Santa Joana
Restaurant · Estefanía ·
Modern Portuguese cuisine in historic convent, raw bar, cocktails
Modern Portuguese cuisine in historic convent, raw bar, cocktails
"Opened last October to rave reviews, it’s a stunning, one-of-a-kind space in an old convent with beautiful high ceilings—the kind of space you don’t really find—a dream come true for me, and you can really feel the heartbeat of the city in the restaurant. The food we’re cooking is traditional yet also reflects the current and contemporary aspects of Lisbon’s culinary culture." - Cass Farrar
"Chef Nuno Mendes’s newest project, set in an old convent with soaring ceilings inside the Locke de Santa Joana hotel, delivers Lisbon’s heartbeat in a visually stunning, lively room. The menu is playful and shareable—stacked oysters, a beef tartare that rivals the city’s best, and Alentejo pork with a walnut sauce so good you’ll want extra bread—offering hints of tradition but mostly whatever tastes great right now. It’s a laid-back, full-tables kind of place you’ll want to rally friends for and return to." - Abigail Malbon
"Santa Joana stuns before you even take your seat. Hidden inside the stylish Locke Santa Joana aparthotel, this grand dining room has soaring ceilings, pink marble tables, and enough Portuguese tapestries to make a grandma tear up. The food is equally striking. Order your drink of choice, then dive into Chef Nuno Mendes’ elevated take on Portuguese classics. Start with acepipes like grilled chicken hearts or the dreamy chickpea panisse, before moving onto the raw bar prawns and tuna belly that taste like it was pulled from the Atlantic Ocean an hour before. The shrimp rice with lobster, made with red scarlett shrimp from the Algarve is creamy, crunchy, and so fancy that, you’ll want to put on your tuxedo. Be prepared to pay at least €100 per person, so consider tagging along with someone with a corporate card." - rita geraldes
"Santa Joana stuns before you even take your seat. Hidden inside the stylish Locke Santa Joana aparthotel, this grand dining room has soaring ceilings, pink marble tables, and enough Portuguese tapestries to make a grandma tear up. The food is equally striking. Order your drink of choice, then dive into Chef Nuno Mendes’ elevated take on Portuguese classics. Start with acepipes like grilled chicken hearts or the dreamy chickpea panisse, before moving onto the raw bar prawns and tuna belly that taste like it was pulled from the Atlantic Ocean an hour before. The shrimp rice with lobster, made with red scarlett shrimp from the Algarve is creamy, crunchy, and so fancy that, you’ll want to put on your tuxedo. Be prepared to pay at least €100 per person, so consider tagging along with someone with a corporate card." - Rita Geraldes
"The prodigal son returns. After making his mark on London (where he runs Lisboeta), chef Nuno Mendes is back in his native Lisbon as the culinary director of Santa Joana, a striking bar and restaurant in the hotel Locke de Santa Joana, tucked in an old convent and close to the Marques de Pombal square. Mendes brings his signature modern approach to traditional Portuguese cuisine, as seen in dishes like grilled chicken hearts with pica-pau sauce or pan-roasted turbot with seaweed emulsion and crushed potatoes executed by head chef Mauricio Varela. Begin your meal at the counter with some local oysters from the raw bar and a signature cocktail (with local ingredients) before moving to your table for the full experience." - Rafael Tonon
Salina O.
Prashant S.
Gabrielle R.
Robert H.
Angelika K.
J H
Ian Mann C.
Mark K.