Mini Bar Teatro, Lisbon: where do I start. This is, without a doubt, the best restaurant I have visited in a long time. José Avillez knows exactly what he is doing, and Mini Bar is the proof. The restaurant is located in an old theatre in Chiado and every detail plays into that: the dishes are named after theatre terms like Support Actors, Leading Ladies and Tragi Comedies. I graduated from the School of Drama in Amsterdam so I felt right at home from the moment I walked in. A friend told me to try the chef’s surprise menu, the Epic Menu, so I did…

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Mini Bar Teatro by José Avillez | Best restaurants in Lisbon

The Epic Menu runs to ten courses and no two visits are the same. On my visit I worked through a ridiculously good explosive olive, bruschetta with foie gras, figs and honey, smoked salmon with apple under a smoking glass bell and chocolate foam with ice cream and salt. Every plate looks like it belongs in an art gallery and your taste buds get the experience of a lifetime. The precision behind each dish is extraordinary: nothing is accidental, nothing is rushed.

For more amazing food spots check out my article featuring all the best Lisbon hotspots. Read my personal guide to the best boutique hotels in Lisbon for the best stays in the city.

Mini Bar Teatro by José Avillez | Best restaurants in Lisbon

When I asked the waiter how the explosive olive is made, he offered me the cookbook. I should have taken him up on it. José Avillez, born and raised in Cascais near Lisbon, runs several restaurants in the city. One of them, Belcanto, earned a Michelin star in under a year after opening. Mini Bar is a different beast: theatrical, playful and completely unlike anything else in the city.

Creative dishes | Best restaurants in Lisbon

The owner, José Avillez, born and raised in Cascais near Lisbon, runs 6 restaurants in the city. One of them, Belcanto, has been awarded with a Michelin star in less than a year after opening. So he’s doing something right! This talented chef created the ‘explosive olive’. When I ask the waiter how on earth this dish is made, he offers me the cookbook! I should have taken photo’s so I could have made an immortal impression in the kitchen on my friends & dates at home…but I was too overwhelmed to think straight! If someone has it, you know where to find me!

For more Lisbon restaurant tips, check my guide to the best restaurants in Lisbon and my favourite brunch spots in Lisbon. For shopping tips and neighbourhood guides, read my complete overview of shopping in Lisbon. Find all my favourite spots across the city in my guide to Lisbon hotspots.

Best restaurants in Lisbon | By José Avillez

If you only have one night in Lisbon, you MUST visit Mini Bar Teatro! Go try their amazing modern Portuguese food for yourself and let me know how it was…

Pro tip: book well in advance, especially for weekends and high season. The Epic Menu requires a minimum of two people. Smart casual dress code.

Address: Rua António Maria Cardoso 58, Chiado. Price range: €€€

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