Lisbon has to be one of the coolest European cities with stylish rooftop restaurants, hidden basement bars and more traditional Portugese hangouts in abundance. But Mama Shelter Lisboa manages to bring a totally different vibe altogether and it’s a definite recommendation if you’re visiting the city.
Located just a short walk from the Avenida da Liberdade with its plethora of designer shops and boutiques, Mama Shelter Lisboa is a vibrant hotel and restaurant with an edge. Let’s start with it’s incredibly quirky restaurant décor – a Portugese representation of a French brasserie which includes a black and white ceiling of painted fish, eclectic walls, mosaic tiles, hanging pots and pans above the kitchen pass and shimmery tinsel for added sparkle.
While the TV by the bar shows funky psychedelic 70s dance moves, the live entertainment is provided by a fabulous live singer with a full live band – it’s such a feast for the senses that you almost feel like you’re in a dream – in a good way!
We visited on a Tuesday night and Mama Shelter Lisboa was absolutely heaving! Couples, groups of friends and residents of the hotel, all enjoying the live music and chomping down on some really awesome food.
Offering up a combo of local dishes and French signatures (all made fresh in house and changing with the seasons), we started with a really tasty cocktail – the Principe Real with a heady mix of bourbon, Cointreau, agave syrup, lemon and angostura bitters.
From the starters menu, we decided on the salmon tartare with avocado cream, red onions, chili peppers, lime, fried corn, tobiko roes and a little bit of crispy toast on the side for added texture. I love a tartare when it’s a nice fresh piece of salmon and the flavours are all well balanced and this was exactly as I’d hoped. The garlic shrimps were all jam packed with flavour – garlic, chilli and coriander all singing in harmony!
For mains, I went for the classic roasted free range chicken with mustard sauce, lime and coriander. Served with watercress, pomegranate, French fries and togorashi mayo (a Japanese blend of 7 spices), this massive serving defeated me but I devoured as much of it as I could. The mustard sauce had those wonderful earthy flavours with a bit of sweetness and the chicken was cooked perfectly.
My partner went for the grilled octopus with hummus and grilled pak choi, served with fried chick peas and olive oil and while the octopus itself was a bit too ‘meaty’ for my liking, he loved the chunkiness of it.
Nominated in the restaurant and bar design awards 2023, the restaurant is also part of the Mama Shelter hotel with three simple categories ranging from small, to medium and large – all with 5 star amenities. There’s also a rooftop bar offering up views of Lisbon and the Tagus river, with food, cocktails and sun loungers to take full advantage of Portugal’s beautiful weather.
With dancing on Wednesdays, Electro Vibes on Thursdays and the party continuing across the weekend with live DJ sets, Mama Shelter Lisboa is the perfect place to stay when you’re in Lisbon – a hotel and restaurant which seems to really deliver for its guests.
