Fitapreta, the gorgeous winery of rockstar winemaker António Maçanita, was already a must-visit in the Alentejo. Along with some of Portugal’s best wines, the place stands out for its beautiful stone tower, which dates from the 14th century, lovely event spaces, and wine tourism experiences that go far above and beyond the usual guided tastings.
In 2025, after years or careful renovations and additions, Fitapreta opened a new crown jewel, A Cozinha do Paço. The name means “the kitchen of the palace,” and while parts of it occupy the former medieval kitchens, the ambition is far less humble. The restaurant proposes a gastronomic experience that makes it worth a journey. (It’s about 90 minutes from Lisbon.)
Chef Manuel Maldonado (executive chef of 100 Maneiras) consulted on the menu, but the kitchen is overseen by up-and-coming chef Afonso Dantas, who interprets traditional Alentejo dishes for contemporary palates and adds a few flourishes from his native Madeira. About 70% of the products used in the six- and nine-course tasting menus are grown in the estate’s own garden, and the rest come from nearby producers who work organically and sustainably.
Unsurprisingly, the wine pairing is a star of the show, as it draws on Maçanita’s wide-ranging projects from all over Portugal, from the volcanic whites from Pico Island in the Azores to robust Alentejo reds. In many cases, the wines inspired the dishes that go with them, such as the snack of lamb coscorão (fried pastry) with tomato sauce that’s paired with the Fina Flor made with 100% Portuguese Arinto grapes in the style of a Spanish Manzanillo sherry, and the enlightened take on traditional conventual sweets—a mousse with honey, a crunchy saffron cracker, and a delightfully acidic sauce made from green oranges—that goes with the winemakers famous Laranja Mecânica (also the Portuguese title of the film A Clockwork Orange), an orange wine.
From the first snacks, which Dantas offers to guests in the kitchen as they pass through on the way to their tables, to the surprising—but winning—ending that’s served in a gracious living room, the meal unfolds informally but precisely. There are no stuffy white tablecloths or unnecessary frippery. Rather, sommelier Francisco Cunha (ex–Grupo José Avillez) and Marta Pomposo (whose international experience includes Mandarin Oriental hotels) offer a relaxed service that puts the hospitable in hospitality.
For more information, visit the Cozinha do Paço website.
A Cozinha do Paço
Fitapreta, Paço do Morgado de Oliveira
Nossa Senhora da Graça do Divor
Évora
Alentejo
Phone +351 266 243 100
Lunch: Tuesday to Saturday – seatings at 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00
Dinner: Thursday and Friday – seating at 19:00
Photos ©Ranieri Faraoni courtesy of A Cozinha do Paço