Discreto

At the heart of a touristy area in Alfama but a bit hidden being in an alleyway, Discreto is a lovely restaurant with a good atmosphere, courteous service, and delicious Portuguese food. We picked this restaurant to try on our last day in Lisbon because it was close to our hotel and got good reviews online. I think a reservation might be required if you want to eat later, but since we were there right at 7 pm when they opened, we were able to get a table as it wasn’t that busy yet. The décor inside was lovely. The English menu was written out on a blackboard and put right in front of our table, which was a nice touch. We wanted to try their Garlic Shrimp starter, but it wasn’t available at the time, so we had the Fire Grilled Leeks and Portuguese Croquette (our server explained that it had meat instead of cheese fillings). Both were tasty. For the main course, we had Bacalhau à Brás (cod) and the Octopus Bean Stew. We liked the stew, but the cod was chef’s kiss. The service was friendly but not intrusive. Our lovely server Tony got us to try the Portuguese wine vinho verde, which I liked so much that I’m seeking it out back home. At the end of our meal, he also gave us a shot of liqueur to try, one sweet and one spicy. I believe it might be ginjiha but I’m not sure. It was a nice gesture to conclude our lovely evening at the restaurant. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in Alfama and want some tasty Portuguese food and a pleasant time. Shot out to Tony and I hope you get to travel around the world someday! - Tristan

We stumbled upon Discreto, while roaming the streets of Lisbon. Tucked away in an alley, Discreto serves up humble food, with a tavern-like atmosphere and service that makes you feel at home. Look for Daniello, the very friendly staff who surprised us with Discreto’s not-so-discreet black board menu. A fun way to start the experience. We ordered the Branco Sangria to start, then the Gaspacho (simple, tasty and refreshing), the Garlic Shrimp (packed with flavour), Octopus Bean Stew w/Chorizo (a rich stew that allows the flavours of the Octopus, Chorizo and texture of the beans to shine) served with Rice. The A ‘Bras’ Cod was a great interpretation on the traditional dish, the textures of the frites was my favourite part of the dish. And to finish off the meal, a simple yet delicious bread pudding paired with their recommended Port Wine. Absolutely fantastic!

My lackluster photos do not do this place justice. Would 100% visit Lisbon again for their food. We ordered the tomato salad, discreto’s octopus and swordfish tempura. (The second was my favorite) Vino verde was also extremely good.

I had the Bacalhau à Brás here and it was absolutely delicious — one of the best I’ve ever tried! The flavors were rich and comforting, yet refined, with just the right touch of creativity. Every bite was a joy (see photo!), beautifully seasoned and balanced. The place itself is cozy and charming, with a discreet elegance that fits the name perfectly. A wonderful spot to enjoy traditional Portuguese food with a modern twist. I would happily come back and highly recommend Discreto to anyone visiting Lisbon. A true hidden gem!

Place is very authentic. Service was very good. Sangria was so tasty, I did not know that it could be that good. Prawns in garlic sauce was great. Scallops I did not like at all. It was cold (maybe it supposed to be this way) and sauce on top spoiled the taste. Rabbit rice was a bit acid and salty. I would like to come back but I will order something else.

To get to Discreto, you walk through an archway and down a short alley. The restaurant is tucked away from the main street, which makes it feel hidden in a good way. Once you step inside, you see beautiful classic Portuguese architecture with archways and tile details. It sets a nice tone for the experience. We started with the sea bass ceviche. It came in a small portion but had good flavor. For mains, we had the bras cod and the corn porridge with shrimps and swordfish tempura. Both came in good portions and were full of flavor. I mixed them and they worked surprisingly well together. The music and vibe were great. The only downside is how close the tables are to each other. If it’s busy, you’ll be right next to other people. For dessert, we had the bread pudding with caramel and pistachio. It was a nice way to end the meal. One odd thing: they bring a huge physical menu to your table. It felt a bit clunky. Overall, worth it for the food.

This is a wonderful restaurant, off the beaten path. So many tourist restaurants in Lisbon, so you need to put in some extra effort to find authentic food. My daughter & I dined here during a recent trip. My daughter had a fantastic octopus salad with potatoes and I had a really flavorful mushroom risotto. The olives & bread were delicious as well. Highly recommend this restaurant.

What a beautiful restaurant. My partner spotted it on the walk up to the cathedral and later googled it. The next day we went for dinner and it was everything we thought it was. Service was perfect. Food was amazing. Loved the wine and the port. The restaurant itself was stunning. We would definitely recommend this restaurant. Beautiful!!