Review: Winebar do Castelo, Lisbon

Only a few steps from Lisbon’s hilltop Castelo de São Jorge lies a small corner bar where the best of Portuguese wine, cheese and charcuterie are served to hungry patrons looking for refreshment after exploring the castle. After enjoying vast vistas from the top of the castle, step into the rustic Wine Bar do Castelo for a personal education into the history and geography of Portugal’s vintages.

Pretention is left at the door as the sommeliers in this cozy nook wear short-sleeved shirts and nearly blend in with the small space. A brief discussion with one of the owners about wine preferences will lead to a brief tasting before deciding which wine to consume by the glass. Cheese and charcuterie platters (complete with a fruity jam and large slices of dark brown bread) are recommended by the staff to pair pleasantly with the chosen grape variety.

The knowledgeable staff members make the handful of tables feel like a Portuguese living room. Wood accents and tall leather chairs evoke a sense of comfort as visitors tour a new world of wine at the hands of experts.

Wine Bar de Castelo is just that: a wine bar. Stop by for a few glasses of wine, port and a small snack between meals rather than relying on a full meal experience.

Wine Bar do Castelo

11 R. Bartolomeau de Gusmao

1100-000 Lisbon, Portugal

351 21 887 9093