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The Art of Good Living:
Portuguese with a Twist

What happens when you add a pinch of newness to a traditional cuisine? You get dishes that feel familiar without being boring. Creativity made with simple, yet flavourful ingredients. In this article, we introduce restaurants that thrive on taking local gastronomy to a new level by reinventing recipes, products, and flavors. Keep scrolling to know where to go for a taste of Portugal with a twist!

The Art of Good Living by Estrella Damm

Turvo

Turvo is Chef Vasco Lello’s newest venture. We’d describe it as an exciting and bold take on Portuguese cuisine. Vasco Lello’s past includes big and small projects, including fine dining – this allowed him to perfect techniques and expand his knowledge on products. The result? A menu that respects the ingredients’ seasonality and that combines tradition and modernity in the best way possible. At Turvo, you’ll find delicious things such as an Alentejo-style tomato gazpacho with figs, the latter providing a unique sweetness to the dish. There are also several small plates to share – and pair with a cold Estrella Damm.

Insider tip: The duck croquettes and the cabeça de xara speak to the local cuisine’s heritage, while creations like the cured prawn with egg yolk and scarlet shrimp sauce in brioche bread are a true testament of bold creativity.

Hours
Tue–Sat | 7PM–11PM

Address
R. José Acúrcio das Neves 18A

Nunca

Located between Arroios and Arco do Cego, Nunca is a breath of fresh air where seafood and reinvented paellas take center stage. The atmosphere invites couples for a romantic date or a fun and entertaining dinner out with friends and Estrella Damm beer. This restaurant took on the challenge of transforming traditional Portuguese recipes, such as croquettes, canja, and caldeirada (fish stew), into something new and fresh. Customers can start by sharing lobster croquettes, sea stew pastries, and a steaming hot spider crab canja before diving into their signature take on paella. Nunca’s version of À Brás codfish is nothing short of creative: they use fresh codfish, then serve it with À Brás-style veggies and hollandaise sauce. Other Portuguese dishes with a twist include the classic cozido à portuguesa…wrapped in a Chinese crepe dough. Sounds delicious, right?

Insider tip: The lobster roll doesn’t scream Portuguese, but it’s surely worth a try.

Hours
Mon & Tue | 7PM–12AM
Wed & Sun | 12PM–4PM, 7PM–12AM
Thu, Fri & Sat | 12PM–4PM, 7PM–1AM

Address
R. Visconde de Santarém, 69B

Maria Peixeira

Fish is an essential element of Portuguese cuisine. You’ll find it in most traditional restaurants, either boiled or oven-roasted. Maria Peixeira takes this golden product and gives it a touch of modernity. Think tuna tataki, shrimp risotto, or classics such as roasted octopus, but served with sweet potato pureé and spinach. 

Maria Peixeira offers customers true traditional with a twist – if you’re craving a plain boiled codfish with veggies, there’s plenty of other places you can go to. Here, you’ll find that freshness, tradition, and creativity can, indeed, go hand in hand to bring forth a menu that showcases how Portuguese gastronomy is evolving. Estrella Damm also recommends L Meat, another Maria Peixeira venture offering a selection of juicy steaks and much more.

Insider Tip: The clam and scallop risotto is a great option to experience Maria Peixeira’s twist in action.

Hours
Every day | 12PM–3:30 PM, 7 PM–11 PM

Address
Av. Miguel Bombarda 133B

O Funil understood that tradition doesn’t have to look the same everywhere. Although their menu features Portuguese dishes, not all of them are presented as one would expect. À Brás codfish is usually served with everything (potatoes, egg, and codfish) mashed together, and O Funil decided to have the sides at the bottom topped with a codfish fillet. 

The restaurant’s braised pork cheeks are served with an unusual and delicious side dish: chestnut pureé. 

Insider tip:  If you’re a fan of canja soup, you probably know that the traditional recipe includes duck. O Funil’s version features codfish – super tasty!

O Funil

Hours
Mon–Sat | 12PM–3PM, 7:30PM–11PM

Address
Av. Elias Garcia 82

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