Polémico, Santa Joana and Intemporal Shine at TheFork Awards Portugal

From Lisbon to Olhão, Portugal’s restaurant scene gained fresh bragging rights after a gala that blended centuries-old architecture with very contemporary flavours. Diners will soon notice that reservations at several newly crowned spots suddenly feel harder to secure—and for good reason.

Why these awards matter for food lovers in Portugal

Seeing TheFork Awards move into a second edition signals that Portugal’s dining sector is no longer a peripheral player but a trend-setter in southern Europe. The contest combines a public vote, a jury of 53 chefs, and—for the first time—an environmental impact prize, offering a 360-degree snapshot of excellence. For residents who follow restaurant openings as closely as football transfers, the ceremony acts as an annual scoreboard of where to book next weekend. The endorsement also injects national pride: each winner showcases local produce, Portuguese wines, and a willingness to challenge tradition without ignoring it.

How the public voted: the rise of Polémico

Lisbon’s Polémico walked away with the coveted People’s Choice Award, an impressive feat for a venue that opened less than 10 months ago and whose oldest partner is just 26. Chef António Lobo Xavier framed the restaurant’s ethos as “serious food without stiffness,” reflected in the juxtaposition of chef-grade fusion dishes, cloth napkins, and stainless-steel plates. Beyond the capital, voters elevated names like Marina com Noélia on the Algarve coast and Belos Aires Praia near Porto, proving that the appetite for innovation stretches far beyond Lisbon’s city limits. The top selections suggest Portuguese diners have grown comfortable valuing both regional identity and global technique in the same bite.

Chefs’ verdict: Santa Joana steals the spotlight

While the public crowned the newcomer, professional peers chose Santa Joana for the Chef’s Choice Award, with food writers echoing the decision through a parallel Media’s Choice Award. Operating inside a 400-year-old convent, chef Nuno Mendes fused Lisbon’s culinary DNA with ideas gathered during years in London and New York. The atmosphere intentionally feels bohemian, encouraging guests to treat the refectory’s stone walls as a canvas for modern conversation. Insiders note that Santa Joana’s victory reflects a broader chef-led push to reinterpret historical spaces rather than build flashy new ones, an approach that resonates with locals who prize heritage preservation.

A newcomer with purpose: Mastercard Impact Award

Another talking point was the debut of the Mastercard Impact Award, which recognised Intemporal in Paço de Arcos for pairing fine dining with measurable sustainability goals. Headed by Miguel Laffan, the team sources vegetables from a neighbouring community garden, tracks its carbon footprint, and donates a slice of profits to vocational training in hospitality. The award’s arrival, backed by the event’s new title sponsor, pushes Portuguese restaurants to think beyond flavour toward social responsibility, a criterion many consumers—especially younger city dwellers—now weigh when deciding where to spend €50 on dinner.

Convento do Beato: history meets haute cuisine

Hosting the gala inside the Convento do Beato added a layer of symbolism. Founded in the 15th century, later repurposed as a steam-powered factory, and today classified as Património de Interesse Público, the venue illustrates Portugal’s knack for recycling heritage into contemporary pillars of culture. The convent earned accolades as “best event space” in both 2011 and 2014, yet its recent renovations—complete with the multifunctional hall known as The Chapel—now cater specifically to gastronomic showcases. By staging a food award within cloistered walls once meant for quiet reflection, organisers underscored how Portuguese cuisine balances innovation with memory.

What this means for your next reservation

Past TheFork winners such as Mesa de Frades or Ofício saw reservations triple within weeks; industry analysts expect a similar surge for this year’s honourees. For Lisbon residents, the advice is simple: secure a table at Polémico or Santa Joana before the wave of international gastro-tourists arrives. Outside the capital, watch for Intemporal to become a fixture on week-end road-trip itineraries, especially among environmentally minded diners. Each accolade also nudges neighbourhood competitors to sharpen menus, meaning the real winners may be the people quietly planning Friday night dinner. In a year when Portugal’s restaurant sector faces higher energy bills and staffing shortages, a burst of media attention, online bookings, and culinary tourism offers a welcome tail-wind—and another reminder that the country’s most exciting cultural exports might now be plated rather than painted.