to taste some ports was something I was looking forward to. I had gone to another wine bar the previous night near the castle and had a wonderful time. Deciding to play in a different part of town I found this place to go to. I asked for the port flights for one as I did the previous night and while the waitress and manger wanted to do such, the head guy, possibly the owner, said no way, you have to purchase it for 2. I asked couldn't you just give me half of the pour and told no. I left, walked about 10 blocks away to another wine bar and they was able to accommodate me exactly as the wine bar the previous night. While this place may be good, they have become so popular to the point they have enough business and just doesn't need yours. I was turned off by this attitude and had a wonderful time and great experience at the other two wine bars I visited!