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No journey to Portugal could be full with out sampling a few of the finest wine bars in Lisbon. Even with an off-the-cuff search, you’re certain to discover a mind-boggling array of wine bars and wine retailers that supply spectacular European wine lists.  

Wine tradition is prospering in Lisbon, with a powerful array of wine bars and bistros to discover. I used to be pleasantly stunned to find so many distinctive spots once I first started organizing my Lisbon meals excursions.

Garrafeira Alfaia

Picture credit score: Garrafeira Alfaia

Garrafeira Alfaia calls Lisbon’s full of life Bairro Alto district residence. It is a lesser-known gem of a wine bar that embodies the wealthy custom of Portuguese winemakers. It’s situated on a considerably quiet and unassuming facet road which is a pleasant change of tempo from the hustle and bustle of the close by Praça Luís de Camões.

The ambiance inside Garrafeira Alfaia has a heat and welcoming vibe with its classic wood decor, and partitions lined with cabinets of high-end wine bottles. The dim lighting additionally offers it a way of privateness. Making it a terrific place to get pleasure from a glass of wine whilst you meet up with an previous buddy.

Garrafeira Alfaia rigorously curates their wine bar picks, focusing primarily on Portuguese wines comparable to Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva, Esporão Reserva Branco, and Adega de Borba Tinto. Their extremely educated workers are glad to assist information you thru a wine-tasting journey.

I used to be there on the finish of a scorching afternoon and wanted one thing to refresh me after a frenetic day at Praça Luís de Camões. The workers advisable a Soalheiro Alvarinho Vinho Verde which was crisp, and modestly effervescent. In addition they steered a plate of petiscos with curated native cheeses, and cured meats, which was an ideal counterpoint to the intense acidity of the Vinho Verde.

Garrafeira Alfaia €€ – R. do Diário de Notícias 125, 1200-143 Lisboa, Portugal – Open Monday to Saturday: 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Closed on Sunday.

By The Wine

Picture credit score: By The Wine

By the Wine is the brainchild wine bar of the famend José Maria da Fonseca vineyard. It’s situated within the coronary heart of Lisbon’s Chiado neighborhood with its vibrant azulejos tiles. By The Wine can be very near the Mercado da Ribeira in addition to the full of life Praça Luís de Camões. Thus, making it a well-liked cease for locals and wine lover vacationers.

The ambiance in By the Wine has a clear trendy look, and a ceiling festooned with lots of of wine bottles. The bar space is open and spacious whereas the remainder of the inside is laid out with quite a lot of communal tables and cozy nooks. This makes it equally interesting if you wish to have a personal dialog with an previous buddy or need a spot that may host a household gathering.

By the Wine options a few of José Maria da Fonseca’s best wines. This contains nice wines like traditional Periquita Crimson, Domini Plus, and fragrant dessert wines like Moscatel de Setúbal.

I met one in all my previous mentors right here for tapas and loved a number of glasses of Domini Plus. It’s a robustly complicated purple wine from the Douro Valley. I picked up the notes of blackberries, and plums, with a velvety smooth trace of vanilla. It went completely with the nutty richness of the Jamon Iberico and curated Portuguese cheese tapas.

By The Wine €€ – Rua das Flores 41 43, 1200-193 Lisboa, Portugal – Open Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

Tasca do Chico

Tasca do Chico is a Portuguese tavern and wine bar, nestled in Lisbon’s Alfama district. They provide a small assortment of European wines with an eclectic menu of Portuguese dishes. Tasca do Chico is close to Lisbon Cathedral and the Fado Museum.

The ambiance of Tasca do Chico is rustic, with smooth lighting and wood furnishings giving the inside an intimate heat. Good for having fun with the soulful fado music that’s usually being carried out or taking part in within the background.  

Tasca do Chico presents quite a lot of white and purple Portuguese wines. This contains the port I had from the Douro area of Portugal. It was full-bodied with notes of blackberries and cherries. 

I additionally appreciated that they serve wine by the glass. It means that you can get pleasure from a number of wine tastings in a single sitting, to get a sense of what genuine Portuguese wine has to supply.

Tasca do Chico €€ – Rua Diário de Notícias 39, Lisboa, Portugal – Open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 PM to 1:30 AM

Comida Independente

Picture credit score: Comida Independente

Comida Independente is a stylish wine bar and store specializing in pure wines, holy wines, and small-plate tapas. Their wines come from biodynamic wineries that satisfaction themselves in not utilizing artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. This creates wines that really mirror the terroir of the encircling atmosphere.

The wine checklist at Comida Independente encompasses a rigorously curated vary of pure and low-intervention wines. Most hail from Portugal, however they do carry different pure wines from different areas. Making them among the best pure wine bars in all of Europe.  

Throughout my go to, the sommelier on the wine bar advisable I strive the daring Quinta das Bágeiras, a wealthy and full-bodied purple wine with earthy tones and a touch of darkish berries. Following their suggestion, the server introduced out a charcuterie board that includes porco preto from the Alentejo area. The sharp tannins of the wine did a terrific job of slicing via the meat’s richness and preserving my palate enervated for extra.   

Comida Independente €€€ – Rua Cais do Tojo, 28, Lisbon, Portugal – Open Tuesday to Fri, 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Saturday 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Conclusion

Making an attempt to label one institution as the very best wine bar in all of Lisbon is almost unimaginable. Choices vary from informal bistros with a curated wine choice, to high-end retailers for famend Portuguese vineyards. 

I believe the very best methodology is to strive a number of at first of your journey, to deliver your preferences and wine-tasting palate into sharp focus. The proper primer for an thrilling Lisbon meals and wine tour.