Chez Lapin, Portuguese restaurant in Ribeira, Portugal
Chez Lapin is a restaurant in Ribeira, the historic riverside quarter of Porto, set inside a building from the 16th century. It has several dining rooms and a terrace facing the Douro River and the Luís I Bridge.
The restaurant was founded more than three decades ago by the Issímo family and has stayed in the old city since then. The building it occupies dates to the 16th century, when Ribeira was one of the main trading areas along the Douro.
The walls of the dining rooms are covered with handwritten messages and memories left by guests from around the world over many years. Looking closely, you can spot notes, postcards, and signatures that have built up over time.
The restaurant sits right on the Ribeira waterfront and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. Terrace tables with a river view tend to fill up fast, so booking ahead is a good idea, especially in warmer months.
The name of the restaurant means simply "At the Rabbit's" in French, which has no connection to the decor but is said to come from a nickname given to one of the founders. Most guests walk in without knowing this small detail behind the sign above the door.
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