Restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal
Serious tasting menu. Book with intent.
CURA at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is the right choice for food-focused travellers who want modern Portuguese tasting menus at a serious level. Chef Pedro Pena Bastos offers two structured menus, both available in vegetarian versions, inside a polished room with its own entrance and an open kitchen. Ranked by La Liste and OAD, and rated 4.8 on Google, it earns its €€€€ price for the right diner.
CURA at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is the right choice for food-focused travellers who want modern Portuguese cooking at a serious technical level, inside a room that earns its price tag. If you are planning a special occasion dinner in Lisbon, a long weekend visit where one meal anchors the trip, or you are the kind of traveller who cross-references Le Bernardin and Atomix before choosing where to eat, CURA belongs on your shortlist. It is not the right call for a casual night out or for anyone who finds tasting-menu formats slow or over-constructed.
The leading time to visit is midweek, Tuesday through Thursday. Weekend covers at a hotel fine-dining room in Lisbon skew toward leisure travellers and celebratory groups, which can shift the energy. If you want a quieter room and more attentive pacing, book for a Wednesday or Thursday evening. CURA runs dinner only, every day of the week from 7 PM to 10:30 PM, so there is no lunch option to consider.
CURA occupies the gourmet dining room inside the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon on Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca, one of Lisbon's most recognised luxury addresses. Critically, the restaurant has its own separate entrance, which means you do not walk through the hotel lobby to reach it. That separation gives CURA a distinct identity: it reads as a standalone destination rather than a hotel amenity. The kitchen is open, which adds a layer of transparency and visual interest to the room without becoming a performance distraction.
The physical setting is formal without being stiff. This is a room designed for a long meal, not a quick one. If you are dining solo, a couple, or a small group of four, the spatial proportions work well. Larger parties should confirm group arrangements when booking.
Chef Pedro Pena Bastos leads the kitchen, and the approach is modern Portuguese: contemporary technique applied to recognisably Portuguese ingredients and culinary memory. According to recognition from La Liste, the cooking is described as modern, audacious, and balanced, with technically considered creations. Two tasting menus are on offer. Percurso (Path) reinterprets classic Portuguese recipes through contemporary methods. Passo (Step) focuses on the chef's own evolution as a cook. Both menus have vegetarian versions available, which is worth knowing if you are booking for a mixed group.
The name itself signals something about the kitchen's orientation. CURA derives from curadoria, the Portuguese word for curation, with connotations of care for art. That framing is consistent with the food's intent: this is not a restaurant producing plates for Instagram impact, but one attempting to argue for a point of view about Portuguese cooking. Whether that argument lands for you depends on how much you value intellectual framing alongside the meal itself. For the explorer-type diner who wants context and depth, that is a feature. For someone who wants exceptional produce cooked with minimal ceremony, look at Feitoria instead.
CURA holds 81 points on the La Liste Leading Restaurants ranking for 2026. It was ranked 214th in Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in Europe in 2025, having been ranked 201st in 2024, indicating a slight movement in the rankings year over year. These are credible third-party signals that place CURA within the serious fine-dining tier in Lisbon, without positioning it at the absolute peak of the European ranking table. For context, Belcanto sits above CURA in most rankings and carries Michelin recognition, which is the benchmark comparison when assessing where CURA sits in the city's hierarchy.
Google Reviews rate CURA at 4.8 from 246 reviews, a strong signal of consistent execution at this price level.
CURA does not translate to a takeout or delivery context. This is a tasting-menu restaurant built around a specific room, a specific kitchen workflow, and a specific service arc. The format, two structured menus with vegetarian alternatives, requires the full dining room experience to function as intended. No booking method or delivery data is available in our records, but the format itself makes the answer clear: this is a destination you go to, not a restaurant you order from. If you are looking for high-quality Portuguese food to eat off-premise in Lisbon, that is a different category and a different search.
CURA is located at Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 88, inside the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, with a separate restaurant entrance. Dinner runs seven days a week from 7 PM to 10:30 PM. The price range is €€€€, consistent with Lisbon's top-tier tasting-menu restaurants. Booking is rated easy relative to comparable venues, which means you do not need to plan months ahead, but do not assume walk-ins are possible. Confirm availability before your trip, especially for weekend dates. No dress code is specified in our records, but the setting and price point imply smart casual as a floor. See the FAQ section below for more on dress expectations.
For broader trip planning, see our full Lisbon restaurants guide, our Lisbon hotels guide, Lisbon bars guide, Lisbon wineries guide, and Lisbon experiences guide. If you are touring Portugal beyond Lisbon, the country's fine-dining circuit also includes Vila Joya in Albufeira, Antiqvvm in Porto, Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Leça da Palmeira, Il Gallo d'Oro in Funchal, Ocean in Porches, and The Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Quick reference: Dinner only, 7 PM–10:30 PM daily. €€€€. Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, separate entrance. Easy to book. Two tasting menus; both available in vegetarian versions.
No dress code is listed in our records, but the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon setting and the €€€€ price point set the expectation. Smart casual is a safe floor: clean, put-together clothing without needing to be formal. Jeans with a jacket work in most comparable rooms at this level in Lisbon. If you are unsure, contact the restaurant directly to confirm current expectations before your visit.
Come prepared for a structured tasting-menu experience, not a la carte ordering. Two menus are available: Percurso, which leans into Portuguese culinary heritage, and Passo, which follows the chef's personal progression. Both have vegetarian options. The restaurant sits inside the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon but has its own entrance, so approach it as a standalone destination. Budget for a full evening: 7 PM to 10:30 PM is the service window. At €€€€, this is one of Lisbon's pricier tables, comparable to Belcanto and Eleven.
A tasting-menu format at an open-kitchen counter-style or intimate room generally works for solo diners who enjoy observing kitchen craft and are comfortable with a longer, structured meal. CURA's open kitchen makes it a reasonable solo choice compared to a more closed, table-focused room. That said, seat count and counter availability are not confirmed in our records. If solo dining is a priority, contact the restaurant to confirm seating options before booking. Lisbon also has other strong solo-dining options: Loco and 2Monkeys are worth considering depending on budget and format preference.
At the same €€€€ price tier, Belcanto is the reference point: it carries Michelin recognition and sits above CURA in most rankings, making it the stronger choice if credentials matter most to you. 50 Seconds from Martin Berasategui offers a different angle, progressive Spanish cooking with one of the leading views in Lisbon, worth considering if you want to step outside Portuguese cuisine. Eleven is another comparable Lisbon option in the same tier. If you want modern Portuguese at a slightly lower price point, explore options outside the hotel fine-dining circuit.
At €€€€, CURA is priced at the leading end of Lisbon's dining market, where it competes directly with Belcanto and Eleven. Its La Liste score of 81 points and OAD ranking of 214th in Europe (2025) confirm it belongs in this tier, though it sits below Belcanto in the ranking hierarchy. The value case is strongest if you want a hotel-housed room with its own identity, modern Portuguese tasting menus with vegetarian options, and a 4.8 Google rating across 246 reviews as a consistency signal. If you are choosing between CURA and Belcanto on a single trip, Belcanto's Michelin recognition gives it a stronger credentials argument. CURA earns its price if the Four Seasons setting and Pedro Pena Bastos's specific kitchen perspective are the draw.
Yes, with a clear profile. CURA works well for a birthday, anniversary, or celebratory dinner where you want a formal-but-not-stiff room, a structured tasting menu that provides a clear arc to the evening, and the Four Seasons address as backdrop. The separate entrance from the hotel means the arrival feels intentional rather than incidental. For a big milestone where Michelin recognition is part of the story you want to tell, Belcanto is the stronger symbolic choice. For a special occasion where the food and the room matter more than the badge, CURA delivers.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURA | La Liste Top Restaurants (2026): 81pts; We find ourselves in the gourmet space of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, a luxurious and emblematic hotel that nevertheless allows the restaurant to assert its own identity, with a separate entrance. The establishment, which adopts the word “curadoria” (“curators who care for art”) as its name, has Chef Rodolfo Lavrador at the stoves and boasts an open kitchen where a modern, audacious and balanced cuisine is championed—considered creations with surprising technical command. The offering conveys Chef Rodolfo’s view of his culinary path between past and present, so two tasting menus are presented: the first, named Percurso (“Path”), pays homage to Portuguese recipes reinterpreted with contemporary techniques; the second, entitled Passo (“Step”), is an experience that underscores the evolution and the steps the chef has taken throughout his career. Both versions can be vegetarian!; They themselves call their cuisine a marriage of fresh modernist influences and the immortal well-known classics of the house. Their aim: to let guests leave with a smile and return with enthusiasm! Who doesn't dream of chef Pedro Pena Bastos... It is a pleasure for us that such a historical institution has understood that the kitchen is in full evolution and that vegetables play the leading role in it!; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #214 (2025); We find ourselves in the gourmet space of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, a luxurious and emblematic hotel that nevertheless allows the restaurant to assert its own identity, with a separate entrance. The establishment, which adopts the word “curadoria” (“curators who care for art”) as its name, has Chef Rodolfo Lavrador at the stoves and boasts an open kitchen where a modern, audacious and balanced cuisine is championed—considered creations with surprising technical command. The offering conveys Chef Rodolfo’s view of his culinary path between past and present, so two tasting menus are presented: the first, named Percurso (“Path”), pays homage to Portuguese recipes reinterpreted with contemporary techniques; the second, entitled Passo (“Step”), is an experience that underscores the evolution and the steps the chef has taken throughout his career. Both versions can be vegetarian!; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #201 (2024); Michelin 1 Star (2024) | €€€€ | — |
| Belcanto | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| 50 seconds from Martin Berasategui | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Eleven | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Feitoria | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Grenache | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
How CURA stacks up against the competition.
CURA sits inside the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, and the room reflects that address. Dress formally or at least in polished evening wear — a jacket for men is a safe call. Arriving in anything casual will feel out of step with the setting and the €€€€ price point.
CURA runs a tasting-menu-only format with two distinct menus: Percurso, which reinterprets classical Portuguese recipes, and Passo, which follows Chef Pedro Pena Bastos's personal culinary progression. Both are available in vegetarian versions. Dinner runs until 10:30 PM every night, and the restaurant has its own entrance separate from the hotel lobby, so you are not walking through a hotel corridor to reach it.
Tasting-menu restaurants in this format generally seat solo diners comfortably, and CURA's open kitchen provides something to focus on throughout the meal. That said, the €€€€ price range makes solo dining a considered spend. If solo dining at a counter is your preference, weigh CURA against Belcanto, where the dining room dynamic may feel more animated for one.
Belcanto is the most direct alternative — it holds Michelin stars and operates at a comparable price tier with a similar modern Portuguese approach. Feitoria is worth considering if you want a waterfront setting and a slightly different take on Portuguese produce. Eleven offers panoramic views over Lisbon with a tasting menu format, though it tends to attract a more tourist-facing crowd. 50 Seconds from Martin Berasategui brings a Spanish fine-dining signature to the Lisbon skyline if you want a departure from purely Portuguese cooking. Grenache is a smaller, lower-profile option for those wanting serious food at a lower price point.
At €€€€, CURA is priced in line with what you would pay at any serious European tasting-menu restaurant in a luxury hotel. The La Liste 2026 ranking of 81 points and back-to-back Opinionated About Dining placements (214th in 2025, 201st in 2024) confirm it is taken seriously in that peer group. It is worth the price if a structured, technique-led modern Portuguese menu is what you are after. If you want a more relaxed format, you can spend less at Grenache and get serious cooking without the Four Seasons overhead.
Yes — the combination of a Four Seasons address, a separate restaurant entrance, and a tasting menu format built around two distinct narratives makes CURA a considered choice for a significant dinner. The vegetarian menu option also removes a common obstacle for mixed-dietary groups. For a milestone dinner where the room and the food both need to land, this is a more coherent choice than Eleven, which trades more heavily on its view.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
