Chapitô à Mesa

Chapitô à Mesa – Stunning Views with Room for Service Improvement Chapitô à Mesa is a unique spot in Lisbon with so much potential. The highlight is without a doubt the breathtaking panoramic view, which makes dining here a truly memorable experience. The food is delicious, well-prepared, and perfectly complements the amazing setting. Unfortunately, the service leaves much to be desired—slow and inattentive at times, which takes away from what could otherwise be a flawless experience. Still, with its fantastic atmosphere, great cuisine, and unbeatable views, Chapitô à Mesa is absolutely worth a visit. With improved service, it could easily become one of the best dining destinations in Lisbon.

Totally a beautiful place. Best view of Lisbon. Food was delicious. You will indeed fine a lot of tourist and the price ain’t cheap. Yet, for a good dining experience in Lisbon, we still think that it is a place worth visiting.

Incredible Atmosphere and Views – A Memorable Dining Spot Chapitô offers one of the most stunning dining atmospheres in Lisbon. The views overlooking the city are absolutely breathtaking—easily one of the best settings we experienced during our trip. It’s a fantastic place to relax and enjoy a meal while soaking in the beauty of the city. The food was solid across the board—well-prepared and flavorful. While there weren’t any clear options tailored to young kids, we were able to make do with a few adaptable dishes. The service was generally attentive and pleasant throughout, contributing to an overall positive experience. The value felt fair given the location and setting. One helpful tip: the entrance is a bit tricky. You go through the shop and then down the stairs on the left. It’s not immediately obvious, so keep an eye out for it. In short, Chapitô is worth visiting for the views alone, and the food and service round it out nicely. Great for a relaxed, scenic meal above the city.

We ate in the panoramic view level, and the staff were amazing enough to move us to a window seat as soon as one was available! Everything was amazing. Incredible food, waiters were brilliant. Evening was perfect! ❤️

Best food we had all week! Fatima is a gem- friendly, accommodating and spirited. It was like a visit to a friend’s home over a fantastic meal. So glad we stumbled on Chapito!

TL; DR: worth every dollar - a fine dining experience at a very reasonable price! note: this review is for the “self made chef” omakase/prix fixe experience at the cantina with Chef Alexandre Bothelo at Chapitô. There are different types of dining experiences at Chapitô and three levels, so you can enjoy how you want, whether prix fixe or à la carte. Walking up to this establishment was an experience itself. In fact Chapitô is not just a restaurant but also a cultural center and homage to circus arts thus the main dining room is under a circus tent! So cool. You walk down stairs as you admire the view of the Tagus - perfect for sunset. The cantina level where we dined had beautiful sunset views. We were in LUCK to be the last table of the night for this experience with Chef Alex at the cantina level (we did not make reservations but I highly recommend doing so for the cantina). There were three tiers for this prix fixe/omakase - we chose the mid tier at €70 pp which promised amuse-bouche, two mains and a dessert. We got MUCH more than was presented (9 courses!) and had an unforgettable experience. Chef Alex, a Master Chef Portugal finalist and truly self-made chef, personally cooked and served each dish. Due to his background in Asian cuisine there were subtle homages to those flavors mixed with local Portuguese cuisine. It was fabulous! The amuse-bouche courses: white shrimp (rare and only found in south Portugal) with wasabi mayo (finger-licking good), grilled snapper on top of a potato and Parmesan purée (give me 14 of them) with micro coriander, and clams with Thai basil for a fun tactile finale before the mains. The mains: - a “poke plate” salad/prep for the rest of the meal that was so incredibly well balanced in flavor, color and texture…it was perfect: shredded green apple and orange chunks (fresh), salmon slices (protein), avocado (creamy), puffed rice and green tobiko (crunchy), beet (sweet and pink), sliced red and green onion and arugula for that spicy vibe to balance it all out. - king prawn in a shallow pool of brown butter (yum!!!) and garlic chunks mixed with mint. I said I needed some bread for the butter and chef laughingly said “trust me you do not need that - we are only halfway through!” … he was right :) - rice dish: rice dyed with squid ink, fried moray eel (such a yummy crunch), sliced green bean and green onion, green tobiko. it was so delicious and hearty! - sea bass roe (encapsulated in the sac) in olive oil topped with green onion: a perfect little amuse-bouche before the final main…the texture of this was unlike anything I’ve had before and almost tasted like sea bass sausage if that makes sense. The olive oil was to die for - I could have drank it off the plate! - Bone-in Wild black iberico pork with fries/chips: omg - this was insanely good. Portugal’s equivalent to wagyu. Cooked to perfection and so incredibly juicy! The fries were so fresh - perfect for dipping in the juice which was also flavored with garlic. The dessert - which we did our best to tackle although we were so full - was delicious. Rice pudding topped with caramel and caramel crunch, sliced pear, a delicious pastry sandwiched between two dollops of lime/avocado/olive oil foam (I was obsessed). Chef even brought us a shot of port to close the evening! Chef repeatedly stated this would be a dinner we would never forget - and he was correct. After we finished dinner we chatted for a bit and learned of his journey to becoming a chef - he is self-trained and super passionate about his work and it shows! Every bite was enjoyable, paired with the beautiful views and Nat King Cole in the background. Equal parts fun, romantic, educational, and adventurous. The only downside is that this was our first dinner in Lisbon so not sure if we will top this experience! 🥹

Good not really nice. I ordered fish with potato (it was too salty) ,my husband ordered fish with octopus and sweet potato (what I think it’s not really nice match) and also potato peels, lemonade and coffee 2 times we payed 60€.The view was just okay …

Dining at Chapito a Mesa’s Dinner at the Cantina with Chef Alexandre Botelho was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, Chef Alexandre’s warmth and genuine hospitality set the tone for the evening—he was incredibly personable, welcoming, and clearly passionate about his craft. The dinner itself was a true experience: nine thoughtfully crafted courses, each one a celebration of flavor, creativity, and attention to detail. Every dish exceeded our expectations, and the pacing and presentation made the evening feel special from start to finish. The setting only enhanced the magic. With incredible views as the backdrop, the atmosphere was both relaxed and breathtaking, making it one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve had. Considering the quality, quantity, and overall experience, it was an amazing value for the price. This is not just dinner—it’s a culinary journey led by a truly esteemed chef. We can’t recommend it enough. If you have the chance, make a reservation and experience Chef Alexandre Botelho’s Cantina dinner for yourself. It’s an unforgettable evening you won’t want to miss!

Chapito a mesa is a fantastic spot for a meal. We stopped in on part of our Lisbon adventure and were delighted to find a gem like this. Be careful, it's very easy to walk right by this spot as the entrance is literally a gate in a wall. The service is far better than the restaurant is easy to find. Open the gate, walk down the stairs, and a stunning view of the river and bridge await. Better than the view, though, are the clams. A delicious white wine, olive oil and cilantro sauce await. Get a side of bread and dip your way to a culinary delight that may soon grace a food show. It's that good.

Amazing food and views! The staff were super friendly and I love love love their gift shop all handmade by their workers and circus performers!! I wasn't able to make reservations for the really cute part of the restaurant but it was fine I sat in the common seating area and still had a great time. Their octopus and house fritters were soooooo good! Such a cool idea they had the best mementos in all of Lisbon I came across!

This was maybe one of my most favourite restaurants. It was kinda tough to find since it's tucked away in the back of a shop. But the food was delicious. The seating is small but feels perfect and the view of the ocean is breathtaking. The service was great and the people were kind.

We made reservations for 930pm. We arrived around 910pm and told our table wasn't ready to check the horses stand at 930pm. We were directed to the downstairs bar - there was a musty smell. Musicians warming up and playing their instruments. There were drawings by a local artist on the walls. 930pm we went to the hostess stand and told our table was still not ready. This time we were offered champagne and invited to the upstairs bar. We got our champagne. We were seated around 1015pm. We had to walk a spiral staircase to the upper level. The view was amazing. It would have been the perfect sunset at 930pm if we were seated as we reserved. Food was tasty. We took a Bolt- (European Uber/Lyft) You need to walk down to where the Bolt dropped us off because the restaurant is in a steep hill and cars can't drive up.

If you have read about Chapito, you will find a few mixed reviews. Let me settle this right now. You need to have a reservation to gain access to their upstairs dining room and fine dining menu. If you don't, you will have access to the terrace and the terrace menu. The sub par reviews are from folks who just show up there. So, make a reservation through Fork and you will have access to the eclectic upstairs dining with its fabulous views. The access to the space is kind of ...Unique. Through the gift shop,Down a couple of flights of stairs, across the outdoor terrace and up a spiral stairway. It will be a nice surprise for your friends Watch their faces, skepticism followed by wonder. The service. This is a very busy spot and you will be fine if you order all your food upfront and are prepared to enjoy the view for about 3.5 hours. This is their expectation and should be yours. Everything we ordered was great. Starters were sized for 1-2 persons and you'd need several for the table. We had the Gaspachio, Pink Shrimp Salad, Croquettes and the Hamachi cru which is a ceviche. Mains were the Aged Steak for 2-3, Sea Bass, and Tuna. It was all great. The food and service are about a 4 out of 5. I would say that this is not "typico" Portuguese food. It's more typical of the US which was fine by us as this was our 11th day in country. The price was about $70 pp with tip. (Yes you should tip in Portugal, like 10%)

Food is amazing make sure to get the clams. The view is out of this world and everyone is so friendly.

One of the best in Lisbon. When near the castle this is the place to go for a meal or snacks and wine or deserts. Everything was outstanding including the service. Grilled bass was the best, same for the grilled pork. Plenty of fresh vegetables. Best views in Lisbon. Most highly recommended.

The food at this restaurant is amazingly good! We loved the clams, the bread was delicious and so was the pork. The view of the city beneath was beautiful at night. The only thing I didn't think was nice, is that the waitress/ hostess walked by us many times, for over an hour, without even saying," we will be with you as soon as we can" or she could say," if you don't have a reservation , expect to wait two hours to be seated." But she didn't say a word. The way they run their restaurant is very disorganized. We talked to several other people in line and they agreed. Well, after waiting two hours, standing, we were seated and the food was very good. Once you are seated, they are nice to you.

The hostess was fantastic. We asked for a table with a view, all were taken, she let us picked our table on the main patio and a few minutes later she came back to let us know that a table with a view would open soon and offered it to us. The server was nice on the "not too simpatico" side. We had a few tapas - soup, chorizo and Pastéis de Bacalhau ~ Salt Cod Fritters. Good food, nothing remarcable. The view is beautiful and the ambiance terrific, filled with charm, people chatting and laughing, some a bit to loud but heck you are in Lisboa having fun. Good place to visit.

We walked by this place during our exploration of Lisbon near our hotel earlier in the day, and it did not disappoint. There was a bit of a queue right as they opened, but we were seated quickly. The atmosphere is quite eclectic, with a number of seating areas in the place. The wait staff were courteous, the martinis nicely made even with our request to replace the gin on the menu with vodka. Our appy of beef croquettes came out very quickly with grainy mustard as an accompaniment, and were excellent. The beef had a great flavour, and you could tell it had been braised perfectly. The lovely K had the Peri Peri chicken with French fries. and I had the grilled sea bass with a tomato salad. Both my choices were excellent, the salad bright and well dressed and the bass simply prepared, but so tasty and almost perfect. The lovely K raved about her fries but found the chicken to be good, but not excellent. We struck up a conversation with the couple next to us, who had lived in our neck of the woods for quite a few years, but being from NYC and living there again. Even with our plates empty and our glasses the same they did not rush us to reset the table for the next seating, even with people in the queue. That in itself tells us we chose the right place. Our new friends had a wide assortment of appys and complimented each course. The only thing I didn't do was take any photos of the food, but you can see them throughout the review of others.

On our last day in Lisbon decided to have dinner here, they have 3 diferentes spaces on the same building the 3 floor were we ate it is the most expensive and we're the more refined menu is at, you get a wonderful View of the city as well. The food was delicious and the wines were too, fantastic service and ambiance.

Good place to pick if you want a good view and constant cigarette smoke mixed with food that is slathered with oil and salt. Service was ok but due to my poor Portuguese language skills the wrong dishes were brought to the table. To their credit this was quickly rectified

Oh man, the food here was AMAZING. My group took recommendations from our server and everything was to die for. We had the mushroom appetizer and jolof rice + braised beef cheek as our mains. The mushroom dish was fun as the server had to sort of toss the egg yolk and put on a little show -- and it was really yummy. The rice and duck were great, and the beef cheek melted in my mouth. Our server also recommended us the perfect bottle of wine to go with our meal. You need to eat here!!!

This place was our last lunch in Lisbon before heading back home to L.A. It's located in the Alfama district. The restaurant is so cute, food and drinks were delicious and the views were spectacular. Also, service was excellent, the waitress was soo good with our son and even gave him some orange slices to eat. I highly recommend dining here while in Lisbon.

Amazing atmosphere and amazing food. would def go again. The view was beautiful and the service was excellent

This place seems like a tourist trap in the middle of the busiest area -- a short walk from Castilo S. Jorge -- but that't not necessarily a bad thing. We came on a Wednesday night when nothing else was really opened (eateries tend to close early in Portugal, for some reason). As with other places, they prefer reservation, but will accommodate you if you wait outside on the patio. Whether you sit inside or out, it's both a treat because you get to see the beautiful skyline of Lisbon. Prices were a little high for Lisbon, but not excessive in the grand scheme of things (or the location). We were seated upstairs right by a dreamy window and felt like we were in a romance novel. The food came quickly -- grilled salmon and Pulpo a Lagareiro (traditional octopus) and was slightly above standard. Nothing was phenomenal, but everything was well done. However, our real treat was the Fado show that ended up happening as we were finishing. They dimmed the houselights and made sure everyone was quiet (even whispering is shunned upon), for they took this traditional folk performance very seriously. All in all, a nice meal that was surprisingly good despite us hearing that Fado restaurants tend to be more for the live music than for the quality of the food.

Great food and exceptional service! The atmosphere is very laid back and the entertainment adds to the ambiance.

Quaint cafe/restaurant/bar near the castilo S. jorge. They have a killer view of the river, Lisboa and bridge. They claim to have been rated one of the top 7 patio views In the world. I do not doubt it. Stop in for a drink, bite to eat, or some fresh juice your after buns of steel step fest on your Journey to the castle. You and your guts will thank yourself.

We stumbled into this restaurant wandering around Lisbon. A real gem. There were 10 of us and the staff was very accommodating. The food was great. Staff was super friendly. If in Lisbon definitely go here. Wish I could give more than 5 stars. It is also a circus school. Had a short performance.

As an American who has traveled quite extensively in Europe and across the world, I think saying service here is terrible is an understatement even by European standards. For example, it took about an hour - no exaggeration because I looked at my phone and know when we arrived - to be asked what we would like for dinner. Luckily, we did order an appetizer and a bottle to start -- otherwise we would have suffered soberly. I think our waitress was surprised when we asked for the check instead of ordering our main course. Maybe they do things differently here. If that's the case, please plan on having a reservation about 2 hours before when you would actually like to eat. We learned the hard way!

After a busy day spent sightseeing, we stopped by Chapito a Mesa for dinner. The restaurant was recommended in our guidebook for its picturesque views. When we arrived, there was about a 15-minute wait. The interior, where you get the best views, was fully booked and a reservation was needed so we were seated on the patio. I started off with the black Iberian sausage. I had never had Iberian pork before so I was excited to try something new. The sausage has a different flavor to it than your typical sausage. It's not black, only the pig itself is. Delicious and highly recommended. From there, I had the steak tenderloin sandwich with fries. The sandwich came on fresh bread with a little mayo. Really all you need given the quality of the meat. The fries were solid too. Service was good and they even had a hired magician who'd stop by tables and do a magic trick. He stopped by our table and we enjoyed the show. An unexpected but nice touch to a dining experience which was a first for me. Definitely check out this place for a great dinner!

Absolutely charming little place with million euro views. Off the beaten path. Excellent place to rest and have a little food and wine . Super service as well.

Unassuming but super cool. Great food for a good cause: supporting circus training for teenagers. (In Europe, the circus is a respected trade.) The profits from the restaurant support the school and the students. You get to walk through the actual school courtyard and see them in your way in. Courtesy warning: this restaurant involves gorgeous views but also a very tight spiral staircase. We had the sea bass and the prego steak sandwich: both excellent. Simple but very well executed. If you are confused about the location of the restaurant, go into the shop and ask.

The service was a little slow in the beginning, but then it was fine. We started with the asparagus appetizer, which was very tasty. I then had the beef cheek entree, which had one slightly chewy piece of beef, but the rest of the beef was divinely tender, and the vegetables and sauce were great. I ended with the lava cake dessert, which was warm and very nice. The view from our table was excellent as well! I would recommend this place.

Great service, view, and clown training school since the 1950s. This is the second time we've been here in the last 4 years- from the states. Will keep coming back. Delicious bass and prawns.

Definitely a tourist trap but for somewhere where you're only hearing english being spoken around you the food is actually pretty good. I had the prawn which was supposed to be an appetizer and it was actually incredible. The view is unbeatable and the cod cakes are delicious. Just be aware that you are not walking into an authentic Portuguese restaurant!

For our first night in Lisbon we decided to eat at this delightful spot at the recommendation of our local guide. The "house of circus arts" restaurant is a cozy place perched high in the hills serving a variety of local food at reasonable prices. Our cozy table for two in the non-smoking patio overlooking the city was the perfect spot for us. While they could do with a few more servers, our waiter seemed to have all 12 tables on the patio, we never felt neglected although the meal was a bit leisurely. The food was simple and fresh. We started with a wonderful goat cheese salad (don't let the sketchy English menu translation dissuade you-it's great, light and fresh). For mains we both got the fresh sea bass which was salted and simply grilled (whole fish, head on) and it came with a side of simple steamed vegetables. It was a great counterweight to the greasy cheeseburger we had in the airport the day prior. Bottom line a unique spot with simple fresh food and English-speaking, welcoming staff.

What a fabulous location. Excellent service, view and food! I can't wait to go back with my husband and share the experience with him. I hear the night life and rooftop bar are amazing...

Absolutely loved this restaurant! The food was delicious. Decorations were beautiful. The service was great and manager was very helpful. Would recommend!

An absolute MUST. Everything was phenomenal. Their octopus was our favorite though. View & ambiance was also perfection

I had really high hopes for this place. My fiancé and I walked by it a few times during the five days we spent in Lisbon, and the restaurant was always loud and bustling. The Yelp reviews were looking good, so I really thought we were in for a solid dinner. We must have hit them on a bad day though because it was anything but that. We were seated immediately upon arrival which was at roughly 8:30pm. The restaurant was pretty packed, but we must have walked in right when a table cleared out. The service was on point, and our waiter quickly took our orders and brought us drinks and food. While the wine and beer that we got was fine, the food was an entirely different story. I got a grilled squid entree which was just awful. It was flavorless and rubbery, which tells me it was over cooked. As hungry as I was, I couldn't even force it down. My fiancé tried a bite and he felt the exact same way. He got a beefsteak sandwich that he didn't really care for. Luckily, his sandwich came with fries so we both filled up as much as we could on those. After the disappointing entrees, we skipped dessert and decided to head someplace else for that. Like I said above, after all the positive reviews I'm seeing, there's a chance we caught Chapitô à Mesa on a really off day. Regardless, what a shame that our first and only experience here was such a disappointing one.

Lunch with a view is always better and this is what makes Lisbon such a great city. One of the best places to eat in the area and city, a special experience as the building itself is unique and is also a circus school. Try to get a table with a view of the city, as it makes all the difference. Small selection of very high quality dishes .

We had our first dinner in Lisbon at this hill side restaurant, it's a nice view of the ocean. We ordered octopus and fried sea bass with salad and ham toasts, they were all good. The fish had a lot of bones usually not for Americans. Overall the service was good amid a bit slow.

This restaurant has great views of Lisbon. We were seated in the interior but the leafy cover gave good shade from the sun and we enjoyed our meal. It is a bit of tourist trap but the food was pretty good overall. Try to get seated at the terrace for the great views. If not, it's still ok.

Super friendly waiters, extremely delicious food. I would highly recommend this restaurant! Plus: awesome view. But make sure to be early if you don't have a reservation.

This is a fun place with an AWESOME view. The best parts where the apps and desserts. The "Ecopotatoes" where our favorite things of the dinner. The staff was really great. They even allowed us to bring the sangria from the bar above the restaurant (even though its technically not allowed).

Stumbled across this place and I'm glad we did. We caught a glimpse of the rooftop view and decided to check it out. You have to enter through a retail store so don't be too thrown off. We only had a drink here but the food that was coming out looked pretty amazing. Great views, drinks a little pricey but worth it. Enjoy!

Great unique place, wonderful views and a fun artistic-circus feel. Food is authentic Portuguese. Simple, yet delicious. Service can be slow but worth the wait. This is a little hidden gem that probably has got a lot of attention from tourists because it is so unique not like a lot of the other "all the same tourists traps" restaurants you will find in Lisbon. Went there twice. Both of my servers were sweet, attentive and genuinely nice. Thank you Carla and Adelaide.

Recommended by the hostess from another Lisbon restaurant. We arrived without a reservation at 7 when they opened. All the tables with a view were already taken. The rooms are nice. The waitstaff is very friendly. We had the gazpacho, grilled sea bass and house salad. The food was very good. Try to make a reservation so you can get a seat with a view.

Disappointed with the experience. Went in the evening. Limited menu. 3 fish including fish of the day robalo/sea bass my wife ordered- and 3 meats. I had the pork ribs with apple sauce and green beans. 2 glasses of wine. All tourists which is normal for the area. Food was ok but nothing special. View at night is not impressive. No table cloths. Slow service. Not a very happy set of employees. Would not go again. 52 euro total for 2 People. No deserts or appetizers.

This was the first spot my husband and I went to on our honeymoon years ago in Lisbon and I still remember how good it was. I hope they make it through the pandemic because a friend of mine may be about to get a job in Lisbon and I'd love to come visit her and Chapitô à Mesa again!

We were not seated on the side of the restaurante with spectacular views, which was fine. The food was good, but the service was horrid. They took an eternity, did not communicate with us in a friendly way, never asked us if we wanted dessert and didn't come back for us to ask for a check. Not sure what was going on, but IMO, service is part of the experience of having dinner. I always wonder if it would just be better to speak in English (not in Portuguese- we speak both). Maybe they'd pay more attention to us? In any case, the view and the food don't make up for the lack of service. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Fantastic location. I was there on a bright sunny March day. The sea breeze through the large windows, breathtaking views of the city, very nice food, welcoming staff and reasonable pricing.

Tourist trap. Waitress barely functional. Food okay. Very uncomfortable. Forced to sit beside tool shed with damp smell. Ended up paying cash just to escape. But hostess was very nice. Try harder. There are better places to eat.

I was recommended here by a professor of mine while I was visiting Lisbon. It's a cute little restaurant with an absolutely stunning view of the city - I would recommend going before the sun sets to really take in the views, once it's too dark it's hardly noticeable. A fun fact is that it's literally over a clown school (or so I'm told) the menu is a bit on the pricier side. My dinner cost a total of €25ish that included an alcoholic beverage and dessert so overall a standard night out. They do take walk-ins, place is small, but they were able to seat me right away.

Great vibe and has prob the best view of Lisbon of all restaurants I've been. Cocktail special was spot on. Food has good flavor and I like the presentation.

Just wow!!! Completely disappointed. We looked at the food Yelp reviews and thought we would give this place a try. We thought we went "restaurant" but apparently it was the "terrace". So the menu was limited. Let alone overpriced. The waitress was very confusing. We asked about a couple things on the menu and she thought we ordered them. So food kept coming out. Had a Lina colada that was so gross. I was excited to try it but was so strong and didn't taste much pina colada. My boyfriend ordered a jack Daniels. We were charged for jack Daniels but he was given Johnny Walker. What a mess. This was our worst food experience on our visits to Portugal. I do not recommend! So many other images to eat and tastier ones that don't break the bank. Never again!!!!!

Chapitô à Mesa is such a sweet surprise. Their food is outstanding and their multiple venues inside of the restaurant make it several places in one. We had both lunch and dinner here and I have to say, both were superb! The service is to match. Would recommend this to anyone living in Lisbon and to anyone visiting as well.

Walked up the hill to this restaurant for lunch in a crowded little terrace overlooking a portion of the city. Nice view of the port and surrounding area. Service was good, however there was a limited lunch menu with appetizers and seafood and meat dishes. I ordered a hamburger that came with a fresh bun, melted cheese and French fries but with no condiments. It tasted good and was filling. My wife ordered a cheese plate and grilled prawns, however the prawns were a little tough and hard to open up to eat. Price for two people with wine and beer was about 50 Euros. I would most likely have lunch somewhere else next time I am here.