Praia no Parque - Food, Drinks & Fun in Lisbon

Look out, JNcQUOI, there’s another trendy restaurant-bar-nightclub hybrid in Lisbon. Opened in early 2019, Praia no Parque took over an empty space in Parque Eduardo VII, with excellent views over the city and chic, sexy design inside—taxidermied exotic birds figure prominently.

Following the concept of Food, Drinks, and Fun (not necessarily in that order), the restaurant welcomes guests at a sleek, golden-hued bar, where along with the regular cocktail menu, there’s an “I’m feeling lucky” option (after the Google search feature) that lets guests tell the bartenders their favorite spirit and flavor profile and then be surprised.

The dining room has red velvet round banquettes and some of the original midcentury structural details, like the dramatic supports for the ceiling (picture at top). Even if you don’t know the history—Salazar commissioned the building in the 1950s to establish a “noble zone” in the city—it’s still impressive.

You come here for the scene, but the food is in fact quite good. The menu is wide-ranging, from delicate, elegantly presented ceviches (with edible flowers on top) to hearty rice dishes, such as arroz negro com carabineiro (black rice with red prawn). It references Portugal—bacalhau confit, lombo de atum—but also the world, with Indonesian nasi goreng on the rice section and starters like chicken satay, kofta, and Vietnamese-style boa with pork cheeks. Somehow it all works.