A reimagined fine dining experience by Chef Fábio Alves

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Nestled behind an independent entrance at Verride Palácio Santa Catarina, SUBA Restaurant unveils a new identity — one that feels quietly confident, intimate, and deeply connected to Lisbon’s rhythm. Under the direction of Chef Fábio Alves, this Michelin-recommended restaurant steps into a new era, embracing a softer aesthetic and more personal atmosphere, where emotion and design meet in perfect balance.

A Hidden Chapter in the City

The new SUBA feels like Lisbon’s best-kept secret: a fine dining speakeasy that blends music, art, and understated design into one cohesive story. The lighting is warm, the tables discreetly spaced, the service attentive yet unpretentious. Artworks line the walls in quiet conversation with the space’s architectural elegance, transforming each corner into a canvas for emotion.

Behind this transformation lies an intentional design philosophy. One that invites guests to slow down, listen, and savour. The aesthetic mirrors the chef’s culinary language: contemporary yet soulful, refined yet approachable.

A Cuisine of Memory

At the heart of SUBA’s new identity is Chef Fábio Alves’ zero-kilometre tasting menu, a gastronomic map of Portugal shaped by memory and place. Each dish is a chapter in the chef’s life, from his hometown of Vales in Trás-os-Montes to the coasts of Setúbal, Caldas da Rainha, and the Algarve.

Ingredients such as serrano goatling, olive oil from Trás-os-Montes, lobster from Viana do Castelo, and horse mackerel from Sesimbra become vessels for storytelling, bridging the country’s landscapes through taste. Even caviar — a nod to the chef’s Ukrainian wife — finds its place as an intimate tribute among the flavours.

Design that Speaks Softly

Like its cuisine, SUBA’s interiors are designed to whisper, not shout. The atmosphere is built on contrast. Historic bones of an 18th-century palace paired with modern restraint and artful intimacy. Every surface, from fabric to finish, feels intentional and tactile.

The space reflects a shift from formal to human-centric fine dining: less about performance, more about presence.

A Lisbon Secret to Rediscover

With only 25 seats across eight tables, SUBA creates an experience that feels both exclusive and inclusive. A table for those in search of connection rather than spectacle. It’s a place for Lisbon’s culinary insiders and design lovers alike — one that quietly redefines what fine dining can be in the city.

If you enjoyed this article, you should check out our Lisbon Food Guide: Fine Dining Restaurants