Gambrinus

The Shop

Bearing a legendary name, Gambrinus is one of the most celebrated of Lisbon’s restaurants. King Gambrinus of Flanders and Brabant was a master beer brewer, so good that still today he is regarded as the unofficial patron of the widely appreciated beverage. It is Gambrinus himself one sees on the glass windows designed by Sá Nogueira, who was also responsible for the tapestry in the large dining room, also known as the Tapestry Room.

Opened in 1936 by Hans Schwitalla and Claudino Sobral Portela, Gambrinus began life as a delicatessen and cold meats shop, before becoming a beer hall and later a restaurant. The refined comfort for which it is known today is a result of the extensive remodelling the space underwent in 1964, based on a design by Maurício de Vasconcelos. Gambrinus remains a meeting point for celebrities and public figures, both national and international, and is a regular haunt of politicians, diplomats and artists.