Fifty Seconds

The cooking and the experience

Creativity is the watchword here. The kitchen starts from fine produce and takes it down technical, unexpected paths, with the rigour you'd expect from a two-star house. Menus change with the seasons and the team's ideas, so don't come looking for a particular dish. Come curious instead and let yourself be guided. Service keeps pace and explains what arrives at the table without turning dinner into a class.

The room and what to expect

The name is one of the city's worst-kept secrets: it refers to the seconds the lift takes to climb to the top. When the doors open, the room is dominated by windows and the river, with the Vasco da Gama Bridge disappearing into the horizon. Expect a long, unhurried meal in the tasting format typical of this level. Check the website for current formats and any dress rules. When in doubt, a smart look never goes wrong.

The neighbourhood: Parque das Nações

Parque das Nações was born with Expo 98 and is modern Lisbon: wide, flat, by the river and great for strolling. Before dinner you can visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, pass the Portugal Pavilion by Siza Vieira or take a look at Calatrava's Oriente station, which is worth a photo on its own. The cable car running along the river gives another view of the area. The Garcia de Orta Gardens are a good excuse to walk slowly to the tower.

All of this is far from the historic centre, so the sensible plan is to spend the afternoon on this side of town and end the day up top, at the table.

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