Darwin's Café

We had dinner inside. The venue is really cool. The atmosphere was great and the service was good. I would go back for drinks, or lunch outside that over looks the river.

The food and atmosphere were nice. We didn’t have a reservation (it was a Friday night),so only outdoor seating was available, but the indoor seating looked very cozy. The only downside was that our server was a bit rough and unfriendly. She cleared the table roughly, and a knife fell onto my lap. She also threw the menu and the receipt onto the table, which was disappointing.

We visited Darwin’s Café on a Saturday afternoon, just prior to their lunch service, and the experience was thoroughly impressive—from both gastronomic and operational standpoints. The ambiance, blending sleek modern décor with panoramic views of the Tagus River, establishes a sophisticated yet welcoming corporate-friendly setting . I opted for the mushroom risotto, featuring wild mushrooms and fresh herbs. It delivered a harmonious balance of earthy flavours and creamy texture, exemplifying culinary craftsmanship . My partner selected a refined octopus preparation, elevated by tender, flavourful tentacles served atop a velvety layer of shallot and sweet potato mash—a standout main that underscores the kitchen’s innovative plating and depth of flavour . Given the restaurant’s noted wine curation, we selected a Vinho Verde, an elegant and refreshing choice that complemented both dishes—its crisp acidity balancing the creamy risotto and enhancing the octopus’s delicate sweetness . The pairing felt professionally calibrated and elevated the dining experience as a strategic flavour alignment. Service was exemplary: discreet, knowledgeable, and timely. Front-of-house demonstrated a capacity for both efficiency and guest-centric refinement, ensuring comfort without intrusion—particularly vital during the pre-lunch window. The spatial design—with high ceilings, natural light, and modern artistic sensibilities—reinforced a scenario well-suited for professional or investor-level dining. Darwin’s Café delivers an exceptional guest journey, blending culinary excellence, elevated wine selection, and a refined ambiance—all executed with consistency. The mushroom risotto and octopus dish, particularly paired with Vinho Verde, form a compelling narrative of taste and balance. I would confidently recommend this venue for high-level dining occasions or strategic client engagements in Lisbon.

The waiters were unwelcoming and killed the mood. All if the good dishes were not available and it was still 9:30 pm Was the fastest dinning experience in Lisbon through the trip! The weather was nice outdoor, but I wouldn’t come back again or recommend the place

Food was very bland. Portions were fairy sized, and presentable, but lacked taste and cohesion. Definitely overpriced for the offer. Service was slow The atmosphere was great, with an amazing view. It's a great place for a couple of drinks enjoying the riverside, but I don't recommend going for a meal

Cool restaurant with the river front view. Servings were generous and service was personal, friendly and with a smile. Had the pulpo which was juicy. There was a generous spread of bread, cheese, tuna pate, olives.

Beautiful place but the cappuccino was undrinkable and more importantly the service from a young man and his supervisor was bad even hostile. The lady that gave us the bill was awesome and saved it from one star

Salmon risotto was very good. Service was excellent, the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. Greta location

We only came here at tea time, so can't really vouch for any real food. We had the yogurt with granola and fresh fruits. Had some fruits and sangria aside from our son having his yogurt. The place is beautiful. The staff is wonderful. I would highly recommended based on those things alone.

While the food is yummy and the view from the restaurant is incredible, the service here is TERRIBLE! They are horribly inflexible with everything, from ingredients to seating. First of all, we made a reservation for the outdoor patio seating but weren't able to sit there. Although we attempted to talk with the hostess multiple times to get out on the patio, she said she was unable to sit us there due to other reservations. However, during the whole hour we sat inside to eat our lunch, there were at minimum 5-6 open tables on the patio. Maybe they were going to be filled in the coming half hour or hour, but I think it's a little absurd to not hold onto the outdoor reservation that we already made and were looking forward to enjoy in favor of customers who had yet to arrive. We came with a two year old and were told there was a kids menu. Although they had a kids menu available, there were only two options listed and they were inflexible with making any modifications to the kid's dishes based on what the child needed. Specifically, our child wanted to eat the pasta dish, but the dish also contained salmon and the staff were inflexible with removing the salmon from the dish. It was ridiculous! I mean, we weren't even able to get food for the two year old and had to make pasta for her once we got back to the Air B'n'B. They also gave us a waiter who didn't speak English (and I understand that we're in Portugal so they speak Portuguese) but he routinely took incorrect orders from us without seeking clarification or help from other staff. This hasn't happened at any other restaurant we've been to on our trip, even if the waiter didn't speak English. It caused a ton of communication issues, especially when trying to express the food needs for the child. It was overall just a very difficult experience trying to communicate our needs and be met with inadequate service by the staff. We were excited for the views and the experience, but it was ultimately very anticlimactic and we would not come back here again.

We were on vacation in Lisbon, and our driver suggested Darwins. It was an amazing location however, it felt a bit like it could've been in any major city in the world. The service was impeccable, and the food was amazing. The only thing that bothered us a bit was the front desk receptionist who answered the phone and was rude and who also wouldn't call us a cab. Other than that everything was great.

This is a beautiful restaurant with an amazing view. We went for lunch and had a great time. The small plates with cheese, olives, and pate were really quite good. I had an excellent dish with scarlet prawns, and we finished off the meal with a light and delicious yuzu dessert. It was a bit rainy when we were there, but I would love to return on a nice day and sit on the terrace. This is just a quick walk from the Tower of Belem so it's a great place for lunch or dinner after wandering through the sights of Belem.

We went there to have drinks in the afternoon. Nice setting, beautiful outside view. The lemonade was slightly stale, and they didn't have the chilled tea advertised on the menu. The terrace was empty, yet the staff was not really friendly, pointlessly posh.

Really amazing setting and very special food. Large portions for us as were little eaters but lovely flavours and a good price for food / drink

A lovely location for dinning. The decoration is perfect with quotes from Charles Darwin.