Price: ~$260 USD, Dinner, Dec'25
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Seating: Table seats
Fifty Seconds is located at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower, and as the name suggests, it takes about fifty seconds in the elevator to reach the restaurant. One of the highlight even before the food (while taking the elevator) is the view — you get stunning views of Lisbon and the river.
The restaurant leans more towards European style rather than traditional Portuguese cuisine, while still incorporating local ingredients throughout the menu. The plating was elegant and refined, with great attention to detail throughout. You can also notice subtle touches of Indian influence in some dishes, reflecting the chef’s background and adding an interesting layer to the overall experience.
Courses: A multi-course tasting menu (~12 courses). We opted for the 12-course menu, though the 11- or 14-course options are also available.
Many dishes were technically strong and well balanced, with clean flavors and subtle global influences that worked nicely together. There were also light Indian touches in the dishes, adding depth and complexity without overpowering the main ingredients.
The food felt refined and well thought out — more elegant and polished than bold — but the flavor combinations were clever and matched really well, showing careful consideration behind each dish.
Service: The service at the beginning wasn’t the most welcoming. One of the head waiters came across a bit rude when I asked about the difference between the 12- and 14-course options, especially regarding portion sizes and whether the 14 courses would be too much. However, as the meal progressed, the service improved noticeably. It may have been because we were attended by different staffs afterward, but overall the experience became much more pleasant and smooth.
Cost to Performance: It’s definitely on the pricier side, especially considering the cost of living in Portugal, and even compared to other one-star restaurants, it leans toward the higher end. However, in my opinion, the food and overall execution feel closer to a two-star level. The portion size and number of courses were also generous, which helped make it feel like good value overall.
Personal Rating: 9/10
Fifty Seconds is a really solid fine-dining experience with an unbeatable view. The food was well executed, the plating was beautiful, and the subtle Indian touches added something different to the flavors.
While Indian flavours isn’t usually my personal preference, the chef incorporated those elements in a beautiful and balanced way that I genuinely enjoyed.
Food-wise, this felt closer to a two-star level. I would say it’s on par with Alma and Belcanto in terms of overall execution. If I had to rank them personally, it would be: Belcanto > Alma ≥ Fifty Seconds.
by saizen211