- Insiders Profile -

Maria Constantinescu

House of Eors is more than a restaurant. It is a curated universe where gastronomy, design, and spirituality meet. Founded by Maria Constantinescu, the space brings together a restaurant, a concept store, and an intimate private room and film club, all infused with a subtle esoteric sensibility inspired by symbolism, ritual, and intuition.

From the sensory experience of the Eors restaurant to the unique objects at the Aura Shop and the cultural explorations of the Woom Room, House of Eors invites guests into a world where hospitality becomes storytelling. We sat down with Maria to explore the vision behind this singular project.

◆ To start, could you introduce yourself and tell us how the idea of House of Eors first came to life?

As you can imagine, creating House of Eors has been a bit of a journey... Having lived for most of my adult life in large cities like London and New York, after I left my home country of Romania, I was always an active lover of film, art, and culture at large. Living in these places, I've met people and witnessed many key moments with an impact on cultural history. Here in Lisbon, given my limited use of Portuguese, it's harder to find the bohemian hot spots, so I thought, why not use some of my experience and resources to help create one?

So, the goal is simple: to provide a home for an art collective, the kind of place I would wish to attend myself. A place that is relaxed and comfortable, where I could meet like-minded people who would benefit from sharing interesting ideas and experimenting with art. As for our restaurant, well, it had to exist as a natural extension of a community space... and, true to our brand, we tried to make it tasty and to some degree innovative.

◆ If you had to describe House of Eors in just three words, what would they be?

Cosmic, artistic, refined.

◆ House of Eors brings together a restaurant, a concept store, and a private event space. How did you imagine this multi-layered concept from the beginning?

The ultimate concept was dictated by the space. We found this intricate, charming place on Rua da Esperança, including a salvaged antique apothecary that just spelled "cabinet of exquisite curiosities," and a room with a small stage under an arch perfect for talks, workshops, and small performances, as well as a back room without windows that conjured the idea of a lush velvet private screening room for arthouse films.

Imagination was quick to respond to the space, so here we are with the Eors restaurant and event space, the Aura shop, and the alluring Woom Room.

House of EORS

◆ There’s a strong esoteric and spiritual dimension to the project, from symbolism to tarot and ritual. How does this influence the way you curate the space?

Well, first of all, the name: EORS stands for "edge of reality stuff". Tarot is a fairly recent but powerful presence in my life, which I came to appreciate as a psycho-spiritual technology that explains so much of mythology, philosophy, and life in general. Once you understand the world through this lens, it pretty much informs everything.

As a student of Tarot, I became intrigued with the somewhat mystical question, "How does something come out of nothing?" Highly original art is a prime example of something that exists at the edge of reality. This feeling of curiosity has served as a guiding vision and inspiration in creating a place dedicated to enjoying and creating art, as well as casually exploring esoteric topics.

◆ Curation seems central to everything you do, from food to objects to atmosphere. What guides your choices?

Art, taste, and beauty have been perennial interests in my life. Knowing what I like has become second nature. The same goes for having a radar for all things sensational, gimmicky, or derivative, which, let's say, I don't prefer.

◆ What kind of emotions or energy do you hope guests take away after visiting House of Eors?

It is a delicate question because part of me would like to create a cozy home for the community I am already part of, and some other part of me yearns to welcome interesting strangers as well as offer a bit of surprise, mystery, and intrigue. So I guess it will be a balance between these two polarities. The good news is the vibe does indeed attract the tribe, and we've already made a few new fun friends since we opened.

House of EORS

◆ Private events play an important role in the project. What makes House of Eors a unique setting for these gatherings?

Everything from the comfortable interior to food, music, and lighting is designed to make you settle in for a charming, relaxing time. The food, conceived by Liza Puglia, a chef with roots in New Orleans and executed by our very own chefs who trained under Udi Barkan, hits a perfect balance between healthy and tasty. The generous portions and reasonable prices also help create a relaxed experience.

Additionally, our staff are highly attuned to the needs of our clients. We often create special experiences and design bespoke settings for the specific occasion. Next week, we are hosting a dinner where we will be serving a tasting menu, and the guests will be playing food critics. Last week, we had a poetry dinner where people shared their own verses or some of their favorite poets. Just some examples.

◆ Lisbon has become a hub for new creative hospitality concepts. How has the city influenced your vision?

Lisbon has been a great inspiration, firstly through its gentle beauty, as well as through the fascinating characters that inhabit it. Two years ago, we had a beautiful celebration of the way we mirror and inspire each other. The tagline was "I am you. You are me. We are we" – a precious feeling that is most present here in Portugal.

◆ Could you walk us through your ideal day in Lisbon, from a slow morning to an evening you love?

Mmm, now this is something I have not explored in a while, since I have been in an intense vortex of work and creation for the last few months.

I would say I like to have my daily decaf and do some creative work at home on my sunny balcony in the morning, sometimes I meditate or journal, followed by a visit to Amplify gym with my dog Pablo. Their spin class is the best rave in town! If I have time, a late lunch at the beach or a walk in nature. I go for art or dinners in the evening, but also quiet evenings at home in the winter are great. I love a good night out dancing, occasionally till the sun comes out. And speaking of spirituality, to me, dancing is some high-level magic to which I credit most great things in my life.

◆ What’s your favorite place to hang out in Lisbon when you’re not at House of Eors?

Praça das Flores always comes to mind... I love Magnolia and Da Noi for the casual feel; old school restaurants like Café de São Bento, or the arty Bistro 100 Maneiras, some cute spots in Graça... Sala Lisa, RŪMU for the occasional music gig. That was more than one spot, but you gotta have something for every mood.

Da Noi | Magnolia