5.1.20 Café Império
Avenida Almirante Reis 205A
Location HERE.
Open daily 1200-1600 and 1900-2300 hours
On the southwest corner of the intersection of Alameda Dom Henriques and Avenida Almirante Reis, Café Império is the “downstairs” of the former Cinema Império, a grand building designed by Cassiano Branco, the same architect who designed CineTeatro Eden on the western side of Restauradores.
The latter has been restored to its former glory, and is now the Eden Aparthotel, while the “upstairs” of the former has become a place of worship for the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (the cinema closed in 1983). It is, though, completely separate from Café Império.
Entering from Av. Almirante Reis, one can visualise the space as part of a cinema. There is a ground floor level, with tables laid out around the opening that enables diners to look down into the rather larger basement level, which has several large tables laid out for work, reunion and family gatherings.
There is also a distinctive mural, designed by Luís Dourdil. As in so many restaurants across Portugal, a large screen is often deployed in the basement level for major football events, but this is not a sports bar.
And so to the food, which is straightforward Portuguese fare. Bacalhau, steak (most notably in their signature sauce), also Risottos and Pasta dishes, along with several vegetarian choices.
You can order wine by the glass, or take the plunge and order a half bottle of the rather decent Alentejo red. Many punters drink beer, which means commodity beer, rather than craft.
Most diners seem to be locals, enjoying an end of week treat, family evening out or team gathering. Service is good while not being overwhelming. As is typical in Portugal, it’s there when you need it. Not a cheap cheap option, but that isn’t really the point. It’s a destination in its own right, a Lisbon institution, not unlike Galeto or Café Versailles. “Desde 1955” is displayed prominently, and yes, it’s old school traditional in many ways, despite having the screen come out for football events.
You want Portuguese, but you want trad and a bit different? Here it is.
Metro Alameda (Linha Verde and Linha Vermelha), buses 706, 708, 713, 716, 717, 718, 735, 797, 17B and 49B.
Location HERE.
Open daily 1200-1600 and 1900-2300 hours
On the southwest corner of the intersection of Alameda Dom Henriques and Avenida Almirante Reis, Café Império is the “downstairs” of the former Cinema Império, a grand building designed by Cassiano Branco, the same architect who designed CineTeatro Eden on the western side of Restauradores.
The latter has been restored to its former glory, and is now the Eden Aparthotel, while the “upstairs” of the former has become a place of worship for the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (the cinema closed in 1983). It is, though, completely separate from Café Império.
There is also a distinctive mural, designed by Luís Dourdil. As in so many restaurants across Portugal, a large screen is often deployed in the basement level for major football events, but this is not a sports bar.
And so to the food, which is straightforward Portuguese fare. Bacalhau, steak (most notably in their signature sauce), also Risottos and Pasta dishes, along with several vegetarian choices.
You can order wine by the glass, or take the plunge and order a half bottle of the rather decent Alentejo red. Many punters drink beer, which means commodity beer, rather than craft.
Most diners seem to be locals, enjoying an end of week treat, family evening out or team gathering. Service is good while not being overwhelming. As is typical in Portugal, it’s there when you need it. Not a cheap cheap option, but that isn’t really the point. It’s a destination in its own right, a Lisbon institution, not unlike Galeto or Café Versailles. “Desde 1955” is displayed prominently, and yes, it’s old school traditional in many ways, despite having the screen come out for football events.
You want Portuguese, but you want trad and a bit different? Here it is.
Metro Alameda (Linha Verde and Linha Vermelha), buses 706, 708, 713, 716, 717, 718, 735, 797, 17B and 49B.
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