Palácio Chiado em Lisboa

This beautiful restaurant had a palacial ambiance as it was former a palace. There are 4 different dining rooms on the first floor, with the Golden Lion in the main dining room as you walk up the stairs. The drinks and food were good and the price is reasonable. The restaurant was very busy on Saturday night, so make booking to avoid disappointment. The background music was a bit loud to our liking, thats about the only issue. I recommend dining in this restaurant for the great atmosphere.

So let me start with the positives - You go to Palacio Chiado for the atmosphere, wether as a couple, with friends or for business, the building and its architecture is truly magnificent. They did a great job decorating the place and the view from the bar balcony is truly stunning. You will truly remember this venue and your visit there. I made a reservation well ahead for a business meal with clients, their reservation department was really helpful in helping me with the arrangement for my booking. On the less impressive side was the cocktails, nice menu with lots of choice and instagram friendly drinks - however the taste was hardly above average and def not what you can expect from this fairly expensive venue. The food lacked inspiration and we all found it fairly boring. We had to ask the waitress several times to refill our wine and water glasses. The hostess did the best to accommodate our needs - we were running late and only had a 2 hour seating because of other bookings which she made perfectly clear on a rather rude basis (our tables were never booked later at night so we overstayed our dinner with around 1,5 hours). The head waiter was extremly rude when I carefully asked if one of the chambre separee was available for our group since some where running late and I did not want to risk us having to leave the dinner before our meal was completed he just told me "no" and looked at me as I was hardly worth walking on this planet. I told him he was extremly rude and I expected better service from a resturant where I take 10+ people and he simply looked at me and said "okay" To summarize, go here for a beer or a rather less tasting cocktail, take a few pictures and go for dinner somewhere else where you are greated with grattitude. If you see the head waiter - avoid him at all cost - he will ruin your memory of this place.