Alma, Fine dining restaurant in Santa Maria Maior, Portugal.
Alma is a fine dining restaurant in Lisbon with an open kitchen where guests watch Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa and his team prepare dishes that blend Portuguese ingredients with Asian cooking techniques. The interior combines the structure of a historic building with modern design that directs attention toward the cooking itself.
The building dates to the 18th century and originally served as a storage space for books connected to one of Portugal's earliest bookshops. This past as a place of knowledge preservation now frames a restaurant focused on craftsmanship in food preparation.
The name Alma means "soul" in Portuguese, reflecting the idea that cooking here is rooted in passion and craft. You feel this when watching the open kitchen, where every movement appears intentional and the team's work unfolds before your eyes.
The restaurant welcomes guests Tuesday through Sunday and requires reservations for both lunch and dinner service. It sits in the Chiado neighborhood, where parking is tight and can be difficult to find. It makes sense to verify the exact address before visiting and call ahead in time to secure a table.
The head chef shows a particular interest in salt cod, a traditional Portuguese staple that he reinterprets with modern flavors like coriander. This attachment to classic ingredients, applied through contemporary methods, sets the cooking style apart from pure fusion.
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