When you hear about “the best steak in Lisbon , “ you know the conversation is about Café de São Bento, on Rua de São Bento, the original, which since 2025 has been investing in its expansion to other locations: the first was in Cascais, and now it will open in downtown Lisbon on January 15 .
It is located in the historic building of the former Club Bristol, in a new space that is not just a restaurant; it is the culmination of a gastronomic heritage that began in 1982. Shall we find out more?
The famous Café de São Bento steak, now in downtown Lisbon
With Café de São Bento sauce, inspired by Bife à Marrare, accompanied by French fries. | @cafedesaobento
This is undoubtedly Café de São Bento’s most ambitious location to date, right in the cultural heart of the city, close to the Coliseu dos Recreios and the Politeama Theater, making it the ideal destination for dinner before or after a show.
One of the highlights of this new space is the life-size female sculptures by Leopoldo de Almeida, modernist pieces recovered from the emblematic Club Bristol that now dialogue with the classic sophistication of Café de São Bento.
Life-size female sculptures by Leopoldo de Almeida at Café de São Bento in Baixa. | © Rafael Cortinhas
Occupying the first floor of the building, which also houses the Hotel 1904 do Benfica, the new restaurant in Baixa preserves the soul of the “bohemian Lisbon” of the 1920s through luxurious décor dominated by red velvets, wood, and mirrored ceilings.
The secret is in the sauce (and tradition)
The new Café de São Bento keeps the focus on steak. | © Rafael Cortinhas
True to the menu that made it an icon, the new establishment remains focused on the essential: steak. The secret sauce recipe, inspired by the historic 18th-century “Bife à Marrare,” will continue to be the cornerstone of the experience.
However, Café de São Bento Baixa will bring exclusive new features for the most demanding palates:
- Chateaubriand with Bearnaise Sauce
- Classic cut, available only at this location;
- New starters
- Beef croquettes (€2.50 each), clams à la Bulhão Pato (€16) and fresh oysters (from €14);
- Lisbon classics
- If you prefer fish, the menu includes Bacalhau à Brás (€22) and John Dory fillets with tomato rice (€23);
- Desserts
- The exclusive Hazelnut Soufflé with hot chocolate sauce (€12) joins favorites such as Tarte Tatin and the “Best Chocolate Cake in the World.”
Address: Rua das Portas e Santo Antão (Downtown)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight (from March onwards, it will be open every day)
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