Lisbon tips by locals – always up to date!

A friend of mine refers to Esperança as his local canteen, despite living some 15 km away. But to many Lisboners, Bairro Alto, the neighborhood with most bars per capita, is a favourite meeting point, even if it’s not quite “home” by definition. Given this sense of familiarity, my friend’s remark is spot on.

This restaurant is a winner by virtue of location alone, but that would be selling it short. The décor and layout – dark wood tables centered around a bar – is nice and unpretentious, managing to comfortably accommodate larger groups of up to, say, eight, whilst being intimate enough for a cozy dinner for two (dim lighting and candles – check).

The fact that it serves Italian food almost seems to have come as an afterthought, but it does get my nod of approval. You’ll find the obligatory antipasti, salads, risottos, pastas and thin-crust pizzas (28 to be exact, I counted), and I am particularly fond of the beef carpaccio and a pizza that’s drizzled in truffle oil. The staff is friendly and the bill is too, leaving you with plenty of cash to spend at the innumerous watering holes a stone’s throw away.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Esperança | Restaurants (Italian) | € 20
Rua do Norte, 95 | Bairro Alto | +351213432027
Mon – Fri 19:30 – 00:30, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 16:00 & 19:30 – 00:30