Cura Experience – 1 Michelin Star

Cura is located at the Four Seasons Ritz Carlton in Lisbon, this spectacular restaurant by chef Pedro Pena features creative Portuguese fine dining. When you enter the restaurant, you are immediately greeted by the hostess and introduced to an intimate, minimalistic, luxurious dining room. When seated, you can admire the open kitchen concept. This restaurant features different menu options for each preference. I decided to opt for the Origens menu, currently the most extensive choice with 12 courses. Due to the length and complexity of the experience, I will only be highlighting my favorites. Shortly after being seated, the adventure began with a refreshing beetroot pistachio confection. Although very small, it featured the perfect balance between presentation and taste. The textures and flavors behind this dish made the dinner very exciting, and I looked forward to tasting it more. To follow, the squid with hazelnut, bergamot, and roasted seaweed butter is topped off with caviar. This dish featured perfectly cooked octopus, and the balance of the herbs and nuts provided complexity. Another memorable course would have to be the lamb with corn, summer truffle, and mustard. The lamb was cooked to perfection with a non-chewy taste and a delicious aroma created by the summer truffle. This meal’s highlight would have to be the dessert of pumpkin, sesame, and eucalyptus with Smoked cocoa, orange & pine nut. I had never tried such an eclectic combination of flavors, but I was blown away by the equilibrium achieved in this final course.

Takeaway: Although Cura, unfortunately, did not make it to my favorite top 5 Portugal list, this dining experience is definitely worth trying, especially on a particular date. The service is beyond attentive, and the cocktails are delicious.